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American Morning

Showbiz Today Reports: Emmy Rossum: Singing Her Way From Opera to Film

Aired June 13, 2001 - 10:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SONGCATCHER")

(singing): He sent his servant to the town.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LORI BLACKMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you find acting to be a natural transition for you? Did it feel as if it came naturally?

EMMY ROSSUM, ACTRESS: Definitely. I mean, so much of a part of what we did on stage here was acting. I mean, we got to go out every night. And I got so much -- I was so well-trained from being here. We sang in German, French, Italian, English, Russian. I mean, all the dialect training that I got here I used, and then I used in "Songcatcher."

BLACKMAN: How did this movie "Songcatcher" come to you?

ROSSUM: Well, after I left the opera, I got an agent. And I started going out on auditions. And I did a really brief, recurring role on "As the World Turns" as the long-lost biological daughter of Holden and Molly. Then I did a "Law & Order." And I did a couple just miniseries and TV movies, one with Marisa Tomei, where I played her daughter.

BLACKMAN: And one playing the young Audrey Hepburn.

ROSSUM: Exactly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSSUM (singing): Why must thou be...

DOLLY PARTON, SINGER (singing): ... opposed to me

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKMAN: This film is almost about the birth of country music.

ROSSUM: Definitely. And most people don't know this: Country music originated from ballads, Scotch-Irish ballads that were sung in the 1600s by the people who came over to America and settled in Appalachia.

BLACKMAN: Alright, now, this movie has a soundtrack.

ROSSUM: Yes.

BLACKMAN: On this soundtrack, you have a duet with Dolly Parton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON & ROSSUM (singing): Intoxicate my cherry sweet wine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROSSUM: Somehow she, Dolly -- Dolly.

(LAUGHTER)

ROSSUM: She saw "Songcatcher" after the producers asked her if she might be interested in doing a song on the soundtrack. And she said, "Wow, I'd really love to write a duet for me and this girl who's in the movie to sing."

BLACKMAN: Let's talk big picture of your career here: 15 years old -- where would you like to go ideally?

ROSSUM: I just hope that I am always doing good work and that I am having fun. I love Brenda Blethyn and Julia Roberts and...

BLACKMAN: A cross between Brenda Blethyn and Julia Roberts.

ROSSUM: And Julia Roberts -- exactly.

BLACKMAN: Lori Blackman, CNN Entertainment News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Later on "Showbiz Today Reports": another talented young woman, Halle Berry. The actress is quite the catch in the weekend's No. 1 film "Swordfish." She tackles the role of government agent or renegade robber, depending on whom you believe. We'll hear from her at 11:35 a.m. Eastern time.

In New York, I'm Michael Okwu.

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