Quickie Q&A: Michelle Ray Smith (Ava)
Soap Opera Digest: You’re participating in the upcoming walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on June 9 and 10. Can you tell us about it?
Michelle Ray Smith: I’m really, really psyched about this walk. It looks like we’re going to have over 2,000 people participating in New York City overnight this year, which is an enormous number. It’s going to be from sundown to sunrise, overnight. It’s 20 miles all around the city.Digest: So you’ve been involved in this for a while?
Smith: Almost a year-and-a-half now; I’ve been involved full speed ahead, full on with this charity.Digest: Why do you feel so passionate about it?
Smith: I feel like I have a connection to the AFSP because of the loss of my dad to suicide. To work as an actor and be in the limelight gives me the opportunity to step up and share my experience and help other people.Digest: Any other organizations you’re currently working with?
Smith: I just started getting involved with this charity called ArtsConnection. It’s a foundation that goes into inner-city schools and teaches children who are trying to learn English through dance and music and theatre and the creative arts. Its great, it’s fantastic. Digest: Are you excited for the Emmys?
Smith: I am and I’m going to be presenting an award. Digest: Do you know which one yet?
Smith: I don’t know which one it is yet. I’m very excited about going. I’m going to be with my boyfriend, Michael, and my brother, Adam, is also going to be coming along. Digest: Are you nervous about presenting?
Smith: Well, yes. I’m petrified [laughs]! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I’m excited to get up there and see what it looks like from that perspective, the stage. I mean, it’s the Kodak Theatre. Hello! It’s going to be enormous! 
Digest: We’ve seen you on some new Garnier commercials lately. Do you have a new contract?
Smith: I’m under contract this year with L’Oréal for Garnier Nutrisse. It’s their first launch of a skin care line. It’s fantastic. Sarah Jessica Parker is also doing the campaign along with me. It’s commercials, as well as print. They gave me a huge bag of products that I’ve been using now for the past few months. They’re awesome. It’s a great opportunity for me to mesh both of the worlds I live in together, my modeling and my acting, and to be able to cross over and do both.Digest: And you have a movie coming out, as well?
Smith: I think it’s going to be released in August. It’s called The Pleasure of Your Company [directed by Michael Ian Black]. It’s with Jason Biggs [ex-Pete, ATWT] and Isla Fisher [Wedding Crashers]. It’s the opening scene of the film, from what I understand. The beginning of the film starts out on my face. It’s cute, it’s a close-up of my big, funny eyes and I’ve got a pair of underwear. I’m a lingerie salesgirl at a very high-end boutique down on Broadway. Jason comes in looking for something to take home with him and it’s a funny little scene with him and me and a table of underpants!Digest: Is comedy something you aspire to do more of?
Smith: I love comedy! I would really love to do comedy. I try to not take myself too seriously. I’m kind of a goofball. I’ve always enjoyed watching actresses like Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts when she’s playing her tongue-in-cheek roles … I actually really enjoy it when the writers on GL give me that kitschy, goofy stuff.
Conversation
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