Crystal Bowersox Turns to Acting
From American Idol runner-up to prison inmate and accused murderer, that's some trip. But it's only in the world of make-believe. Crystal Bowersox, who should have won on the singing show last season, makes her professional acting debut Thursday .
Crystal Bowersox Turns to Acting
From American Idol runner-up to prison inmate and accused murderer, that's some trip. But it's only in the world of make-believe.
Crystal Bowersox, who should have won on the singing show last season, makes her professional acting debut Thursday in Providence, R.I., as a guest on the set of ABC's mid-season series Body of Proof. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter isn't turning a page (her first commercial album comes out Dec. 14). She's opening a new book.
"This is my first professional acting gig, other than the music videos we did on American Idol," she says. "Body of Proof contacted me. They thought I’d be good for the role. Turns out, they think I can act as well. I’m happy for that."
Sam Humphrey, who wrote the episode and admits to watching Idol, if not to being a dyed-in-the-wool fan, said the idea just came to her: "What about Crystal Bowersox? Maybe we could reach out to her. She's a song writer, and it seems like she has an old soul."
ABC casting vice-president Rosalie Joseph got it all set up, and Bowersox arrived in Providence Wednesday. Proof will most likely premiere in March, so people might not get to see her as Zoe Reese, jailed after beating her drug dealer "to a bloody pulp," until April or May.
"I am in such a good place in my life right now," says Bowersox who sounds almost happy she didn't win Idol. "As soon as it was over, I thought about acting." She says she first thought about it in high school, but turned exclusively to music after her drama teacher "said some rude things to me about acting."
"I’m glad I’ve been given this opportunity."
Bowersox's album, finished last week, is called Farmer’s Daughter, after a track, she says, "that's a personal story of mine, dealing with my mom growing up. She had a little bout with alcoholism, and things turned violent. She’s a much better grandmother than she was a mother. And I forgive her. I love my ma."
Bowersox's baby boy, Tony, turns 2 in January. Last week, she celebrated her one-month wedding anniversary, having married an old friend, whom she met in Chicago at an open mic session six years ago, on Oct. 10, 2010.
"I laughed hysterically when I heard that the character I’m accused of murdering is named Brynn Walker," she says. "My husband is Brian Walker. He didn’t find it as funny as I did."
