Happy Birthday, Annabeth!

Wishing Annabeth a very Happy 38th Birthday today!

A big, big thank you to everyone who contributed to the 8th Annual ATA Collection of Birthday Greetings!

8th Annual ATA Collection of Birthday Greetings

"... [E]very year for my birthday I get this marvelous collection of birthday wishes .... It's stunning to me, and quite moving, just the level and cross-section of people who have been joined together."

-- Annabeth, BBC Online / Cult Television News, June 2004

Annabeth will be celebrating her 38th birthday on March 13, 2009. As such, we are continuing the ATA tradition in collecting and compiling birthday greetings for Annabeth via our blog.

This entry has been specifically designated as the 2009 Birthday Greetings entry.

Using the Comments section below, feel free to submit your best wishes and birthday greetings for Annabeth.

Additionally, as in past years, artists are encouraged to submit their creations. You can provide a link to your artwork within your comment, and you will need to host it either on your own Web site or through a third party host like Image Shack. If you would like to link to a piece of birthday artwork for Annabeth in your comment, you will need to place the following HTML code within the comment:

Note that in the above example, "http://www.YOURLINK.com" should be changed to be the actual URL address of your artwork, and "My AG Birthday Artwork" can be changed to be whatever you'd like the text of the clickable link to say (like the "Image Shack" link mentioned above).

We strongly recommend using the Preview function in the Comments section before you publish your comment to ensure accuracy of coding linkage (if submitting artwork) and/or to ensure your greeting is just the way you'd like it to be.

So, get to it! To send along your best wishes, birthday greetings and artwork to Annabeth once again this year, leave your comment!

**IMPORTANT: Comment and/or artwork submissions will be monitored by ATA Admin, and any inappropriate or offensive entries will be immediately removed. Additionally, do not use the Comments section of this entry to submit personal letters to Annabeth and/or to request autographs and/or to list your own contact information - either for yourself or in promoting something completely unrelated to a birthday greeting for Annabeth Gish (e.g., spam posts). First and/or last names, Screenames and e-mail addresses are fine (and are encouraged) for birthday greeting posts, but full addresses with requests for letters, pictures, etc., should be directed to Annabeth c/o of her agency, International Creative Management. Comments of this nature will be appropriately removed as will any spam postings.

Annabeth Talks to XFilesNews.com

Annabeth recently did an interview with the good folks over at XFilesNews.com. Head on over to read her thoughts on legendary X-Files director Kim Manners, her time on the show and her new role as full-time mom!


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XFN Exclusive: Annabeth Gish Talks Manners, Family and X-Files
Written by Avi Quijada
Saturday, 28 February 2009

While we were away, we managed to get some awesome goods for your entertainment, and what can be better than a great conversation with the enigmatic Annabeth Gish?

This experienced actress, who has been in our Phile minds as the quirky and brave Agent Monica Reyes, has taken under her wing a great portfolio of acting experiences that she has been brewing since childhood. Many parts come to mind, like the naive teenager alongside Julia Roberts in Mystic Pizza, one of the first daughters to President Bartlet in The West Wing, our very own Monica Reyes on The X-Files and her most recent venue in TV as a troubled wife in Brotherhood.

Coincidentally, our interview with Annabeth was scheduled for the same day we scheduled an interview with another Phile favorite and also Annabeth’s: Mr. Agent Doggett himself, Robert Patrick.

Just out of luck, another role in Annabeth’s life took over: Her wonderful kids Cash and Enzo came first in her list of priorities, and we can’t praise enough the good work of a good mom, but in a second time at our “Skype experience” we sat for 45 minutes and the first topic that came to mind was the recent loss of X-Files Extraordinary, Mr. Kim Manners.

The light that shined through

Annabeth remembers her time with Kim fondly. “He was a force for sure and I can only believe that sometimes those who burn so bright choose to go a little early.” She begins. “He never stopped, he was always positive, and had more energy and commitment than any other director I've worked with. He was a huge part of my X-Files experience, mainly because he was kind of my “go-to” guy. He welcomed me with open arms, and assisted my integration in key ways.”

When asked about a specific memory of her experience with him, she can’t pinpoint just one, but a recollection of the experience. “I have these vivid collage-type images of him. He had the most unique walk, Kim, and he always wore those Merrell Slip-on shoes and had his fluffy hair. All those late nights on set he would walk his walk around, commanding the set, but always with kindness and a willingness to laugh. Every department loved him because he knew what he was doing, could lead them where he wanted, but without ordering anyone around disrespectfully!”

And this is because if anything, Kim has been mentioned as one of the few directors that “nailed” what the philes wanted to experience out of an X-Files episode. Annabeth adds that, “He was a human being before anything else, and that's how he related to people in work and in life.”


Being part of the Show

We have to admit in many ways that people looked at the addition of the character of Monica Reyes with caution, but setting those reservations aside, how was for Annabeth Gish to be part of such a show?

“I loved it. Sincerely loved it. All of the clichés are true. It was like a family. It couldn't NOT be an intimate experience because we worked such long hours.” Memories served her right. While Annabeth didn’t spend much over a year working on The X-Files, the experience was just as enriching, just as powerful as any of The X-Files Alumni claim it to be.

“I was just on the Fox lot this week and it was surreal to walk by the old stages. It made me sad, sentimental for those days. For me, it was a singular time in my life. I met my husband on that set and from those two years there, my life took a different direction.”

And it did alright. In these past 7 years (can you believe it has been this long?) Annabeth got married to Stunt guy pro Wade Allen and brought two kiddies into this world, 2 yr. old Cash and four month old Enzo.


How has marriage & motherhood treated Annabeth?

“Well the marriage part was pretty easy before we had kids... just the two of us, independent and free... now we have two kids barely two years apart and life is forever altered.” She continues. “I have a wonderful husband, a strong marriage and we're blessed with these amazingly beautiful boys, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it was hard. Especially trying to manage a career and such... but it's the same for every parent around the world, no? It's the best and the hardest job there is... Did I say that I love being a mom?”

I ask her, because I always wonder when do mother’s finds time, “If you were to choose, would you be an actress with a nanny or a mom with occasional acting jobs?”

“Hmmm. Good question... because I've been both. Last year on Brotherhood I was an actress with a nanny and now, since the show is supposedly finished its run, I'm a mom.” She continues. “The great thing is that the babies are transportable and can come to work... If you were to ask my nanny though, I think she would say unequivocally that I am a mom first and foremost. It's my priority and my first thought always. I do believe that being a thinking, independent woman who works is good for kids to experience. What I mean is that I would never have another person be responsible for raising my children.”

Annabeth was a child star, once being recognized by Roger Ebert because of her interpretation in Desert Bloom; now, being almost 38 years old and with over 40 film and TV credits under her wing, how does she feel about the possibility of her own children getting into the biz?

“Dear god, I hope not... My experience has been my experience and it's made me who I am in a large part, but I don't think I want my children in such an unstable environment which doesn't naturally support self-esteem and unconditional love. No way.” She states very energetic. “If they want to be actors, I won't stop them but I'd rather they wait out the professional realm until they are 18. If they want to be stuntmen like their father, then I'm in BIG trouble and will need a life-time supply of anti-anxiety medication for sure... Really, I'll support them whatever they want, but I am a huge advocate of education, college and such... so hopefully that's where they'll go.”


IWTB & Monica Reyes

While she embarrassedly admits to not have seen yet The X-Files: I Want to Believe, we forgive her for being busy with a toddler and a newborn. Still, we couldn’t help ourselves to ask about the possibility of a third movie out there and the chance of her being part of a new X-Files project.

“I've always been a fan and I'll always be grateful for my involvement in the show and I'll always have tremendous affection for everyone I worked with during my time there. So…yes.”

What would Annabeth say to Monica had they encountered in real life?

“Another good question... but I'd be more interested in what Monica would say to me... maybe she'd say, ‘Go deeper into the unknown!’” She continues about the possibility to talk to the character that brought her to The X-Files realm. “I'd tell her, ‘You better hit that! …and soon!’ Meaning, hook up with John Doggett! Story wise, it's always more interesting to play the unfulfilled desire...”

Sometimes, I sit and wonder like always about the “what if’s” in our X-Files world. I ask myself always, like so many have pondered what if there had been a tenth season? What if the powers that be had just given it another year?

After speaking to Annabeth Gish and Robert Patrick in such lucky coincidences, I feel blessed that, even though for a short time, we could enjoy the talents of such amazing actors. The X-Files always brought us quality over quantity, in my opinion, and Annabeth is an example of that.

Do Annabeth fans dare to dream of another round for Agent Monica Reyes? Have we learned to appreciate this character even more over the years? Is that whale song forgotten and forgiven?

I’m ready for more of her. Are you?

XFiles.com Quick Six:

1) Favorite Food - Quinoa
2) Favorite Word - Ferocity
3) Guilty pleasures/addictions - "wine and food - total Piscean!"
4) Dream career - Singer/Songwriter
5) I wish I had invented ____: The Internet.
6) Favorite X-Files quote: "No friggin' way!"

I’d like to thank Ahn Kim for arranging this interview, AllthingsAnnabeth.com for some of these awesome pictures and to Mrs. Annabeth Gish for being the awesome person and actress she is.

Avi Quijada
Editor-In-Chief

AG Talks Pregnancy, Parenting @ TheCradle.com

Recently, Annabeth spoke with TheCradle.com discussing all-things pregnancy and parenthood.

Enjoy!

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Talking Pregnancy & Parenthood (Second-time Around) with Annabeth Gish
by The Cradle Staff

Actress Annabeth Gish (Brotherhood) is a mom for the second time around. After welcoming her second son Enzo in October [2008] (big brother Cash was born in 2007... and happens to have one of the Top 10 Names of 2008!), she’s definitely put in some serious diaper duty!

In between taking care of a newborn and chasing a toddler around, Gish had the grace to answer a few Cradle questions.

The Cradle: What inspired the name Enzo?

Annabeth: My husband is Italian with beautiful names like Adelmo Mezzano and Rose Andreoni in his family. Enzo just came to him one day, and when he suggested it, rather late in our pregnancy when we had almost committed to another name, it resonated perfectly. I loved it, my husband loved it, and most importantly our first child, Cash, loved it. We had solicited Cash's opinion on a few other names and he didn't like any of them. When we asked if he liked Baby Enzo, he immediately repeated it several times and shook his little blond head affirmatively. We took that as a good sign.

The Cradle: How does it feel being a mom the second-time around?

Annabeth: I'm having so much more fun this time around. I feel more relaxed, more confident, just looser about everything from nursing to sleep to getting out and about. With Cash I don't think I left the house with him for 6 weeks, except for walks around the neighborhood. Because we have a little one running around who needs lots of attention, and parents who are present for him, we are doing more and secluding less. It's a nice thing to be more relaxed and free to really enjoy the exquisite joys of motherhood, even when there is not much sleep happening for Mommy and Daddy.

The Cradle: How is older brother, Cash, responding to his new baby brother?

Annabeth: Cash is doing amazingly well. I anticipated a much more difficult adjustment for him, but he's been open and curious and ultimately understanding. Of course he's had his moments of wanting his mommy back exclusively, especially when I'm nursing in the evening. He had to learn the difference between poking the baby and gently caressing him, but he processed it rather quickly. Just knowing that these two boys will always have each other as constants in their lives, as playmates, brothers, and hopefully best friends, makes it easy to ‘"suffer’" through momentary overwhelm.

The Cradle: Tell us a few things in your diaper bag, or nursery, that you're totally crushing on (and can't live without!)

Annabeth: After trying so many and being given more than a few, I finally found a diaper bag I absolutely love: the Ju Ju Be - Be All Diaper Bag. It holds everything I need, the strap stays over my shoulder, the fabric is durable and not too precious, and it has lots of pockets and designated compartments.

Here are a few things that I keep inside the bag as staples...

• Love Me Baby Me Creamy Cream. [And] I use their shampoo and bubbly wash for Cash’s bath time at home. No chemicals, no preservatives, nothing harsh... but it smells great and works.
• The Gruffalo books by Julia Donaldson. I always keep these in the bag on hand for Cash. He loves the stories, the pictures... and my husband (Wade Allen) and I never tire of reading them aloud.
• It’s a Big World by Renee and Jeremy. This CD is great to play in the car while driving in Hell-A traffic. Easy to listen to and sing along with... and to soothe to sleep at night.
• Kate Quinn Infant Sleep Sacques. Good for quick changes, [made with] organic material, and perfect for newborns.
• Born Free Bottles and Sippy Cups.

Annabeth lives in Los Angeles with her husband Wade Allen and their two sons, Cash and Enzo. She can currently be seen in Showtime’s latest hit, Brotherhood.

Message from Annabeth: Happy Holidays

Hey all,

Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the spirit of the season be sustained by all of us as we move into 2009. May our hearts remain open and our eyes also, to more love, more peace and less stress in our lives. I look forward to watching all the new delights unfold.

With love,
Annabeth