'Law & Order's Elisabeth Rohm Doing Life in Carmel' by Vanja Thompson Carmel Magazine [Holiday 2003] When Elisabeth Rohm arrives at Carmel Beach on a typically overcast late summer day, I'm immediately struck by her warmth and levity, as she calls out "Hi, I'm Liz" and cheerfully greets the magazine crew. The lighthearted demeanor of the petite actress stands in sharp contrast to the studious and sometimes stern Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn Rohm portrays on NBC's Law & Order. Rohm is enjoying her last day in Carmel before returning to New York, where she'll begin filming her third season on the popular NBC show where, two years ago, she became the fourth actress to play the junior associate to Sam Waterston's Assistant D.A. Jack McCoy. Casting changes have figured prominently throughout the show's thirteen seasons and Rohm appears undaunted, both onscreen and off, by the difficult task of filling a predecessor's shoes. "Everyone respected me enough to let me take my time. What was really helpful was that because so many people have revolved through that role, everyone sort of lets you find your way through it," she says, pointing out that none of the current cast was there from the beginning. Indeed, over the past two seasons Rohm has made the character her own. "The actors before me were all unique," she says, "Angie Harmon was strictly hang 'em high, pro death penalty, for example. I wanted to do something different. I went for a softer angle. I'm the youngest to play this part, so I wanted to be a student, a protege." Audiences have watched the analytical Serena Southerlyn evolve and gain more confidence over time. This season they should pick up on a sense of maturity as well, Rohm says. "If I wanted to stay for a few years I wanted there to be an arc, to grow up onscreen." While she's careful not to give away any secrets, she says, "This year Serena's a woman for the first time. Her self-confidence, physically, comes from her gaining respect instead of being a rookie." Rohm, whose father is an attorney, jokes that she may have had an edge learning the multi-syllabic legal vocabulary required of her character. "Maybe it comes through osmosis when you come from a house where you’re speaking Latin with the ease of saying 'hey, how're you doing?'" Besides being the youngest in the role, Rohm's character is also the first blond actress to play the part, a trait not gone unnoticed by Esquire Magazine who referred to her character as the "beautiful-but-cerebral sidekick" when she was named one of the magazine's "Women We Love." I asked Rohm what she thought of the qualified compliment. She laughed and said, "I just met a New York Times reporter and she was gorgeous. That's reality. And I think it's really a credit to Dick Wolf (the show's producer) that he's allowed my character to be a little more flashy, wear a little more lipstick. I've pushed for that. What kind of message is it to women that you can't have it all? We don't want someone smart to not be able to be sexy. If we stifle that, that's ignorant and oppressive for women." When it comes to sexy, while Serena Southerlyn may don demure dark suits, Elisabeth Rohm is no shrinking violet. The fresh-faced blue-eyed beauty's sultry photos have been featured in FHM, Esquire, and on the cover of Stuff Magazine, where her perfectly toned bare midriff is pictured alongside the caption "Verdict: She's Hot!" and her candid interviews reveal a refreshingly liberated actress who neither relies on nor apologizes for her sex symbol status. And intellectually, Rohm is no slouch either. She is well read, well spoken, and diplomatic in a way that suggests she'd be equally at ease in Hollywood or in Washington D.C. She delights in talking law and politics with costars Waterston and former Senator Fred Thompson, who plays DA Arthur Branch. "I feel like I'm getting my graduate degree around those two," she laughs, "I'm an avid reader and writer and, getting into the business, I was missing intellectual stimulation. Sam Waterson is amazing. He knows not just what's hot in films, what's hot in literature and history, but…everything; he's got his finger on the pulse. He's fascinating." Rohm, who studied writing and European History at Sarah Lawrence College still writes and says sheepishly, "I still have aspirations of writing the great American novel." While she makes the comment playful and shows she doesn't take herself too seriously, there's a vibe emanating from her soft spoken voice and radiant smile that suggest she will accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Rohm has already completed two novels and continues to push her creative boundaries, now exploring music. "All arts teach you how to understand the arts," says Rohm. "Whether it's a novel, song, painting or photograph, it's all the same analysis of the human condition." Her reflective nature is part of what keeps bringing her back to Carmel, where she spends roughly a quarter of the year. "I'm drawn to the peace and quiet and natural beauty of it," she says, eyes twinkling and breathing a sigh of inspiration. "I love to come to Carmel and spend time here every year. It's an easy life and so beautiful. People have fought to keep it pristine and are so completely aware environmentally," she says, adding, "It's endless what you can chance upon on a walk. It's completely rejuvenating to experience that pure nature. I'm able to rest here in a way I'm not in a lot of places. It's very healing." While she's currently best known for Law & Order, Rohm is no stranger to the small screen. She began her television career as Dorothy Hayes on "One Life To Live" 1997, and went on to appear in the NBC miniseries "The ‘60s" and star in the BBC miniseries, "Eureka Street." She then concurrently starred in the cable drama series "Bull" while playing the recurring role of Detective Kate Lockley on the WB's "Angel," the popular "Buffy" spin-off. With her busy schedule that now includes a burgeoning music career -an album is forthcoming- Rohm still devotes time to causes close to her heart. She recently completed a seven-city tour as the celebrity spokesperson of Self Magazine’s 10th annual Workout In the Park even benefiting the Big Bam! Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. As her career and calendar continue to expand with opportunities, she may just find herself needing to pencil in some much needed respite in her beloved "unpretentious, understated" city by the sea. This article is the intellectual property of Carmel magazine and its author. It is transcribed simply for fan purposes. No copyright infringement is intended. :: Back up ::       2008 Rohm with a View. Rohm with a View (lis-rohm.net) is an independent publication and is not endorsed by Elisabeth Rohm, her management or any related companies. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Elisabeth Rohm or her management.