Admittedly, certain audiences have seen a lot of Kelly Monaco: the largely male contingent of Playboy readers first got an eyeful of the shapely brunette beauty when she was Miss September 1997, while the largely female fans of the sister soaps Port Charles and General Hospital have checked in on her on a near daily basis for the last several years. But as familiar as her face and figure were, it took this summer’s surprise hit show Dancing With the Stars to make her a household name.
Kelly’s quick-study rug-cutting skills allowed her to cha-cha off with the first season bragging rights as the celebrity champ (simmer down, John O’Hurley fans) and now there’s talk she may soon be tangoing down Wisteria Lane. We caught up with Kelly off the dance floor and on the red carpet at the premiere of The Dukes of Hazzard.
Look at all the attention you’re getting lately! Did you expect that this little dancing show would turn into such a sensation?
Monaco: “No, I didn’t expect this little dancing show to make it past two episodes.”
Are you hitting the dance floor all the time now, heading out to clubs?
Monaco: “Oh yeah. I’m trying to work it! Are you kidding? [laughs] No, I haven’t had time to go out to any clubs. I’m working every day, all day, and enjoying my evenings. I notice myself standing maybe a little bit taller, breathing right and stretching when I normally wouldn’t stretch.”
All this Desperate Housewives talk has got to be a little exciting for you. How serious is it? Is it just something that’s been batted around, or have you had some serious discussions with the producer, Marc Cherry?
Monaco: [cagey] “There’s nothing I can discuss at the moment.”
Sounds pretty serious.
Monaco: [laughs]
I’m sure you’ve always been recognized from your daytime roles over the years, but are you getting recognized everywhere you go these days?
Monaco: “Yeah-instead of being called Livvie or Sam or one of the characters I’ve played and being asked why I killed my father, people are addressing me by my name and complimenting me on the show.”
And people are talking about a dance-off with you and John O’Hurley?
Monaco: “I’ve heard some talk about that, yes. I have not committed to anything, though.”
Are you thinkin’ about it?
Monaco: “I really, at this point-I don’t know. I don’t know!”
Who would your ideal celebrity dance partner be?
Monaco: “Mark Wahlberg! Because he’s sexy and hot and he can move-”
And he might drop his pants?
Monaco: “-And he just might! And he might have a six pack under there.”
Would you return for another season of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ as a guest star or judge–?
Monaco: “You know what?-I don’t think they would need me for the other season. I would never want to take away the experience of what I had for the other people who are going to participate in it, because I think it’s so specific. But you know, I would the defend the country in an international Dancing With the Stars.”
How patriotic of you!
