SNOGGING & ALIVE

by Kenneth Hubbard

The gorgeous former "Party of Five" star talks to NOW Magazine about her return to the small screen in 'GHOST WHISPERER," the paranormal and why she was keen to snog co-star WENTWORTH MILLER.

Jennifer Love Hewitt's the All-American girl next door who found fame over 11 years ago on "Party Of Five."

Now after a successful stint in movies, the stunning 27 year-old is back on our small screens in the spooky new 'GHOST WHISPERER." The show is based on the real lives of psychic JAMES VAN PRAAGH and medium MARY ANN WINKOWSKI. Jennifer plays Melinda Gordon, a woman who helps the dead people find their way.

"What's beautiful about this show is that it makes you believe that the people you love the most maybe don't leave you for good," says Jennifer. "It's very hard not to believe in it---especially working with James and Mary Ann, who my character is based on."

So what has convinced the star that the supernatural is for real? "We had an evening with James where he did his thing and my grandmother came through," she says. "She just wanted to say hello and tell she was looking out for me. It was really nice."

In the first episode, Jennifer appeared alongside Oxfordshire WENTWORTH MILLER, 34, who stars in the gritty drama, "PRISON BREAK." He plays a deceased Vietnam soldier who contacts Melinda in hope of getting a message to his son. "It was impossible not to want to make out with a dead guy," laughs Jennifer.

"As soon as he walked into the trailer, I was like 'Now, how do I kiss the soldier?' Wentworth was so talented and beautiful. He's an old fashion Clark Gable-typed movie star gentleman. He's the one person I wish could've been a regular on the show. I'd have loved it so much every day,"

Playing a character based on a real life person is challenging for any actress, but taking on a role based on a paranormal investigator must have been nerve-racking. "Mary Ann's a great lady and I hope to be able to honour what she and James do in their life for people," says Jennifer. "It's amazing to meet this woman who plays an extraordinary part in so many people's lives. She's relaxed and mellow, but she's very passionate about what she does. It comes from her heart and her belief in helping people move on with their lives. It's a beautiful concept. She's feisty, which I like, so I'm going to make Melinda a little feistier."

What does she like the most about Melinda? "Just how human she is." Says Jennifer. "I love her. I'm someone who risks missing my own life because I care so much about the people around me. I'm always trying to help them with their problems and this character is also like that. Now I get to go to work and help other people with their problems, maybe I'll be less giving in my own life and I'll get to have a little more fun. I'm the problem solver for all of my friends. I don't let them cry about things, but I can cry about them for them. It's just what I do."

Her eagerly awaited return to the small screen was a career move Jennifer thought long and hard about. "It was a tough decision," she admits. "Coming from "Party Of Five" was such a good show, it was important to find amazing writing, a great character and something that would draw my passion out as much as the show did---and "GHOST WHISPERER" does that for me. Also I'm 27 and I have to get a life now. I go to work everyday and I do what I love, but I also get to hang out with my friends at the weekends instead of traveling around to hotel rooms all over the world where I can't see them. For me, that's lovely."

Jennifer's film career took off in 1997 with hit horror flick "I Know What You Did Last Summer." She also starred alongside JACKIE CHAN is the 2002 comedy caper "The Tuxedo." "I did like making movies," she says. "I think they're fund, but I love the idea of this show and I was ready to be back on TV. I was really picky until I got the feeling in my gut, like I did when I was on "Party of Five.""

"GHOST WHISPERER" seems to mark the emerging trend in paranormal themed dramas, following Patricia Arquette's TV series "Medium." How worried is Jennifer by inevitable comparisons? "Right now, I'm not concerned because all we have is a pilot," she says. "When you start to see this series, it's very different. Patricia's character sees spirits in her dreams, while Melinda deals with them up close and personal. And she doesn't solve crimes for them---she solves on their hearts, which is completely different."

So how does she think people will react to "GHOST WHISPERER?"

"It's a fascinating concept and, particularly where the world is now, I think we need to believe in something. When I finished filming I thought: "This show has taught me that I need to live my life better because I don't want to have unfinished business. I want to live everyday for the moment and that's what I hope the show is going to do for people. Hopefully, you can be inspired to say: "I love you" to someone you haven't said it to in a while because it matters. For me, I was terrified of death, but I'm not now. I live differently these days."

Story: © 2006 Now Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Images: © 2006 Touchstone Television LLC - a Walt Disney Company and Paramount Pictures Corporation - a Viacom Company. All Rights Reserved.

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Wentworth Miller in the pilot episode of "Ghost Whisperer" (2005). The two have worked together before in another TV series starring and produced by Jennifer Love Hewitt, "Time Of Your Life" (Fox).