Our affection for Elisabeth Shue blossomed after watching her in beloved movies such as Karate Kid and Adventures in Babysitting, and she received a well-deserved nod from the Academy of Motion Pictures for her role in Leaving Las Vegas. Shue currently plays investigator Julie Finlay in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She was recently in town to tour CSI: The Experience at MGM Grand and stopped to talk to Las Vegas Magazine’s Kiko Miyasato.
Q: Do you think CSI’s Sin City setting makes the show grittier?
A: I do. I think it’s great that it’s set here because the characters are very colorful in Las Vegas. It’s a place where people come and go, so there’s a lot more potential for drama. I think the backdrop of the lights, just the Strip itself, is very colorful and dynamic for the show.
Q: Were you interested in forensics before joining the show?
A: I’ve always been interested in the drama of crime. I remember the O.J. Simpson trial. I was so transfixed; it was a little creepy how much I cared. I would drive down Bundy just to experience it; I would wonder what happened, who did it, how did it all work. I don’t know there’s just something that’s so raw and awful about murder and death, but it’s always something that’s transfixed me.
Q: Your character Julie is known as “The Blood Queen.” Does working with all that blood, even though it’s fake, make you queasy?
A: In the beginning it did, but not anymore. I think real blood would make me queasy instantly. I would probably drop in a second! But, I would say that I’m very aware of the people that play the dead bodies. I’m always wanting to take care of them; so now I see them as very alive and I want to make sure they’re comfortable. The gruesomeness (on the show) doesn’t bother me anymore; now I kind of like it.
Q: You’ve also done another big drama here, Leaving Las Vegas. With the roles you’ve had in dramas based in Vegas, does that affect your view on the city?
A: No, I love this city! We live in Los Angeles, so we come here a lot. It’s a really fun place to spend a few days. I love that you can have a massage, go to a spa, go out and gamble if you feel like it. There (are) just so many options. I love bringing my kids now. I’ve taken them to see The Beatles LOVE; we’ve seen “O” probably four or five times. I can never get enough of that show. My daughter is a gymnast and she absolutely loves Cirque du Soleil.
Q: So what did you think of the CSI: The Experience?
A: It’s awesome! It’s really cool! I didn’t have time to solve the crimes, unfortunately. Considering we solve crimes (on the show) in an hour or less, I think it would be challenging, (but) definitely interesting.
