Andrea BowenMost fans know Andrea Bowen as Teri Hatcher's TV daughter. At the end of June, however, viewers will see a character quite different from Julie Mayer, whom Andrea portrays on Desperate Housewives.
In Lifetime Television's Girl, Positive, Andrea is a high-school senior who must come to grips with the fact that she might have unknowingly contracted HIV, the disease that eventually develops into AIDS. Andrea accepted the role for quite a few reasons, as she explains: "I read the script, and I really liked it. I also liked that it was different from my character on Desperate Housewives. But a bigger reason is that the movie is such a great source of knowledge. It gets out the facts about HIV and AIDS. It's shocking how little people know about it, especially teens."
Andrea plays Rachel, "your stereotypical character. She has been having sex for a little while now. She is basically your normal teen. Throughout the course of the movie, she goes through a journey. In the beginning she is shallow and materialistic, but then she learns what life is really about."
Moments of sadness
For the most part, on DH, Andrea is used to playing lighter fare. But Girl, Positive really had its moments of sadness, accompanied by enlightenment. "Dealing with this subject matter is gonna affect you. It's hard to shake off at the end of the day."
But when all's said and done, "I learned a lot by doing this movie," she says. "I knew a lot about AIDS going in. I've been involved with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS since I was 6, and I've been working with other AIDS-related causes for quite some time. But I took away a lot at the end of this movie."
Many people, when they think of AIDS, think of it as a death sentence. However, Andrea is encouraged that this movie will act as a beacon of hope for those who are living with the disease. Jennie Garth (Beverly Hills, 90210) co-stars with Andrea as Sarah Bennett, a teacher at Rachel's school who secretly has been living with the disease for more than seven years.
Happy and healthy life
"Sarah shows that you can live a happy and healthy life. It doesn't have to be scary. We try to shed a positive light on the disease. You have the dark side of the disease when a person first learns they have it, but you do learn that it is not only this scary, awful thing."
Working with Jennie was a wonderful experience for Andrea. "Jennie was great," Andrea says. "She's so sweet and such a great person. I got to meet her kids - she is such a great mother!"
Andrea also worked with Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order). "Epatha was a joy to work with. She came in at the end of the shoot, and she brought so much energy and life to the set," Andrea gushes.
If you come away with anything after watching this movie, Andrea hopes that you "just learn. Know that everyone is at risk for this mostly preventable disease. There's a stigma attached to the disease that hopefully will fade with time."
Girl, Positive premieres on Lifetime Television Monday, June 25, at 8 p.m. Its release coincides with National AIDS Testing Day, which is June 27.
- Cindy Elavsky
