November 10 at 8:15PM ET  Join TV Guide on AOL on Wednesday, November 10 at 8:15PM ET, as we chat with "The West Wing" star Moira Kelly. In addition to joining the cast of this new drama set in the Oval Office, Moira's credits include "The Cutting Edge," "With Honors" and "To Have & To Hold."  **Be sure to come back to AOL Live (keyword: LIVE) for access to the event at show time.  (C) 1999 America Online, Inc. Moira Kelly, November 10, 1999 Tvgchat: Welcome Moira! Thanks for coming tonight! Moira: Thank you everyone and hello. Question: You were so memorable as Charlie Chaplin's lost love in Chaplin" What did you enjoy most about the production? Moira: I'd have to say the opportunity to work with the cast and Attenborough, Sir Richard. Plus at such an early stage of my career to be given the responsibility of playing two characters was kind of memorable to me. Plus walking around London with gray hair. It was memorable. Getting lots of strange looks. Working with the Chaplin estate was magic for everyone involved. Question: WHO DO U PLAY IN THE WEST WING? Moira: The character is Mandy Hampton. She is political consultant. Also a Democratic Watchdog. I don't even own a television. I'm proud of that. Question: You have done such a wide range of characters--what are some of the qualities you look for in a role? Moira: I think a lesson to be learned is probably the first thing I look for. I like characters that have to work through something. I think it is possible to find that with all characters even if it's not on the page. It's a place you find as a performer. Question: Hi Moira ~ What did you find most interesting about doing the voice for Nala in The Lion King? Moira: I like going to work and not having to worry about being made up. I like the freedom of just being the voice and not the face. I was really amazed by people's awareness of the voice. I get a lot of recognition for my voice. That always surprises me. Question: As one of the most astute, politically savvy shows to come along in a very long time (not to mention the very characteristic humor contained in those situations), do you intend to follow real life and portray this as an election year on the show? Moira: That would be entirely up to Aaron, the writer. I don't think they've decided one way or the other about that. The show is a dramatization, but we do use some real topics. We don't aim to mirror or reflect what's going on today. The issues we use on the show have been around for a long time. Question: How has appearing in The West Wing changed your outlook on politics? Moira: No. Question: Did you know how to ice skate before Cutting Edge, or did you have to learn for the movie? Moira: No, I had to learn for the movie. I trained for 4 months with Robin Cousins and Emily Kramer. Question: Have you done any theater? Moira: Actually, it's been 11 years since I've been onstage. I started in theatre in high school, college, then off-off Broadway after college. A few months after graduation I was working in films. It took off pretty quick. Question: I've been following your career since your amazing performance in Love, Lies and Murder. What have you found most rewarding about your acting career so far? Moira: Wow! It's probably just been the work itself. It's really the only thing that matters to me. I'm happy to know that 11 years later it still is the most important thing to me. Moira Kelly, November 10, 1999 Page 2 Question: What topics will your new show focus on? Moira: I don't know yet. It's like politics, you never know what you're going to get. Question: What character that you've portrayed has had the greatest impact on your outlook on life? Moira: Helen Keller. Monday After the Miracle. When you get the opportunity to get close to knowing what it's like to be blind and deaf and see the accomplishments one can achieve, it's inspiring. It makes me feel like a schlump. Question: What are your career goals/dreams? What would be your ideal part? Moira: My dream is to eventually open a children's theatre. But I just want to continue to do really good work. The role of a lifetime has always been Joan of Arc, but I'm a little too late for that now. You never know, maybe I'll direct the story a few years from now. Question: Which actors/actresses inspired you to go into showbiz? Moira: Barbara Stanwick, Jodie Foster, Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird... It's moments that every actor has had the opportunity to play. It's catching a moment of greatness, whether it be Barbara, or Betty or Al Pacino in Serpico. Question: Are there any new projects in the works? Moira: At the moment nothing, just working on the West Wing. Question: What do you do for fun? Moira: What spare time? I get together with friends, rollerblade, play guitar. I like to go rock scrambling. I find it harder to fill up my off time in LA. It was easier for me in NYC. Question: How was it working with Brendan Frasier in With Honors? Moira: It was great. He had a lot to carry with that film being the lead and opposite Joe Pesci. We all got along great. Patrick, Josh and Alec the director. He just brought us all together from the beginning. I got a Harvard degree out of it. It's a false diploma, but... Question: How is like working with Rob Lowe? Moira: Rob and I don't have many scenes together. The time we do have together, he's quite charming. He has a good sense of humor too. We haven't had much time to play together on set. Question: Has any former presidents or White House staff been asked for their input? Moira: Yes. We've had D.D. Myers and , who was Carter's organizer. They've been involved on various storylines and characters. Question: Moira are you in real life a Democrat or Republican? Moira: No Comment. Maybe. Question: Did you need to do a lot of research in order to get a feel for your position in the West Wing administration? Moira: Pat Cavell has offered me some reading literature. And Mandy, my character, is doing what Pat used to for Carter. He's been sort of my lifeline to understanding my position. Question: What do you find as being the most significant difference between movies and television Moira: Obviously schedule is different. I think what is hardest for me though, is the longevity of a character. I like variety. Knowing that in three months, I'd have a new character. The script made me change my mind. Question: How many days do you work on one episode? Moira: 8 days. I'll usually work 6 of those 8. Question: How could I go about getting an autographed photograph of you? Moira: Write me care of NBC. The address is on the website. Question: Could you see yourself in a political job? Moira: No. I think to be in politics you have to have the taste for blood on that. People who are in politics are born for it. That's why I'm in the arts, I'm a different beast. My soapbox will only last through the holidays anyway. Question: What kind of work would you want to do in your children's theater? Moira: A lot of it just exploration work. Learning the craft of the theatre from set design, to hanging lights, to making costumes to eventually writing plays themselves. I like children's imaginations and want to give them a place to express them. I hope to bring in people I met to teach courses in the industry. My dream is to make it free, but it would have to be subsidized somehow. Still working on that. Tvgchat: Thanks for joining us, Moira! We had a great time and hope you come back soon! Moira: Take care, best wishes Visit TV Guide's site by Clicking here!