Brande Roderick: It feels absolutely great!

I would have thought it was odd had you said it feels horrible.

(Laughs)

Every year, Playboy picks one of their 12 centerfolds as Playmate of the Year. So what is the selection based on?

At the end of the year, they put a telephone number in their December issue, and the readers get to actually vote on who they want to win. Then the results go to the company, and everybody adds their input, and that all goes back to Hef and four of the other editors, then they decide.

What did you think your odds were of actually winning?

I didn't think they were very good at all!

Why?

One reason is because I was working in Hawaii on "Baywatch." And the second reason is because some of Hef's girlfriends were also in the running! So I didn't think I had a chance at all!

But weren't you also one of Hef's girlfriends?

Not anymore. I'm his ex-girlfriend.

Well obviously Hef doesn't hold a grudge.

(Laughs) I know. I'm just glad the readers liked me!

A lot of people are fascinated with the relationship Hef has with several of the Playmates. So be honest. Were you really his girlfriend, or was it just a publicity stunt?

I was really his girlfriend.

Didn't you also share him with many other Playmates?

Not many.

I think the number was five.

(Yells) No! Three!

Sorry. But still, what woman shares her boyfriend with three other women?

For some reason, oddly enough, it worked. And to be honest, it was a great experience. And the other girls are still my best friends. I know it sounds weird, but we somehow made it work, and it was great. But would I do it with someone else? No.

Why are the rules of dating different when it comes to Hef than with other men?

I don't think the rules are different. I think when it comes to Hef and the Playboy mansion, people just get to live out their dreams and do what they want to do, regardless of whether society says it's okay.

Did your parents have a problem with you dating Hef?

Not at all. My parents love Hef. Everybody loves him. If you met him, you would love him too. He's a great person.

I'm amazed that a man his age is still so virile and outgoing. Most people his age don't have half the energy.

I don't have half that energy! It's amazing. He's got good genes. He's like the Energizer battery, he just keeps going! And he does so much good for everybody in the world.

When you were told you won, what was your first response?

Aside from jumping up and down? (Laughs) It was very exciting. Marilyn Grabowski (Playboy's photo editor) called and asked me how my day was going. I said it was going good and she said, "Well, hopefully when we get off the phone, it will be going great." Then she asked me, if I won Playmate of the Year, would I be able to work it around my "Baywatch" schedule? So I said, "Wait, are you saying that if I can, I'm Playmate of the Year?" She said, "Yes!" and I went crazy!

So what happens now?

I get to travel all over the place and represent Playboy.

What kind of questions do you normally get asked?

Everybody wants to know if I'm still dating Hef or not.

Do you ever get tired of answering the question?

I understand why everyone wants to know. So it's okay if people ask.

Has anyone asked you if the relationship between you and Hef was intimate, or more social?

Yeah, Howard Stern asked.

And?

(Laughs) That's personal! I'd rather people fantasize about it.

Hef and four beautiful women isn't hard to imagine. So how did Playboy discover you?

I just went down and took the test.

Test? Is it like an exam?

(Laughs) No! They have open calls for girls every Thursday. Any girl can go down and let Playboy take their photo, or you can just send in your picture. From there, Playboy decides if they should send you out for a test shoot.

What made you want to be in Playboy to begin with?

Looking at so many women who I admire. Women like Sharon Stone, Kim Basinger, and Cindy Crawford, who have all been in the magazine. I also got to know a lot of the Playmates, and I saw what a wonderful family it was. I wanted to be a part of it for the rest of my life.

Is Playboy a lifelong relationship?

Most definitely. It's always there. It really is a family.

How did your own family feel about you posing nude?

They've been wonderful about it. They flew out for the press luncheon. Everyone from my uncle and aunts to my grandma!

Are you trying to tell me that your grandmother had no problem with you posing nude in Playboy?

Of course not! You must not have very cool family members!

If I posed nude in Playboy, my grandmother would hang herself. But then again, so would everyone else who saw me naked.

That's awful! I have very liberal parents. They're very open and proud of anything that I'm involved in. They support everything I do. I'm very lucky to have such a great family.

Okay, be honest. How did your dad feel when he opened up the magazine and saw his daughter naked?

I wouldn't let him look at it! Although he did get a copy with those little star stickers all over it so he couldn't see anything! I'm sure his friends give him a hard time.

You started out as an actress.

Correct. In fact, May 10th I'm in the 100th episode of "Just Shoot Me" along with Hef.

That has to be exciting for you.

Very exciting! I made the cover of "Blush" magazine! I was a lot of fun. I got to do scenes with David Spade. He's so much fun!

Do you think that the exposure of being Playmate of the Year will provide you with the opportunity to work more as an actress, or does it work against you?

It definitely doesn't work against me. So far, it's helped tremendously. I'm doing the "Baywatch Reunion" movie, and now I'm in development for my own TV show. So far it's been great.

But aren't most of the roles you're offered "blonde bombshell" stereotypical characters?

I've been offered lots of roles and have been sent many scripts that I've turned down. I only take the ones that I really want to do.

Would you rather play the part of a not-so-sexy woman?

Not necessarily. I just have to be interested in the part. It just has to be challenging for me as an actress. If I like the script and it's fascinating, then I'll do it.

What kind of guy are you attracted to?

A guy who is very secure with himself. He has to have a lot of confidence and be able to deal with having a girlfriend who travels a lot and isn't there all the time. I would prefer a guy who's not in the business.

Is it hard finding that type of guy?

Well, I haven't had a chance to date much. And to tell you the truth, this next year is going to be a little crazy. In the past, most of the people I've dated have been set up by friends.

It has to be intimidating when you're set up with the Playboy Playmate of the Year.

Well, we'll see! (Laughs) That's why the number-one quality I'm looking for is confidence.

Rock stars seem to seek out Playboy centerfolds. Have you been contacted by any?

Um ... not really. Maybe because I'm not out there in that world very much. I don't really go to parties that much.

So you're a stay-home kind of person?

Yes! Definitely.

That works in the guy's favor. Nothing worse than going out on a date with the Playmate of the Year and have every guy hitting on her.

Exactly. I travel so much that when I go home, I just want to be home.

What's the best thing a guy can say to you to get your attention?

Just be honest. If you're honest, you can say anything. That's what I like.

In the magazine photo spread, you seem physically perfect. Obviously, nobody is perfect. If you had to pick a flaw on your body, what would it be?

Okay, I'll give you this. My left eye does not turn left. It either goes straight or turns to the right.

Seriously?

Yes! So whenever people take my picture and they want my head to turn a certain way, my right side has to be facing the camera if they want my eyes to turn toward the camera.

Wow.

(Yells) See! I'm not perfect, Chauncé!

You're a freak!

(Laughs) Hey, I thought you would be supportive if I told you that!

Boxers or briefs?

You know what? It doesn't matter. If I like the guy, whatever he ends up wearing is fine with me.

What if the guy chooses to wear nothing underneath?

I've had that happens too ... so it doesn't matter!

Finally, if you could change anything about your life other than your imperfect eye, what would it be?

A native of Northern California, Roderick always knew she wanted to become an actress. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College and later moved to San Francisco where she began living her dream, working in a number of independent films and commercials. With the experience and confidence she gained, she headed for Tinseltown and within her first year in town, landed a role on the famed Aaron Spelling drama Beverly Hills, 90210.

Luck came Roderick's way when she was asked to audition for the role of Leigh Dryer on Baywatch and was selected from among hundreds of actresses being considered. In addition to her work on "Baywatch," she has also done guest star roles on "Just Shoot Me," "Jesse and Love Boat: The Next Wave," in addition to a string of national commercials for products such as Snickers, Mentos and Dr. Pepper.

Brande has worked steadily in television and film. Already in the can are the feature "Dracula II: Ascension," in which she stars opposite Jason London and Roy Scheider, and the new Baywatch Reunion, which will be released in February 2003. Currently she is traveling the United States for E!'s "Wild On" series, which will begin airing this month. Additionally, Roderick's momentum has given her the opportunity to produce and star in an independent film, "Miss Castaway," written by Bryan Michel Stoller.

In 2000, Roderick was selected to appear in April's issue of Playboy magazine and in 2001 she was named Playmate of the Year.

On Thursday, January 9th at 9pm Brande and a cast of notorious celebrities will be seen on the WB network's "The Surreal Life." The reality show will feature Brande, Corey Feldman, MC Hammer, Emmanuel Lewis, Gabrielle Carteris, Vince Neil and Jerrie Manthey.

Trapped without transportation, cell phones or personal assistants, they must interact with each other, share bedrooms and bathrooms, do household chores, go grocery shopping and prepare meals together. The cameras never stop rolling, so the power struggles and personality clashes are all captured on film - along with the very real new friendships.

Should be very interesting...

Chaunce Hayden: First of all, you were selected Playboy's Playmate of the Year in 2001. How has your life changed since then?

Brande Roderick: It's hard to say because my career wasn't doing so badly before that. I think that no matter what, Playboy has been an absolute positive in my life. But as far as having an effect on my career, I'm not sure. However, me personally, it's had a very positive effect on my life.

Do you think your career would be different if you never posed nude?

I would not be where I am today. Everything in life follows what you've done. It's all a pattern and it's all been a stepping stone for me.

Has posing nude ever hurt you?

Not yet. Look at all the men's magazines out there. Maxim, Stuff, FHM, they are now almost all nude. They show almost the same thing as Playboy and huge stars are doing it. The body is something we shouldn't be ashamed of, and a lot of people have done it, Sharon Stone, Kim Basinger, and a bunch more.

Isn't it hard to break that Playmate of the Year stereotype?

When I go for an audition, my agent doesn't pitch me as the Playmate of the Year. Nobody knows I'm Playmate of the Year. You know what I mean? When I go in for an audition, I don't look like the way I do in magazines. I don't wear make-up so nobody would even know who I am.

Is there a big difference between Brande Roderick with make-up and Brande Roderick without make-up?

(Yells) Of course! Yeah! If you only knew what make-up and having your hair done can do.

While we're talking about Playboy, I have to ask you about your highly publicized relationship with Hugh Hefner. Are you still close to him?

Yeah, he's a great friend of mine. Definitely!

Is it true he cried when you left the Playboy mansion to do "Baywatch Hawaii"?

(Long pause) I really don't want to talk about past relationships. I'd rather just focus on now and the future. But I will tell you that Hugh and I are great friends and that I care about him very much.

Okay, let's fast forward to this morning. Ryan Seacrest of "American Idol" claimed on Howard Stern that he's not gay and that the two of you are together. Well?

Well what?

Is Ryan gay?

No.

Have the two of you really dated?

Yes. We've been great friends ever since I moved to L.A. He was one of the first people that I ever met. We've known each other for six years.

Are you still dating?

(Long pause) Um ... we're just really good friends now.

That's a yes.

No! We hang out occasionally. To be honest, we care about each other and we're good friends, and when we have to show up somewhere we'll take each other. Things like that. He's just a great friend. It is what it is.

Knowing that the media wants to know whom you're dating, do you have to give a lot of thought over who to walk down the red carpet with?

Yes! Not in a bad way. It's just that if I have to go to an event, I don't want to drag a girlfriend with me and have her stand there while I do interviews and take pictures and all that boring stuff. So I have to bring somebody who doesn't mind. Sometimes I even just go by myself.

Do you prefer dating normal guys to celebrities?

I don't know, I haven't dated a normal guy yet! (Laughs) Actually, I just started dating a guy who lives in New York City.

Is he famous?

Um ... (Laughs) He's not famous, but he's got an important job, I guess. At least people in New York will think it's important. See, if I tell you who he is, I'll sound so stereotypical.

What do you mean?

Well, he's a football player.

Giant or a Jet?

Giant.

Who?

He's the kicker. His name is Owen Pochman. But he's been out the whole season because he injured his knee. It kind of sucks that he lives in New York. The only good thing about it is that he only works half the year, then he gets six months off. So it works out.

You know NFL kickers are crazy.

Crazy?

Of course, they have so many quirks.

Well, he's a Mormon boy. He's totally Mr. BYU Mormon boy. I never heard that before!

Kickers have too much pressure on them and you either like them or hate them. Eventually, they all go crazy.

Well, so far he's pretty mellow.

For a while you were working on E!'s "Wild On." When Brooke Burke left, why didn't you take over the show?

I did two specials for them just for fun. I never really wanted to do it full time. I'm not a host. That's not my thing. If I were to take a job like that, it would get in the way of my acting and I wouldn't be able to do movies and television shows.

What kinds of scripts have you been getting?

Well, I recently did a Miramax film called "Dracula II: Ascension," which comes out in April. And I did the Baywatch reunion movie, which comes out on Fox in February.

How many of the former Baywatch babes are coming back?

Nine out of the 68 girls.

Any tension on the set?

No! That's what I thought was so bizarre. I thought for sure there would be! We're not talking normal "Baywatch" girls. We're talking about Pam Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Carmen Electra, and all the other top girls. But everyone got along great! It really was like a reunion.

It's no secret Yasmine Bleeth had a serious drug problem not too long ago. Wasn't it kind of awkward seeing her?

No! No! She was great! We met her husband and he was great too! There was nothing awkward at all. I wish there were something exciting to tell you.

I don't think you're telling me everything. How could you put the hottest ladies in Hollywood together and not have just a little tension?

I know! You'd think there would be some sort of animosity, but there wasn't!

Obviously you have no problem landing the gorgeous blonde roles. What about something outside of that?

Well, I haven't had a chance to really try and get other roles. Everything has just been rolling along, one thing after the other. Right now I'm producing a film where I play a flight attendant and I'm writing a sitcom right now that FOX is interested in. So I'm only doing what I want to do right now. And what I want to do are things that are fun and challenging and what I consider good for my career.

On the Internet there are a few rumors about you. Tell me what's true or false. Rumor one is that you snort when you laugh.

(Laughs) It's true!

Ever snort in front of someone really famous?

I'm sure I have.

Another rumor is that you sleep with your bedroom door locked.

That's true. I lock a lot of doors in my house. By the time they get to me I hopefully will have woken up. I'm a single girl and I want to be as safe as possible. I want to make it as hard to get to me as possible. They'll have to open up a lot of doors to get to me.

Some might call that paranoia.

Maybe. I call it safety! Also I'm taking my dog to security school and I have an alarm system and a gate, plus a panic button. I'm pretty safe.

Ever have a stalker?

Um ... there are lots of creepy, scary people out there.

Rumor three is that you used to eat sugar and white bread sandwiches. If that's true, I have to tell you, I'm guilty of the same crime.

You did too? That's funny! Yeah, I would take Wonder bread and spread butter all over it and then stack up a mountain of sugar and eat it.

We're lucky we're not both diabetics.

Is that what happens? I guess we are lucky!

Do you pay attention to the "Most Beautiful" lists that come out each year?

Yeah. Kind of. I'll skim through them.

Do you look for your name and get mad if you're not picked over someone whom you feel you're better looking than?

(Long pause) No. I actually can't believe that I'm put next to some of the people who they put me next to because I think they're so much more beautiful! I'm shocked that I'm even a part of it.

Do you see yourself as a sex symbol?

Not really! I mean, you're talking to a girl who wears the kind of pajamas with the little feet attached. (Laughs)

But that's sexy!

Really? Well, maybe it is, because these pajamas have the zipper that goes all the way down to the feet.

Are you embarrassed by your looks?

Maybe. Maybe. I'm not very comfortable.

Do you worry about losing your looks?

Yeah! Definitely! Especially with guys these days. Like the guy I'm dating now is younger. I wonder if I'm going to be traded in for someone younger and hotter after I hit a certain age. That's a scary thing. Guys these days do that a lot.

I believe in Hollywood it's called "trading up."

Yeah, it is. It happens all the time. So I just try to enjoy the moment and take good care of myself. That's why I've picked a sweet, nice Mormon boy. (Laughs)

Well, when his football days are over, will you dump him?

That's right, damn it! Actually, he's a good one, but I've been fooled before. We'll see.

He's a lucky guy. But what happens if he gets cut from the team? Will you trade up?

Hopefully he won't get cut because I'm not taking care of somebody!

What will he do after football?

He writes and he's trying to get published.

Oh boy.

(Laughs) I don't know what he'll do. He's really smart, though.

Sounds like he better not get cut.

I don't care what he does, but he better do as well as me because I'm not taking care of anybody. I've been there and I'm not doing it again! I will not date someone who does not have a good job. I will never take care of a man again!

Okay, now I'm curious, what does a guy have to earn to be able to date you?

I'm not going to tell you because then you'll know what I earn. I'm not asking for much!

My guess is at least $300,000 plus a year.

I'm not saying anything, Chaunce! Nothing!

Finally, on January 9th, you'll be featured on the WB's "The Surreal Life" as one of a cast of celebrities who share the same home with the likes of Corey Feldman, MC Hammer, and Vince Neil, just to name a few. Sounds crazy to me.

I'm really excited about it! I can't wait to see it! I want to see how people perceive the show and how people perceive me. I just can't wait to see it! It's going to be huge!

What can we expect to see?

Lots of crying, fighting, and adventures. There's also a wedding from somebody in the house!

What was Corey Feldman like?

I like Corey. I think he's a great guy and I knew him before I went into the house. But I think he's had a lot of stress in the house. He's got a huge heart, but there are a lot of issues that go on with Corey in the house and you'll get to see it.

The media has labeled the cast as has-been actors. Does that bother you, since you're really up and coming while the rest are on the way down?

People can think what they want. I don't really care. But when people see the show, they're going to love it. All I can tell you is that for me it was a great experience and I had a great time doing it. I always wanted to dance with MC Hammer and I got to do that!

Did you not get along with anyone?

No, I'm very easygoing. Probably too easygoing. I was the mediator of the group. Everybody came to me with his or her problems. I don't like to fight or confrontation. It makes me sick to my stomach.

Who did you get along with the most?

I would say I had the best connection with Vince Neil because I know him and his fiancée.

Of all the people in the house, who didn't get along the most?

Corey Feldman and just about everybody else. Some people just aren't as patient as I am.

I've got to be honest. To me you sound like the perfect girlfriend.

I would like to think so, Chaunce!