We all know John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln. But have you also heard the tale of Mary Surratt, a boarding-house owner who was convicted of participating in the conspiracy to kill him? No? Well, don’t worry, neither did Alexis Bledel, who co-stars in “The Conspirator,” a Robert Redford-directed film based on the true-life tale of Surratt and the plot to assassinate our 16th president.

“I had no idea. I had never heard this story!” laughed Bledel during a recent interview. Luckily, she got up to speed once she stepped into some Civil War-era petticoats.

Is this your first time appearing in a period film?

It’s the first one I’ve done that is a true story, that’s historically accurate with so much attention paid to detail. It was interesting to build the character and to make sure her social habits and speech were accurate.
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Gallery Links:
PIX11 Morning News
PIX11 Morning News – Behind the Scenes

Alexis Bledel, formerly known for her roles in “Gilmore Girls,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” film series and, most recently, the drama-thriller, “The Kate Logan Affair,” now lives in Brooklyn and has decided to “dip her toe” into the world of theater with a four-week role in Norah and Delia Ephron’s “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” at the Westside Theatre through Sunday, February 13. We chatted with the lovable Texas-bred starlet yesterday about her live theater debut, how to cook a better brisket and of course, New York fire safety.

Let’s talk about opening night — which is actually tonight [Thursday] — are you nervous?
Well, we had two performances yesterday that were previews but it’s been an accelerated process that we only started this week, so I guess I am nervous.

What about stage fright — sorry, are we freaking you out yet?
No! (laughs) I don’t really get stage fright because I’m just as nervous backstage as I am on-stage. I think the cure is just doing it and once it’s over, [stage fight] is cured. But the nervousness is good. It’s really just excitement, as long as you look at it in a positive way.

You’re really thrown into this show with a rotating cast every four weeks. What’s that like?
It’s a very intimate little theater and even in the backstage area, we’re all kind of in the same space getting ready so it’s the most fun in the dressing room. A lot of our own stories come out and since the nature of the show is about women sharing their experiences and what they’ve been through, I think it inspires that [same practice] within the actors. The rehearsal process is over two days, so the bonding is very immediate.
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Name: Alexis Bledel
Age: 29
Neighborhood: Brooklyn
Occupation: Actress. She’ll be appearing Off Broadway in Love, Loss, and What I Woreat the Westside Theatre starting today, January 12, through February 13.

Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
John Lennon. When I think about all the things that were going on in this city during the nine years he lived here, there’s an energy that stands out having to do with the message of peace he so powerfully sent out into the world.

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
Brick-oven pizza. So delicious, charred crisp and light, just with garlic, ricotta cheese, and fresh basil at Lucali, or olive oil, arugula, and prosciutto at Otto. John’s of Bleecker Street … everything on the menu is good. Roberta’s is also amazing.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
I pretend to be someone else, taking part in a collaborative storytelling endeavor.

What was your first job in New York?
A shoot for Seventeen magazine, when I was 14. It was a hair-and-makeup piece, and I ended up with a rather peculiar set of stringy dreadlocks.

What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
Promises, Promises. I really loved it. Sadly, Kristin Chenoweth was not there for the show I caught, but her understudy, Sarah Jane Everman, was wonderful and played so well opposite Sean Hayes. He was an absolute dream in that role; his comedic timing was impeccable and seemingly effortless.

Do you give money to panhandlers?
I do sometimes. It’s hard not to when the person is handicapped in some way that looks as though they would have a very hard time finding employment, or if someone is trying to sell something that might be handy, or share their musical talent with you.

What’s your drink?
In the winter I like to just sip on one Jameson straight up.
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Alexis Bledel and her Gilmore Girls co-star Lauren Graham are featured in the Entertainment Weekly Reunion Issue. The did a gorgeous shoot for the magazine. It is so great to see them together once again!

EW Do you think Lorelai and Luke would have had a kid?
Alexis Bledel: I think so.
Lauren Graham Oh,really? Yes, probably.
AB: Maybe, like, two.
LG: Two? Well, oh my goodness, we just got busy really fast! We didn’t even have the wedding.
AB: Well, it’s what the audience wanted.
LG: All right, well then, hey—we probably got married in year one. We’ve been away from the show three years. We had kid one in year two, and we had kid two in year three. That’s what Alexis says, and I am very overwhelmed by my toddlers.

Gallery Links:
EW Reunion Interview Video – Screencaptures
Session 63
Entertainment Weekly Reunion Issue – Scan