Katrina Bowden on Playing a 1960s Call Girl and Her Evolving Beauty Looks
Actress Katrina Bowden on summer beauty essentials, her beauty routine, and her new role. (Photo: Nathan Johnson)
Katrina Bowden may be best known for her role as Tina Fey’s ditzy and adorable assistant on 30 Rock, but she’ll be stepping out in a different light on TNT’s Public Morals (debuting Aug. 25). The 26-year-old is taking on the role of a 1960s call girl — and an expensive one, at that.
But Bowden and her character, Fortune, surprisingly do have one thing in common: They both reside in New York City. We caught up with Bowden at the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project hosted by the Surfrider Foundation at Rockaway Beach in Queens, N.Y. During the beach cleanup she shared her summer beauty tips, the scoop on her buzzy new show, and insight on her own low-key beauty routine.
Yahoo Beauty: Tell us about your upcoming TNT series Public Morals.
Katrina Bowden: Public Morals is a period piece drama that takes place in the 1960s. It’s a cop drama but also kind of a gangster drama. It’s the idea that these cops ride the line between the good guys and the bag guys. They work in the Public Morals division, so they deal with all different types — prostitution and gangs — and how they manage that. The show has a dirty underbelly of New York to it. It’s really beautifully done.
Katrina Bowden and Ed Burns costar on Public Morals. (Photo: TNT)
What is it like to work with Ed Burns?
It’s been so wonderful working with him. He’s so talented. I’ve always been a big fan of his. This is such a passion project for him. He created the show. He directed every episode. He stars in it. To be a part of that is really, really cool. He’s such a great director. It’s very inspiring to work with someone so talented and really do it all. I’ve learned a lot from him.
The series takes place in the 1960s. What are your favorite beauty styles from that time period?
That was the era when women spent a lot more time on their beauty regimen. Like, every single day, they would spend hours getting their hair done in hot rollers. They put on eyelashes every day. I’m sure there are women who still put that much effort into it, but I know I don’t every day. The hairstyles are so fun — there’s such big hair. Because I play a high-end call girl, I got to play around with a lot of different colors; green eye shadow, eyelashes that were so long, fun lip colors. It really gave license to have fun with all these looks. Although they aren’t looks I’ll typically go with everyday, it was really fun to get to be made up like that.
Katrina Bowden’s retro ‘60s look on Public Morals. (Photo: TNT)
It sounds like your beauty routine is more low-maintenance. How long does it take you to get ready to go out?
It really depends on the day. If I’m running errands, I’m not really doing anything; I just put on mascara and sunscreen and I’m good to go. If I’m trying to put myself together, hair and makeup take about 30 minutes. I don’t do a whole lot.
It’s still so hot out! What are your summer beauty tips to get through these last few weeks of summer?
Summer beauty is so minimalistic — you embrace your shininess and deal with sweat. It’s going to be nice in the fall, wearing a bit more makeup and some darker tones. [My hair] always gets so frizzy in the summer. It’s nice when summer ends; you get back into your normal, everyday, beauty routine with a little bit more color on your face!
From growing up in New Jersey to living in New York now, how has your beauty routine changed?
I didn’t really have a beauty routine — sparkly nail polishes and glittery lip glosses. I’m definitely way more cautious now to keep my skin in good shape and look my best. The biggest change is sunscreen. I religiously wear sunscreen. I won’t go on a beach without it. When I was a teenager, I would go to the beach and be salty and windblown and kind of sunburnt. Having a good conditioner and a good leave-in conditioner at this age is important.
Speaking of your teenage years, I heard that you’ve known your now-husband, musician Ben Jorgensen, for 10 years.
We were together for three years before we got married. We dated a bit back when I was 17! We met then and had a little fling, and then we lost touch for five years. When we were more grown up, it fell into place. We’ve been together ever since.
What was it like having rising careers at the same time?
It was really cool to have met him before my career took off. I was in high school still. I had done some modeling and commercials but nothing too serious. When we didn’t speak for a while, my career took off and his career took off. When we got back [together] we were both more established and comfortable with ourselves, and confident in who we were and what we were doing. He totally gets my industry, and I totally get his.
Does your husband steal any of your beauty products?
No. I wish he would! I try to put stuff on his face all the time. He won’t let me. He’s one of those guys who doesn’t even want to use face wash. He’s like, “I’ll use the soap that’s in the shower.” It’s a work in progress. Now he’s using face wash. We’re on the right track.
Are you looking to start a family anytime soon?
Not now! Maybe eventually, but we’re both having too much fun together now.
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