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Interview with Zoe
« on: Jul 17th, 2002, 1:41am » |
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http://www.sunjournal.com/story.asp?slg=071302zoe
“Survivor” fan Jennifer Caron, 10, of Sabattus has her picture taken with Zoe Zanidakis at Hannaford’s supermarket on Sabattus Street, Lewiston, Friday afternoon. Zanidakis was a contestant on “Survivor: Marquesas.” - Jose Leiva
Future looks bright to Zoe Zanidakis
By Kathryn Skelton
Staff Writer
Forget cutthroat life on a tropical island. Zoe Zanidakis wants to survive post-reality show obscurity.
So far the 35-year-old “Survivor” contestant is putting forth a true Yankee effort.
Zanidakis has two books in the works, another calendar under way, and she’s taking acting lessons with ambitions for the big screen.
She’s also doing Maine’s supermarket circuit, appearing at Hannafords across the state. When she’s not popping up there, she’s at picnics, festivals, restaurants and rival grocers. Nearly every day in July is booked.
Preparing for a three-hour signing session at the Sabattus Street Hannaford on Friday, she said the schedule isn’t wearing on her yet.
Zanidakis said that her lobster boat – a 40-foot ship named the “Equinox” – is for sale. She’s thinking about getting out of lobstering, something she’s done for 15 years and her family has practiced for generations off the coast of Monhegan Island. But Zanidakis won’t get out of fishing altogether.
“I’m always fishing, I’ve always been a fisherman of life,” she said, flashing on some of the same Zen practicality she exhibited on the Marquesas Islands.
“Survivor” viewers watched Zanidakis for nine episodes this spring as she fished, crafted a kite and tried to blend into the background, keeping out of the political fray. After a flare-up with teammate Tammy, she was voted off by 7-1 on April 25.
The show lasted 12 episodes in all.
While she may not have rocked many boats, she didn’t win many hearts, either.
In a CBS online popularity poll, Zanidakis ranks dead last out of all 16 survivors – even behind Peter, the frank hippie ousted in the first episode.
Apparently the Maine fans lining up to buy her calendars, hats and lobsters haven’t seen the poll – or didn’t vote.
Zanidakis said the “Survivor” participants e-mail each other often. “We don’t hold any grudges at all.”
The cast has gathered at Neleh’s Utah home for a lobster bake and in Omaha for an AIDS benefit in John’s home state. Zanidakis said she hopes to have the whole crew in Maine in the fall to have a cookout and raise money for Outward Bound and the Make a Wish Foundation.
“In real life, I think a few of us could work together on projects,” Zanidakis said.
For now, she’s busy with a few projects of her own.
Zanidakis is working two books, an autobiography of growing up on an island and a cookbook from the Lobster Lady (her nickname.)
She’s taking acting lessons. Her coach has given her a monologue to practice.
“I’m always sort of acting out anyway – from running a restaurant to an inn, different things I’ve always done in my life,” Zanidakis said. “You’re always putting on some kind of act.”
She’s also reading a script from her coach and, someday, will start her own screenplay, “but I have to slowly write it down from my journals.”
On Sunday, she’s doing a photo shoot for a 2004 calendar. The one she’s selling and signing this year was conceived and shot before she applied for “Survivor.” She’s in the Lobstering Women of Maine 2002 calendar. She heard they weren’t doing it again, so she decided to try her own.
The timing, that she has it to sell now to capitalize on her popularity, is just serendipitous, Zanidakis said.
When asked about her 15 minutes of fame, she said she had hoped it would last this long. She’s got a Web site www.allzoe.com – to keep fans updated on her schedule, her life, her thoughts about the show.
Setting up for her in-store appearance, a personal assistant drags in all the props: a lobster trap, poster and boxes of calendars. She asks the store manager to pop the theme music to “Survivor” over the store speakers, and he does.
At 3 p.m. about 30 people have gathered, forming a line back to the bakery. The store had posted an announcement about her appearance.
“I feel so wonderful with the way people have welcomed me and been so positive about the experience,” said Zanidakis.
She may slow down in the fall, take more acting classes. But for now, there are fans. She greets the first woman in line with a hug, chats for several minutes, then signs a hat, photo and calendar.
Zanidakis will be at the Polaris Dealership in Oxford Saturday afternoon, and Oxford Plains Speedway in the evening.
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