Tammy Interview: Early Years
Q: When did you first know you had superpowers?
A: That's hard to answer. I didn't get really good with my powers until adolescence, but I had them somewhat even as a baby. There are photos of me playing with must have been energy constructs as a really little kid. I think most people assumed it was some sort of space age modeling clay or something. I quit doing it around other kids when I was barely old enough to remember, because the stuff would vanish if I stopped touching it. Other kids interpreted it that I wouldn't share my "toy" and I got into a lot of fights about it. So I knew there was something I had that other kids didn't, but I didn't really associate it with having a superpower.
I remember the first time I realized it was useful instead of just odd, though. I wanted something up on a counter and I made a bunch of stacked blocks to climb up. I was inordinately proud of myself. The only thing that kept me from bragging was that I was old enough at that point to worry about my image. I was already kind of an outcast as school, because I missed so much for filming. The last thing I needed was one more thing to make me different. So I saved the superpowers for home.
Q: Were you ever tempted to fly to school?
A: Not at all. I never flew at all until I started playing Zanelle. They had to coach me into it. I 'fly' by putting my weight on some of the plasma and then moving the plasma. Being completely out of touch with the ground was really uncomfortable for me. If you look carefully at any of the "flying" scenes, especially early on, you'll find they're a whole lot more like hovering than flying. Even now, I don't really fly recreationally; self-powered flying gets tiring after a while - not to mention air traffic control issues.
Q: How do you get around, then?
A. I have a motorcycle. It's cheaper and easier to park than a car. I can protect myself from the elements and impact, so I don't have to worry about the additional risks. And I also take mass transit a lot. Barring emergencies, it really is easier to just stick to the ground.
Q: A lot of former child stars have problems with drugs or alcohol, and you've been fairly open about your mother's struggle with addiction. How did you stay clean?
A: I didn't. I was fairly clean during my child modeling career and Superheroine Next Door because I was too busy to party much, and the studio was kind of keeping an eye out for issues. After the show was canceled and I couldn't find work, though, I went through a kind of rough patch.
Fortunately, I never managed to do any really dramatic damage, but... let's just say that drugs and superpowers don't mix. We don't let drunk people drive because of the damage an out of control car can cause. And I can do a whole lot more damage than a car, if only because I can get in to where the breakable stuff is. Nobody who thinks a stoned superhero would be funny thinks so after they're stuck in a room with one. Finally I got to the point where I scared myself out of any desire to take drugs ever again. I'll still drink socially, but I have a two drink per party maximum, and multiple houses in one night still counts as one party.
One of the downsides to having superpowers is that you're not as free to screw up as an average person, because you have the potential to make things so much worse. I have to be clean because they can't let someone like me run around loose otherwise.
