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Lara Fabian, David Hyde Pierce, Bernadette Peters

I saw Lara Fabian perform on an awards show last year. She sang Adagio, and it was beautiful. Tell me more about her.
—Sherre B., Colorado

The 32-year-old Belgium-born songstress realized she was a singer at the age of 5, when she was riding in the car with her father. He was listening to classical music, and Lara began imitating what she heard, then announced, “Dad, I’m a singer.” From that point on, she started taking singing lessons, piano lessons, and opera lessons. By 14 she was singing in clubs in Brussels and writing her own songs. She moved to Quebec, Canada, at 19 because she felt she could pursue her career more fully. Her first hits were in French, and her records sold in the millions in French-speaking countries. Then, in 1996, she sang the theme song on the soundtrack for the Disney-animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She’s won numerous awards in France and Canada and recorded her first English-language album, Lara Fabian, in 2000. She also appeared on the soundtrack of the Steven Spielberg film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence singing For Always, a duet with another rising young classically trained singer, Josh Groban.

What can you tell me about David Hyde Pierce, the funny actor who plays Niles Crane on Frasier?
—R. Hansen, Nebraska

David Hyde Pierce has won several awards, including three Emmys, for his portrayal of snooty Niles Crane. Pierce, 43, was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He graduated from Yale with a double major in English and theater arts. His first professional acting gig was in the Broadway play Beyond Therapy. And his first feature film was Bright Lights, Big City. In between, he concentrated on the theater, where he got his big break in The Heidi Chronicles. Pierce’s film credits include Little Man Tate, which co-starred and was directed by fellow Yale graduate Jodie Foster, Sleepless in Seattle, Wolf, and Nixon. He currently can be seen in Full Frontal with Julia Roberts. Prior to Frasier, Pierce starred in the comedy The Powers That Be. His additional television credits include guest-starring roles on Crime Story, Spenser: For Hire, and The Simpsons. When he’s not working, Pierce’s hobbies are playing piano—he used to be a church organist—and skiing. He lives in Los Angeles.

What has happened to actress Bernadette Peters? I am a big fan of hers, and it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen her. Does she have a fan club?
—Holly H., South Carolina

If you haven’t seen Bernadette Peters, then you just haven’t been looking in the right places, because she’s been working as hard as ever. A native of Ozone Park, N.Y., the Tony-winning performer has conquered the worlds of theater, music, television, and movies. Her latest album, Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein, has received outstanding reviews. She co-starred in the Showtime movie Bobbie’s Girl with Rachel Ward, has guest-starred on such shows as Ally McBeal, and starred in several television movies, including Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston, What The Deaf Man Heard, and The Odyssey. She also has concerts booked at a number of venues across the country. Coming up, look for Peters in the feature film A Few Good Years, with Michael Douglas and Kirk Douglas. She’s also preparing for a Broadway revival of Gypsy. She lives in New York City and Los Angeles with her husband, investment adviser Michael Wittenberg. Though she doesn’t have a fan club, she does have an official website, www.bernadettepeters.com.

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