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Laurel James; The Events That Shaped Her and Where She Wants To Go From Here
By: Alice Young

Normally, I'm not the one who asks for interviews; I let them come to me when I'm ready. Laurel James - from the moment she stepped into the spotlight - was different; I needed this interview and I didn't think she'd ever think of it on her own. So when she agreed on the spot, I was shocked. And then she invited me into the kitchen so she could cook while making the lunches for the cast to eat while at their panel. Her dog was sleeping in the corner and she seemed to be completely at home already. I sat down on the counter where she wasn't going to be working and the interview began.

Alice Young: You grew up in Texas with your parents and one sister, correct?

Laurel James: Yes, that is correct. We also had a slew of maids and butlers and chefs, along with pets. But none really stayed very long or made a lasting impression on me.

AY: You were raised in a rich family?

LJ: My father was an oil business man. Of course we had money. Way too much of it, in my opinion. And they always thought they were entitled to everything. I personally hated it.

AY: What do you mean by "entitled to everything"?

LJ: Well, my father thought that he was entitled to my respect when I was little. As I grew up, I learned that I didn't have to respect him or the things that he put me through. He wasn't a good father to me, but he was to Kendall because I made him be.

AY: What kinds of things did he put you through?

LJ: That's a part of my past that I don't want aired out, so I'm going to go with no comment.

AY: Okay, moving on. You had a sister?

LJ: Yeah, her name is Kendall and she's four years younger than me. But she, uh, passed away about three years ago. Almost four now, actually.

AY: Are you okay with talking about what happened?

LJ: Yes, actually. It's pretty public knowledge that we were in a car accident. It was almost four years ago and she had convinced me to go with her to a football game. On the way home, she fell asleep. I stopped on the side of the road to help someone out. While I was out of the car, a drunk driver hit our car with such strength that the car flipped twice and Kendall was pronounced dead on arrival.

AY: How did that accident affect your life?

LJ: I lost my sister. That was the biggest thing, until I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. That's when I started doing research and then got Toaster, my PTSD dog. She goes with me everywhere. Then, I bought Kendall's horse from my mom and got my own ranch. Cooking was something I enjoyed before the accident, but my love for it increased. I really threw myself into it.

AY: And cooking is how you met Jensen, which lead to getting your current job and meeting your now boyfriend Jared Padalecki, correct?