Jenna finds comedy a doddle

There aren't too many young actresses who can play comedy, but Jenna Elfman is one of them.

A Golden Globe and a couple of Emmy nominations for playing flower-child Dharma in the sit-com Dharma And Greg are proof of that. She was the best thing about last year's EdTV and now with Keeping The Faith, she has her highest-profile role yet.

A sweet-natured romantic comedy that revolves around the age-old scenario of two men and one woman, it sees her playing the childhood friend of Ed Norton and Ben Stiller, who reappears in their lives after years away.

While they've become a priest and a rabbi respectively, she's grown into a no-nonsense corporate executive.

She's very smart and computer-like,' explains the leggy Elfman. 'She hasn't had that game of being in a relationship, or living spiritually, so work is her game and that's why she gets so rocked when she comes into their world. I liked that, because it was real and people could relate.'

In fact, Elfman adopted some of her character's traits. 'It brought out the ferocity in me, but in a good way. Like, I never used to nail people but there are people who need to be nailed sometimes, especially in my business. It was very therapeutic.' Helping her establish dominance was the fact that she's taller than both Norton and Stiller. 'Well what are they going to do, chop my legs off? They did make them stand on a box sometimes,' she laughs.

The 28-year-old originally planned on being a ballet dancer, until an ankle injury made her switch to dancing for TV and films (and Depeche Mode videos) and then to acting. 'I was really good,' she says. At least she can console herself with the prospect of towering over more leading men in the future.

Keeping The Faith
Cert: cert12