ELISABETH RÖHM - Change IS GOOD

The Law & Order alum opens up about her new projects and passions

- Susan Hornik

Elisabeth Röhm didn’t set out to become an actress. As a student at Sarah Lawrence College, she studied writing and European history. “I like history, true stories and things like that,” Elisabeth, 50, tells Closer. “I ended up pursuing acting because I fell in love with telling the stories of specific people.”

For four seasons, Elisabeth played Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn on Law & Order. “Jerry Orbach said to me when we first started working together, ‘We only do two takes, so come prepared!’ And so I never messed around. It was an invaluable lesson.” In the movies, Elisabeth has appeared in the features Bombshell, Joy and American Hustle. She is also a published author and in 2021 made her debut as a director. Elisabeth spoke with Closer before the start of the actors’ strike.

What’s your favorite childhood memory?

I grew up in upstate New York with this cathedral of trees around me. I was a horseback rider and we had a dog. My greatest impressions are of being in nature, being with animals, and using my imagination as I walked through the woods.

Do you still horseback ride?

No, I took a big fall. I said, “I’m a mom. I can’t do this anymore.” As you get older, you don’t heal quite like you used to. I’ve already done all the fun, exciting things on horseback, but I do think about it sometimes.

Was your family supportive of you becoming an actress?