Brandi Glanville finds success after scorn
NEW YORK — Brandi Glanville caught the public eye when her divorce from actor Eddie Cibrian became tabloid fodder, but she’s held people’s interest with her role on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
Glanville joined the Bravo show as a recurring member in season two. Audiences responded to her no-nonsense attitude and lack of filter and she was rewarded with full-time status. The show, now in its fourth season, airs on Mondays (8 p.m. EST).
Her best-selling memoir, “Drinking & Tweeting: and other Brandi Blunders,” published earlier this year, tells of the breakup of her marriage and the ups and downs of divorce. (After the split, Cibrian, who appeared in the TV series “CSI: Miami” and “Third Watch,” married country singer LeAnn Rimes.) A follow-up book is scheduled for early 2014.
In a recent interview, Glanville, 41, talked about her popularity, persona — and the paparazzi.
Q. Why do you think you resonate with fans?
A. There’s a lot of women out there that have gone through heartbreak and cheating and divorce and I really think that’s who is kind of holding me up and got my back and saying, ‘Listen, she’s allowed to mess up. We’ve been there’. ... Also, even if I had a ton of money, I don’t think I would ever live the way that some of these people live (on ‘The Real Housewives’). It’s unnecessary. I have kids and I want nice things, don’t get me wrong, but I think there’s a point where you don’t need to spend $6,000 on a vase. It’s like, what are you doing?
Q. Who would you want to play you in a movie?
A. I love Katherine Heigl. I think she’s adorable, I think she’s funny. I loved her in ‘Knocked Up.’ She has brown eyes and blond hair like myself. And she’s a little younger and hotter than me and I feel like you want younger and hotter if you get to pick. (Laughs.)
Q. The paparazzi seem to follow you all the time, even to your sons’ soccer matches. How does that feel?
A. Every weekend they’re there. What do they think we’re gonna do? I mean grandparents are there. We’re there with kids. ... We’re not gonna fight. I don’t know what picture they’re hoping to get because I feel bad for the other parents and the other parents get annoyed and I understand it but there’s nothing we can do about it.
Q. Did the paparazzi follow you when you were married to Cibrian?
A. No. ... We lived in the (San Fernando) Valley but nobody really knew who Eddie was except that he was an actor on television. ... We lived a really normal life.
Q. Do you think your relationship with your ex-husband and Rimes will ever be civil?
A. I honestly hope so, you know. I don’t have issues with them anymore.