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my car: linda kash

Actress Linda Kash and her Ford Edge.Fernando Morales/The Globe and Mail

  • The car: Ford Edge
  • Profession: Actress
  • Age: 45
  • Hometown: Montreal
  • Film credits include Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Cinderella Man and Man of the Year
  • TV credits include Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Degrassi, 'Til Death Do Us Part, Cybill, Ellen, Sabrina and Robson Arms
  • Won a Gemini award for her performance in At The Hotel
  • Operates the Peterborough Performing Arts Academy in Ontario
  • Appears in Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers along with Marion Ross (TV’s Happy Days), May 12- June 10, at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto
  • Radio show host on CJWV-FM in Peterborough, Ont
  • Appears in the pilot Sworn to Silence alongside Neve Campbell – will know in the fall if the show is picked up

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She's appeared in Seinfeld, 3rd Rock from the Sun, 'Til Death Do Us Part and the movie Cinderella Man. But Linda Kash is best known as the angel from the Philadelphia cream cheese commercials.

Nowadays, the Canadian actress is focusing her efforts on the stage. She ditched Los Angeles and moved to Ontario. To get to rehearsals for her role in the play, Lost in Yonkers, Cash drives a 2008 Ford Edge.

Why did you buy an Edge?

I love the 4WD because I need that. I live on a farm and I have a really, really cruddy road. I've gone backwards in it with a 2WD so I thought I'm going to get snow tires and 4WD and we're going to feel safer.

I looked around and test drove other cars like the RAV4 when I was deciding to go for a crossover. I really liked the Edge. I thought it was a great drive and I loved the heated seats! I use them in the summer – I just like my bum being warm.

Are you a car girl?

I love cars. I lived in L.A. for seven years and I did a heck of a lot of driving. I pride myself on being a darn good driver.

Any accidents or mishaps?

Yeah. So what? Really stupid ones – in parking lots.

The neat thing about the Edge is it has this sensor. If something is behind you it tells you. The only thing I don't like is when I borrow my hubby's car he doesn't have that. Now I'm used to hearing something when I back up.

Do you rehearse behind the wheel, too?

Oh yeah. All the time. Actually when you're commuting it's a really great way to learn lines.

And I have a mouthful to say in this play so Bella [her character in the play] is talking a lot behind the wheel, which is disturbing because she's slightly mentally delayed.

What did you drive in L.A.?

When we went to L.A., I had a little Hyundai Excel in the late '80s. We had a TV in the backseat; we had bed stuff on top. We were weighted down.

Then I got a Tracker. The day I didn't get Frasier – I was up for Roz. Three of us auditioned but I didn't get the part so I was in a crappy mood. Lisa Kudrow got it, but she was replaced by Lori Kirkland. I went in my Tracker, backed up and I was inches away from hitting a woman who was about 60 years old. It was so scary.

I stopped the car, got out and said, "Oh my God! I am so sorry! Are you okay?" She just looked at me. She didn't say anything. … She ended up suing me for $25,000. She claimed I knocked her down and I hit and ran. And she won! Because in L.A., anything under $25,000 isn't worth going to court over.

There was a parking attendant and I know he saw it. I went back to the lot and I burst into tears and said, "You saw what happened – how can you not back me up?" He said, "I'm sorry. I can't comment on that."

I thought, "Oh my God – she split the money with him!" It was just incredible.

Do people recognize you when you're driving?

I don't think so. At least, I hope not because I'm talking to myself all the time.

People recognize me on the street from the cream cheese commercials. They don't know why they know me, but they know they know me.

It's a funny thing behind the wheel – you think you're anonymous and no one can see you. It feels a lot more private than it actually it is.

I saw a friend of mine, John Brunton, on the road in a really snazzy car. He produces Canadian Idol and Battle of the Blades. It was at the end of the day and my hair was a mess. I honked my horn and waved at him. He didn't know who I was. I could tell I kind of scared him – I looked stalk-ery. He slowed right down so I couldn't be beside him anymore. I thought it was funny.

When I lived in L.A., I'd see a lot of people in their cars but I didn't wave to them. I left them alone. A lot of people drive Porsches there.

When I did Seinfeld in season four, I found out Jerry Seinfeld had an airport hanger full of Porsches. He'd drive a different colour a day.

I don't need a swank car. I need a car that is really reliable.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

pgentile@globeandmail.com

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