Kelly Schwartz, a business consultant and actor based in McLean, has a role in the new HBO miniseries Task. The show, starring Mark Ruffalo, follows an FBI agent who works to stop a string of violent robberies in Philadelphia.
Schwartz talked with Northern Virginia Magazine about her life as an actor and her favorite spots around NoVA.
What’s been your favorite acting experience so far?
My favorite thing was my very first TV role with an actual line, which was [the series] Fellow Travelers. It’s on Showtime, and Matt Bomer and Allison Williams and Jonathan Bailey are the actors. Even though I had one line, it was the most amazing experience because I got to hang out with
Allison and Matt and talk to them and really just get to know them as people. I remember one time in a scene, Matt has to be drunk. So every time before we would shoot, he would turn himself in circles so that he kind of had a feeling of being out of control. And I was like, ‘That is so smart. That’s so genius.’ Anytime I’m on set, I pick up these little gems from people that have been in this industry for a long time. And it’s just so valuable.
Do you have a favorite theater here in Northern Virginia?
I love Signature. I like Woolly Mammoth. Lately my husband [Axios co-founder Roy Schwartz] and I have been on a big comedy kick. I feel like life is stressful … so it’s kind of nice to just have that fun night out where you’re laughing.
Where else do you love to go locally?
My favorite vineyard lately is Stone Tower [Winery]. It’s gorgeous. It’s got the rolling hills with the vineyards, and there’s one side that’s family- and pet-friendly. But then there’s another side that’s just adults only. So if you want it to be a little more date-like, you have that.
Do you have a favorite museum?
I love the National Portrait Gallery. I think it’s so beautiful — just the atrium in the middle and architecture. I love the Natural History Museum. My kids love the Air and Space Museum as well. They like both, but particularly the one out in Dulles — Udvar-Hazy. It’s such a cool thing for kids to grow up in this area.
You’ve lived now in a variety of places. How does NoVA stack up?
I do love this area. I love that there’s four seasons here on the East Coast, because growing up in Texas, it was hot, hot, hot, and then you’d have an ice storm. You didn’t have the beautiful falling of the leaves and the spring flowers.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Feature image of Kelly Schwartz by Roy Cox
This story originally ran in our October issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
