Pay attention in school kiddies! This public service announcement comes from Laura Linney, who says she learned something about herself while shooting the upcoming HBO mini-series “John Adams.” It’s about the American Revolution, concentrating on the life of our second president (played by Paul Giamatti).
Apparently Linney, who plays Abigail Adams in the Tom Hanks-produced project, didn’t retain much American history from her school days. “I realized what a real moron I am, basically–an Ivy League-educated moron,” the actress told Armour & Co. when we sat down with her a few days ago. “I realized that American history is really wasted on high school sophomores.”
Linney, 43, who returned to the theater department at Northwestern University this weekend to talk to students about acting (Linney spent a year at the Evanston campus before attending Brown University), has a suggestion for history teachers in this country. “Have a cursory class first and then go back to it,” said the actress, who also stars with Philip Seymour Hoffman in “The Savages,” which hits theaters next month. “It is really unbelievably fascinating and important–for the context of who we are, what we are and where we’re going. Now I understand those American history buffs who become obsessed.”
We’re sure the kids appreciate the suggestion, Laura.
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tarmour@tribune.com
