Q 13

PLAYBOY: You've read Valley of the Dolls. Can a sweet girl from a nice home find happiness in Tinseltown?

Shelley Long: Yes. She has to learn a few things, though, along the way. Always keep the door open. Closed office doors are a real temptation. I used to laugh about that, but I got caught once. That kind of thing is still going on. You can still be nice and know when to put your foot down or your knee in the air. Being nice doesn't mean you have to let people walk all over you or push you around or force you into a situation that you have no desire to be in. It is difficult, because there's a sort of trusting attitude I grew up with. Not everyone can be trusted. I think we all have to be very selective about the people we trust. That's something that people earn. You don't have to give it away.

Q 14

PLAYBOY: You're in front of a raging fire, cognac in hand, a guy's arm around your shoulder. Describe your check list before take-off.

Shelley Long: Did I bathe? Did I change my underwear? My check list is "Does this feel right?" Get into the moment and "Does this feel right?"

Q 15

PLAYBOY: What is funny in bed?

Shelley Long: Everything. I think a sense of humor is so appropriate in bed. We're full of surprises. You roll with the punches, and it's all fun. It's easy to get embarrassed, defensive and frightened, because sex and intimacy are real powerful, but you have to realize that nothing is life or death.

Q 16

PLAYBOY: As part of your job, you must dine with producers, directors, writers and actors. Who has the worst table manners in Hollywood?

Shelley Long: I understand that Rin Tin Tin can get very tacky. I take so few lunches, and all of them are with journalists who do more talking than eating. Look, it's hard to eat and talk at the same time, so I try not to judge. Don't count the stains on my tie and I won't count the stains on yours.

Q 17

PLAYBOY: When you want to be sexy, what do you or don't you put on?

Shelley Long: Fig leaves, just as an example. Music. In my experience, putting something lovely and luxurious on can be more stimulating to a situation than taking something off.

Q 18

PLAYBOY: Is it wrong for us to imagine that some of your bedmates are stuffed?

Shelley Long: Does that come out of People magazine? None of my bed companions are stuffed. The stuffed animals are gifts we've sort of accumulated. They're tokens of friendship from friends. The stuffed animals are kept in the den in their trunk. We have none in the bedroom. The bedroom is grown-up.

Q 19

PLAYBOY: Describe your compulsions.

Shelley Long: Popcorn. I love popcorn. Sometimes, chocolate. Potato chips. If I allow myself that sort of uninhibited behavior, I love to watch a good basketball game on television. I really enjoy that, and if I happen to get into the rhythm of reaching and eating, I do find, oh, it's gone. Guacamole also. It's real hard to stop with guacamole. If I allow myself to finish the guacamole bowl, it's because I'm hungry and I'm entitled. I don't get a lot of pleasure out of overindulging in things anymore. I will allow myself to have sweets and naughty carbohydrates. But that's OK. There's no problem with that. I'm not so strict that I don't give myself some pleasure here and there.

Q 20

PLAYBOY: If real men don't eat quiche, what would you suggest they eat?

Shelley Long: Oh, dear. Next question. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. Actually, for some reason, lasagna comes to my mind. I have no idea why.