The Actress Turned Reporter

In the Green Room with the Los Angeles Times’ Carla Hall

Carla Hall is a member of the Los Angeles Times editorial board. Before moderating a panel on our obsession with the paparazzi, she sat down in the Zócalo green room to tell the story of how she ended up in Los Angeles, and what it was like to pet a baby elephant.

Q. What was your favorite story to report?

A. A baby elephant was being hand-reared by the Oakland Zoo-an African elephant didn’t get it that it was her baby. I got to go up and hang out with the elephant and hang out with the keepers, and it was really fun. We got to rub the elephant’s trunk. They’re about as big as golden retrievers. They go up to you and head butt you. And then he died about 11 months later.

Q. What profession would you like to practice in your next life?

A. I’ve actually been an actress, and I’ve done that professionally-it would be great to do that again professionally. Other than that, I’d love to be a singer.

Q. Whom do you go to for advice?

A. My best friend Amy. We’ve been friends since 1993, when I started working at the Los Angeles Times. She was also there, and she’s not there anymore, but she’s still my best friend. I actually have a whole council, but Amy would be chief of them.

Q. Who’s the last person to leave you a voicemail?

A. A friend of mine. We met when I was having an argument with him online about a story I wrote where he’d said I’d gotten some math wrong. We argued back and forth, and it turned out I didn’t get it wrong. His last email said, “You sound nice, and I’d like to meet you.”

Q. What’s your favorite kind of doughnut?

A. The white iced kind with the multi-colored sprinkles on top.

Q. What’s your guilty pleasure?

A. The white iced doughnut! And watching TV.

Q. What’s your favorite show?

A. I love The Good Wife. I love Homecoming on Showtime.

Q. Describe your dancing style in one word or one sentence.

A. I’m cool, and I’m kind of old-school R&B.

Q. What’s the best way to deal with L.A. traffic?

A. It took me an hour and 15 minutes to get here! To drive a really good car with a really good sound system, and listen to your favorite music.

Q. What was the most important year of your life?

A. The year I moved out here to work on a TV show as a script consultant. It was a complete flop and got canceled after four episodes, but that changed my life because I stayed in L.A., and I love L.A.

*Photo by Aaron Salcido.