WZ.com Note: You can listen to the audio version of our interview with Stacy Keibler HERE.
Stacy Keibler is a busy woman.
Not that she wasnâ<80><99>t busy before. As a WWE Diva, she had an extensive travel schedule around the world. In fact, that was a major factor in her deciding to leave the company.
â<80><9c>I left the business because of the lifestyle,â<80> Keibler said. â<80><9c>A lot of people will tell you how hard it is to be on the road.
â<80><9c>You donâ<80><99>t have a car or hotel paid for. You get dropped off on a Friday and you have to get around the state. A different city each night. You are away from friends and family. It was really tiring. I wanted to be more normal and sleep in my own bed every night.â<80>
Nonetheless, that hectic travel schedule and appearances around the world increased her profile and her status as a celebrity. Soon, the producers of Dancing with the Stars called. Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn gave their blessing.
â<80><9c>Dancing with the Stars was a huge stepping stone,â<80> Keibler said. â<80><9c>That really opened up doors for me. My dream has always been to be an actress.â<80>
Stacy soon gained her first taste of mainstream attention on the popular ABC show. Television development deals were offered. She never returned to WWE.
â<80><9c>Actually, that was my decision before Dancing with the Stars,â<80> Keibler recalled. â<80><9c>I was going to take a year off. It was great timing when the show came because I would have been any other blonde walking around the streets of Los Angeles. I thank my lucky stars.
â<80><9c>When Dancing with the Stars was going to end, I would only have two months left on my contract. Halfway through, WWE wanted to renegotiate my contract.â<80>
Keibler still wanted the sabbatical from the hectic travel and an opportunity to explore the doors opened by her success on Dancing with the Stars.
â<80><9c>It was as simple as wanting First Class airfare. They asked me who I thought I was. They told me I was no different than any other Diva,â<80> Keibler said.
â<80><9c>But 30 million people were watching the show. I could not go anywhere without people excited about the show coming up to meet me. All I wanted was the protection of having First Class. They said, â<80>~absolutely not.â<80><99> Plus, they didnâ<80><99>t want to give me any more money.
â<80><9c>So, it was an easy decision for me.â<80>
Now a full-time actor with two development deals, Keibler takes her career very seriously.
â<80><9c>When Iâ<80><99>m not working, Iâ<80><99>m in acting class three or four times a week,â<80> Keibler said. â<80><9c>And I have made a career of saying no to things. Instead of seeing me everywhere falling on my face, Iâ<80><99>ve said no to lots of things. I have tried to pick very good projects and do very good characters.â<80>
Keiblerâ<80><99>s selective approach also includes saying â<80><9c>noâ<80> to any role involving nudity.
â<80><9c>Itâ<80><99>s not something I want to do. Itâ<80><99>s not who I am. Itâ<80><99>s not a part of my personality. I recently turned down a part in a movie and many other roles that would have been awesome parts and could be stepping-stones. But itâ<80><99>s not what I represent.â<80>
Turning down roles does not mean that Stacy Keibler will not be appearing on a television near you. She is featured in the upcoming ABC Family miniseries, â<80><9c>Samurai Girl,â<80> debuting on the first weekend of September.
â<80><9c>Without giving too much away, I have such a great character that shows up halfway through. I bring a lot of surprises and stir the pot. I do some sword fighting and martial arts. It was such a different character for me to play and sink my teeth into.â<80>
To promote â<80><9c>Samurai Girl,â<80> Keibler will be appearing this Friday at a 1:30 autograph signing at the San Diego ComicCon.
â<80><9c>I am so excited to go to ComicCon because itâ<80><99>s the first chance I have to reconnect with my wrestling fans,â<80> Keibler said. â<80><9c>I will be at the ABC Family booth (#3913). I want everyone to come by and bring whatever they have for me to sign.â<80>
And if you canâ<80><99>t make it to ComicCon, check out eBay where Keibler will be auctioning off her outfits from her wrestling diva days.
â<80><9c>I have been asked if I would ever sell my stuff, so I will be putting things up for auction every couple of weeks. I want to give back to my fans. A portion of the money will go to various charities.â<80>
Even though she is giving up some tangible items and even though she has transitioned into a successful acting career, Keibler still has a soft spot for the wrestling business.
â<80><9c>It was a great chapter of my life. I grew up in the business. I made friends. I had life experiences that people three times my age will never have.â<80>
As far as a return to the WWE, Keibler never says never.
â<80><9c>I entered it when I was 19 years old. It doesnâ<80><99>t get any better than traveling around the world and walking out to fans screaming your name. I will never do anything again where I will get a rush like that.â<80>
