Fifteen minutes with Chris Noth and Lauren Holly

Actress Lauren Holly and actor Chris Noth were in Abu Dhabi as star guests of the World Travel Awards and even presented some of the honours. We had very quick chats with them about life on screen and off.

Lauren Holly

What's your impression of Abu Dhabi?

It's my first time in here and I couldn't get over how clean it is, it's the most pristine city! It's fantastic. I haven't been around too much yet, I'm still getting acclimated and it's really hard to tear myself away from this hotel.

What are you currently working on?

I am on the show Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and we only finished shooting the fourth season last week. I'll start filming my third season on the show right after the 4th of July. (We're about to start our 5th season, and 3rd for me.) There are a couple of other things in the works, but to be honest it's such a hard schedule. We make 24 episodes a year, so there's not that much time. I'm on a little break now, I'm travelling here and to a few more cities for a couple of weeks.

Do you prefer TV or movies? You're best known for your role on the hit show Picket Fences.

Thank you! I like TV, because you get so close to all the people you work with, it becomes like a family. Picket Fences is coming out on DVD in June. We did four seasons, and I'm so excited for it to come out, it's going to get a whole bunch of new fans.

The NCIS producer left, how does this affect the show?

It's very shocking, but these things happen in TV. There are certain things that will probably be better, because we always waited for his words for the scripts, so maybe now they'll be earlier.

What's your relationship with ex-husband Jim Carrey like?

Our relationship is fantastic, he's well and I wish him well. Working with Jim is sort of... he's a tornado and a genius. It's nice to be in that presence.

You have three adopted children with your husband Francis Greco, how does your work affect your personal life?

For NCIS I don't need to travel, we shoot in LA, so the kids come to set with me all the time. It's the travelling that's hard, and I've been saying I need to bring them back here because they would love it so much. But the trouble is I'm going from city to city, and it would be unbearable for them. I'm gone for a couple of weeks and I've never done that before, so hopefully it's harder on me than it is on them.

Chris Noth

What do you think of Abu Dhabi?

It's my first time in the UAE and in the region. It's very inspiring, the atmosphere and the architecture are overwhelming. It's a little bit like I imagined, but I haven't seen enough yet to know what I'm talking about. The Emirates Palace in and of itself makes Donald Trump look like a pauper. It's so opulent and elegant and it's hard to get to know your way around here.

What are you working on these days?

I just finished a season of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and I just finished shooting a movie which my friend wrote called Frame of Mind, it's completed.

What of the rumours of a Sex and the City movie?

Yeah the rumours, they're heating up! I'd imagine I'll probably be in it, I'd imagine. But if I'm not, that's ok. It all depends on if it's well written, then it will be good.

What did you think of the name, John, which they gave you at the very end of the very last episode of Sex and the City? Everyone expected an exotic, out-of-this-world name as a buildup.

I got it, I got what they were doing. It's an all-American name, nothing special.