Catherine Bethany Hicks double majored in Theology and English Literature at Notre Dame University and attended Cornell University where she earned a Master of…more
Catherine has said that she originally did not want to play a TV mom, but the 7th Heaven script grabbed her interest. She has also said that the character of Annie was too funny to pass up.
Catherine credits Season 3's In Praise of Women (where Annie gave birth to twins) as her favorite episode of 7th Heaven, going on to say that she never saw a filmed birthing scene that looked authentic, so doing it right was important to her. A lot of women wrote in to tell her how accurate her portrayal was, which she regards as one of the best compliments she's ever received.
Catherine Hicks: (when "7th Heaven" was starting its 11th season) The show is like a public service at this point. It gives a lot of people something at a time when the world is falling apart.
Catherine Hicks: (about the success of "7th Heaven") I think it came at a time when my generation, as parents, didn't know what we were doing. We read a lot of books, but we don't want to be as strict as our parents were, so as a result we're very lenient. I think Eric and Annie are role models. I think that the parents look to us; the kids look to the show. Everyone can see themselves represented in one or another character.
Catherine Hicks: (about her "7th Heaven" character) In real life I have one little girl, and I can barely do that right. I don't know how Annie does it right for each child, and I admire that she's not selfish. There's no time to get a manicure or pedicure, or get her massages or facials. She's there for the kids, and yet she's funny. She has a sense of humor. She's not just a hausfrau.