Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Kyra Sedgwick Can't Wait To Get Her Kids Back, for a While/New Disney Channel Star Overcomes Dyslexia, Reaches Out

Kyra Sedgwick reports that she and hubby Kevin Bacon and their 21-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter will soon be taking off for a holiday vacation together in Belize — and she can hardly wait "to have our children in our clutches again for a week or so. Nothing feels better and safer to me than being surrounded by my husband and children," says the Emmy-winning "The Closer" star, whose series returns with new episodes a week from tonight (12/6).

Sedgwick admits she's still adjusting to having an empty nest at home in New York, now that daughter Sosie's off at college. "My life is definitely changed — now I guess I'll have the chance to see what that change means."

One thing she already knows is that "It makes it easier to leave town, there's no question. I won't be torn for six months, feeling like, 'Oh, I'm leaving my kids at home and I'm such a bad mother.'"

She's speaking, of course, of her "Closer" production schedule, which keeps her in Los Angeles much of the year. Asked whether she can see the end on the horizon after six years of the acclaimed TNT drama, she answers, "I think the show continues to be amazing. I mean, we went up in viewership 20 percent last year, which is unusual." To say the least! Small wonder "The Closer" is already picked up for next season.

The latest "Closer" mini season begins with a crackling episode that throws a few curves and sets the stage for her beguiling Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson to take a promotion that her husband (Jon Tenney) and colleagues believe she should want. But, "Everyone is projecting their dreams and aspirations on her; that's what makes her feel alone this season," the actress notes. "I think that she is sort of fighting against the promotion. It's complicated for her."

Sedgwick's latest activities include the video she and Bacon made in support of gay marriage. "Love is so rare these days. To find someone you want to spend the rest of your life with is a rare and wonderful gift — to oppose it is so dead wrong to me," she explains.

And they include her role as a reporter in the big-screen "Man on a Ledge" with Sam Worthington, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris and Elizabeth Banks, shooting in NYC.

As for playing a character different from Brenda, she laughs. "She's a hoot. I've really been enjoying it. I love Brenda, but I enjoy having an affair."

INSPIRING: Bella Thorne is making a splash on the Disney Channel's new "Shake It Up!" — in fact, the network is banking on the fetching 13-year-old becoming a breakout star as Miley Cyrus moves on into adulthood. Thorne tells us that, along with the high jinks of the comedy, in which she plays a teen backup dancer on a fictional TV program called "Shake It Up Chicago," there'll be a few serious moments ahead on the show.

"We deal with teen issues like having friends, and dealing with learning disabilities." Her character, CeCe Jones, she says, "is dyslexic, like me.

"She just, like, tries her best to stay in school, to stay on the show. Sometimes it's really challenging. Sometimes she handles it kind of rough."

How does Thorne handle it? Does she have someone read lines with her?

"I do that with my brother sometimes. I do it with my mother. She will say a line, read a word and say, 'That's how it's supposed to be pronounced.'"

Thorne is glad that her series alter ego is dealing successfully — albeit not always easily — with her learning challenge. She says, "I would love to reach out to kids with dyslexia, or actually any learning disability. When I found out that CeCe has it, I thought, 'That's a great way to show that it's normal.' Kids can see how she works through it. Her mom is encouraging her, helping her out with it. She has to balance her school with work and friends and do good in school in order to stay on 'Shake It Up Chicago.'"

She adds, "These characters on the show, they're not perfect; they're real-life kids. They get in trouble. They get grounded."

The actress tells us that the character's condition was never specifically spelled out upfront. The casting breakdown said, "'CeCe struggles for C's in school.' It is a big part of her life, like it is mine. I have to deal with it every day. Schoolwork is not really my thing. It's hard, but you just get through it."

OFF THE GRID: Craig T. Nelson reports that the "Parenthood" team gets a two-and-a-half-week hiatus at Christmas, and he and his family will likely use the opportunity to get away from it all — as in away from civilization somewhere. He savors the rugged life out in nature, he tells us. "I really do. It affords me the chance to really reflect and get it together. And I know the family not only benefits from it, but they really enjoy it."

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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