Mayim Bialik stars as Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS hit TV series “The Big Bang Theory.” She was introduced to movie audiences portraying the young Bette Midler in the film “Beaches.” From there, Bialik went on to star in the popular sitcom “Blossom.” She pursued her higher education at UCLA, earning her B.S. in neuroscience and Hebrew and Jewish studies, then earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience.
A vegan and devoted mother of two, Bialik is the spokeswoman for the Holistic Moms Network, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting holistic and green parenting and living.
Look out for Bialik’s forthcoming book, to be published by Simon & Schuster in the spring of 2012.
ROBIN BRONK: If you had five minutes in the Oval Office with President Obama, what would you discuss with him? What issue would you like him to know about?
MAYIM BIALIK: I think he probably knows about most issues (!), and it would be beyond arrogant for me to try and educate him about my perspectives on, say, the Middle East, the child sex trafficking industry or the budget. But I am curious how much he knows about the decision more and more people (and even politicians!) are making, to embrace vegetarian and vegan lifestyles and choices. It impacts the global economy, the environment and personal health and healthcare costs, and I would be curious if he has dipped a toe into Meatless Mondays.
RB: If you could give President Obama one piece of advice, what would that be?
MB: I would love to tell him how invigorating his campaign was to so many young people who previously were uninterested or unmotivated to know about politics. I want him to try and find that spark again to help re-inspire people, especially young people.
RB: If you could ask President Obama one question, what would that be?
MB: I would like to know what his personal ambitions are, meaning: Is there something he really wishes he could do? I am curious what he is really about as a human being, not just as the president. Does he want to learn to tap-dance? Speak Mandarin? Cook a perfect soufflé? Learn to paint a proper still life? What is he not done achieving personally, I guess is the question.
RB: What book would you offer to lend President Obama? Why?
MB: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer; see No. 1 above!
RB: If you were going to send the president to one place in the United States for one day, where would that be? Why?
MB: I would send President Obama to Louisville, Ky. The Louisville Slugger Museum is excellent, and you get an adorable tiny baseball bat as a souvenir.
RB: Would you ever consider a political career?
MB: I am inspired by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Joe Lieberman for their political and personal achievements tremendously, so I guess if I could have a shot at being the first observant Jewish woman president, that would be amazing.
Bronk is a seasoned Capitol Hill strategist and advocate. She started her career at The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group for the arts and entertainment industry, in July 1998. During her tenure as CEO, Bronk has taken The Creative Coalition from a New York-based entity to a national organization. www.thecreativecoalition.org