Elisabeth Shue wowed me when I visited the CSI set to watch her character, Julie Finlay, interrogate Chris Evert, who plays herself in the January 23 episode. Shue held her own in an on-the-court rally with the tennis legend. But it was the actress' behind-the-scenes interrogation of Evert that really impressed.
Shue: Except for my first day on CSI, I don't think I'd ever driven to work nervous before today. It's because I'm playing tennis with Chris Evert!
Evert: And I'm worried about my lines. I've never really acted before, except in the movie Wimbledon. I played myself as a commentator with John McEnroe.
Shue: You really are the best commentator out there. You and John should be a team. He was cute back in the day. You guys went out, right?
Evert: John? No...he wishes. I was engaged to Jimmy Connors.
Shue: Did anyone ever try to get in your head to throw you before a game?
Evert: I did have some death threats during tournaments — like, four or five times. I remember at the Canadian Open they had to drive me right up to the court. I looked up and saw police throughout the stadium. A mile away they found a guy with a rifle.
Shue: How about we do another tennis episode and murder you off?
Evert: Or I can be the killer!