Carrie Fanizzi says she began cooking and baking as a "stress reliever." Today, if there is any stress, it involves keeping up with the accelerating demand at her business, Big Mama's Cheesecakes.

Margo Martindale asserts that her Southern accent, mature years, and corpulent figure have served her well in theatre, now more than ever. Indeed, the 50ish Jacksonville, Tex. native has just made her ...