'Desperate Housewives' Julie Benz gears up for Winter Olympics: 'I get really into it.'

Julie Benz, currently guest-starring on ABC's "Desperate Housewives," knows firsthand what it takes to be a competitive figure skater, and she can't wait to cheer them on during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

"I love watching these kids who have trained their whole lives and this is their one shot for a lot of them," she says. "I get really into it, and sad when they fail. I'm just a very emotional person."
 
Benz suffered a bad injury when she was 13 and wasn't able to skate for a year. She began modeling, and that led to acting roles.

"I think maybe that's why I still feel a little star-struck," she says. "I still feel like this little girl from Pittsburgh who had a dream and it just seems unreal that I get to do what I love every day. I am very lucky, and I know in my heart that I'm not the best actor out there. All I can do is be the best that I can be. And I work really hard at it."

Benz has no regrets about switching careers.

"Let's face it, you don't have that much longevity as a figure skater," she says. "You can find yourself washed-up at 20. I always told myself I was going to retire at 18, and I kept telling myself that. I knew I would do something else. When I got injured, I thought, 'Wow, this feels good and, call me crazy, but I think I can make a living at this.'"

"Desperate Housewives "airs Sundays on ABC. The Vancouver Winter Olympics kick-off on Friday, Feb. 12.

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More Julie Benz/Winter Olympics dish:

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Photo credit: Getty Images