Figure Skater Cohen Might Pursue Acting

After spending the last month as a Hollywood darling, Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen has become tempted to leave figure skating’s competitive ranks to pursue acting. Her career switch could occur after this week’s world championships in Calgary, Canada, where she will be the favorite after the withdrawals of Turin champion Shizuka Arakawa of Japan and bronze medalist Irina Slutskaya of Russia.

Cohen, of Corona del Mar, finished second at the last two world championships. She was first after the short program at Turin but fell on the first jump of her long program and touched her hands to the ice on her second jump.

“I love what I do, but figure skating is not quite what it used to be,� Cohen said, “and it is a little bit disheartening to skate in front of half-empty arenas. I’m a performer, and it’s tough.

“Generally, for whatever reason, skating is not as popular as basketball and football. There were times during [the Tonya Harding controversy] where there were sold-out arenas, but aside from the Olympics, we’re skating in half-empty arenas.�

Cohen said a victory this week would not affect her decision. Competition begins Monday with the men’s qualifying and pairs short program; the women’s event starts Wednesday with qualifying.

Cohen, 21, said she has been offered cameo acting roles and that her agent has been inundated with scripts. In addition, she said she spoke to actor Ben Stiller about a figure skating movie he’s due to produce.

She also appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno� and attended Oscar parties for “Inside Edition� and recounted her experiences.

“It was a lot of fun,� she said. “I was happy to get into my Nikes after being on six-inch heels for a week.�

She’s happy to be back on skates but said she doesn’t need a major title to be satisfied with her career. “Of course, I want to win the worlds, but for me, it’s increasingly a title or medal isn’t important. It’s a couple of days in your life,� she said.