Natalie Sperl

LOS ANGELES, Ca. — The approach of Mother’s Day spurred New Ulm native Natalie Sperl to write a letter to her mother, Arlene Sperl of New Ulm.

A model, actress and pop punk rock band leader, Sperl shared her letter with The Journal this week:

“Happy Mother’s Day.

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about our little town–the quiet streets, the front porch light you always left on, and how home never really meant the house itself. It meant you.

“I can still see you standing in the kitchen, cooking dinner in that same old pan you’ve had forever. I remember how you’d brush my hair back when I had a bad day, or how you always seemed to know when I needed to hear, ‘It’s going to be okay,’ even before I said a word. The sound of your voice calling me in from the backyard, the way you made holidays magical even when money was tight–it’s all stitched into me.

“Leaving that little town was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, because it meant walking away from all of that comfort and love. But you have me the courage to chase something bigger. You made sure I knew I could spread my wings, because you were the place I could always come back to.

“But no matter how far I go, those memories are my compass. And you, mom, are still my home.

“Thank you for every sacrifice, every word of encouragement, and every little moment that made my childhood so full of love. I am who I am because of you. I already won the lottery because you’re my mom.

“With all my heart, Natalie.”

The daughter of Arlene and Dennis Sperl of New Ulm, Natalie Sperl played Greta Garbo in the film “Mank,” nominated for six Golden Globe awards. She appeared as a stunning woman in “Around the World in 80 Days.” Her acting credits include TV shows Two and A Half Men, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS and others.

She developed celebrity impersonations including Gwen Stefani and First Lady Melania Trump in her YouTube series “The Sperliegirl Show.”

Sperl is a singer-songwriter and front woman of the band Kill My Coquette.