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I
had a date with Julia Stiles. I wasn't
sure how to feel...I wasn't nervous, but there was a bit of an uneasy
feeling. She had told me to meet her on MacDougal St. inbetween King
and Prince St. at café Le Gamin
I
took the Subway to the Houston St. stop
Then walked down W. Houston towards the territory that I was familiar
with, Bleecker St.
After checking out Bannana Republic, I proceeded over to MacDougal St.

And then found, Le Gamin, the little green place.
It was Seven O'Clock...The time we were supposed to meet. The seconds
were long, I had met many celebrities before, why should I care? I was
just going to interview her. At 7:05, I saw what had to be Julia Stiles
walking down the street. I picked up my backpack, walked towards her,
and before I could say anything she uttered "so you're Ezra."
She asked me if it would be okay if we could run a quick errand first,
what was I going to say, no? We went and picked up an object which for
her sake will remain unnamed, while talking about Kiss Me Kate, grandmothers,
smoking, clubs, and Eminem. While walking down MacDougal, a man followed
us giving us his best Rodney Dangerfield impression. It was pretty good...I
offerd him a buck if he could tell me Rodney's real name. He couldn't.
Julia gave him a dollar while I proceeded to inform the guy that Rodney's
real name was Jacob Cohen. When we got back to Le Gamin, the place was
packed, so we walked around trying to find another place. We decided
on a carry-out Thai place that she had never been to before. She got
a Thai Salad and a lemonade looking iced tea while I stuck with rice
and two bottles of water. I would go on to inform her that I live on
rice on water. We talked politics, Gore and Bush and she delighted me
by affirming her choice in Gore, while I explained to her that everything
bad Gore said, really wasn't his fault. We decided to eat in a little
park area, and right before we sat down, she informed me "I have to
pee." It was a good thing because I did too. Finding a bathroom on the
streets of Soho is not very easy as some of you may know, but she sweetalked,
well new-york-talked (meaning she pushed the guy aside) and so we used
their two bathrooms, seperately of course. We then proceeded back to
the park where we sat down at a table, and started the interview. I
promised her that although I might write an article, an entire transcript
would be provided, so that nothing would be taken out of context, one
of her pet peeves.
As for you, the reader, I informed her that I would give her a "warm
up" to my interview. I do for almost all long interviews, something
to get the mind moving, and something that expresses my silly personality.
Listen
to the Interview:
Intro:
-
Please
note, there was a lot of noise in the park and some words were undecipherable.
This is an accurate transcript, but not verbatim.
The
Transcript -- 6/21/2k -- 7:30 pm
Ezra: My name is blank
Julia: My name is blank?
Ezra: Yes.
Julia: Julia. No that's boring. Why're you
Ezra: Allright
Julia: My name is Slim Shady, I dunno…. (laughs)
Ezra: True/False, I have a middle name
Julia: True
Ezra: My middle name is blank
Julia: O'Hara
Ezra: Alright. True/False, I live in New York
Julia: True
Ezra: True/False, the café we were planning to eat at is
your favorite café
Julia: umm…false
Ezra: True/False, I would rather be somewhere else right
now.
Julia: False
Ezra: Alright, thanks, well that kills the follow up question.
True/False, I am currently dining with the most handsome and charming
fifteen year old….in the café if we were going to be eating in the
café
Julia: (laughing and enthusiastic) True.
Ezra: Follow up, true/false, I am currently dining with the
most handsome and charming fifteen year old on the street
Julia:Umm….I dunno…that kid might be fifteen…I dunno….
Ezra: Him? He looks like a punkass druggie little fucker
Julia: I would say true because most of these guys are not
fifteen.
Ezra: Thanks. I'm not gonna…
Julia: Come on, I'm not gonna say false, what're you talking
about
Ezra: Alright, umm….true/false, I am currently dining with
the most handsome and charming fifteen year old in New York.
Julia: So now this is turning into an interview about my
opinions of you.
Ezra: Just trust me on this one.
Julia: Okay, New York,….no, I have a cousin who's hot, sorry.
Ezra: It's allright. I think Kat Stratford is, insert your
favorite adjective….or an adjective.
Julia: Free spirited.
Ezra: Alright, at this point in time if forced to choose
between one or the other, I would rather be an adult or a teenager?
Julia: A teenager.
Ezra: True/false, the previous question was grammatically
correct?
Julia: (laughing) can you repeat the previous question?
Ezra: At this point in time, if forced to choose, I would
rather be a teenager or an adult?
Julia: It's grammatically correct.
Ezra: Incorrect. True/False, the previous
Julia: So I was wrong?
Ezra: Yes. True/False, the previous question was stated in
a grammatically correct syntax?
Julia: What?! I've completely lost track of you!
Ezra: Good, that's the whole point. The United States President
during World War I was?
Julia: (cracking up) Oh my god…oh no. Umm….Umm….Umm….
Ezra: His name's kind of similar to bratworst….well not really….
Julia: Well, that just threw me off….I just need to get the
chronologizal order correct.
Ezra: Okay, well here's a hint….World War is "WW", the initials
of the
Julia: Woodrow Wilson. Yeah, thanks, so that was basically,
you're dumb so I'm gonna give you the answer.
Ezra: no…
Julia: No!! You didn't give me a chance, I have to put it
in order, like if, I have….
Ezra: Okay, then we'll do World War II
Julia: Okay.
Ezra: We're doing the heat of World War II, none of that
Yalta Conference crap.
Julia: Umm….wait….Truman….was the Yalta conference one. So,
who was before Truman.
Ezra: You know this.
Julia: Was it… (mouthing)
Ezra: No.
Julia: Yeah I do know this, y'know, you just caught me off
guard. Before Truman was….Eisenhower!
Ezra: No.
Julia: Yeah, he had to leave office….
Ezra: Because he….DIED!!!
Julia: Roosevelt!
Ezra: I would rather have Al Gore or George Bush as my boyfriend.
Julia: As my boyfriend? Uch….Actually, Al Gore. Did you see
the New York Times where there was a photo booth picture of Tipper
Gore and him in college, and in the last picture she's going like
this and necking with him.
Ezra: Oh really?
Julia: Yeah, so I mean I guess he looks kind of exciting.
Ezra: Alright, here's my giddy-up question…
Julia: I can't believe it!
Ezra: What?
Julia: I've been out of school for a year, okay, you can't
ask me American History questions.
Ezra: (laughing) Fine, okay, here's my question and I don't
think I can possibly lose on this one…I would rather have Bill Clinton
or Ezra Galston as my boyfriend.
Julia: Bill Clinton's kind of kinky, I don't know….
Ezra: Yeah, he is kind of kinky, but then again he's going
to cheat on you.
Julia: Yeah, you're right, I would rather have Ezra Galston
as my boyfriend.
Ezra: Allright, sweet.
Julia: Because Al Gore, y'know…I mean Bill Clinton has pretty
bad taste, jesus…
Ezra: Well, I dunno…
Julia: (laughing) oh really?!
Ezra: (laughing) we'll get to that later….The last time you
kissed a guy was.
Julia: Umm…Today is Wednesday….umm…Monday.
Ezra: The last time you kissed your boyfriend….before…breaking
up, shit that doesn't work. I was trying to trap you there. Moving
on, okay, word association. Allright, you just have to..
Julia: You know this is the best interview that I've ever
had, you know the most intelligent interview that I've ever had.
Woman on street: May I borrow your pen for a second?
Ezra: Yeah.
Julia: I didn't do too bad on the American History questions….
Ezra: No, I'll give you more.
Woman to man: Alright, I'm writing down my number here…
Ezra: (whispering) 1-900-Tit-Sex…
Julia: (laughing) right…
Woman: Alright, here's your pen back.
Ezra: Thanks. Okay, word association. What's the story.
Julia: Morning glory.
Ezra: Fuck you.
Julia: Fuck you harder. No, it has to be one word.
Ezra: No, no, it can be a phrase or whatever that you associate.
Julia: Fuck your mother
Ezra: Allright, here's my follow up to that….existing in
the first place.
Julia: Umm…Ani Difranco..
Ezra: But what would you associate with that?
Julia: There's a line in one of her songs that goes…fuck
you in your untouchable face.
Ezra: Good, right.
Julia: But, see, you expected me to immediately say in your
untouchable face…fuck you for existing in the first place.
Ezra: Right, that was the idea. Now we're going to kind of
complete the phrase a little bit…the phrase is actually going to
generally be a line from a song.
Julia: Okay.
Ezra: Oops…I
Julia: Did it again.
Ezra: Now I know why you….
Julia: Now I know why you…
Ezra: Limp Bizkit…
Julia: I don't know Limp Bizkit, sorry.
Ezra: The answer is Now I know why you want to hate me. Hit
me.
Julia: Baby one more time.
Ezra: Very good. I'm a geenie.
Julia: In a bottle baby.
Ezra: It's all for da
Julia: It's all for da?
Ezra: It's all for the…Limp Bizkit, this is the toughest
one on here…
Julia: It's not, It's all about the benjamins….It's all for
da nookie? No.
Ezra: Yeah! There go! That's good…wow…I didn't think you
were gonna get that one. Okay, how's it gonna
Julia: Be.
Ezra: Yeah
Julia: (singing) Be-eeeeeee
Ezra: Sleep now in the.
Julia: Sleep now in the….
Ezra: (singing) I am the nina, the pinta, the santa maria,
the noose and the rapist, the fields overseer.
Julia: Oh, that's Rage Against the Machine!
Ezra: Good! Yeah, I saw them live too….90,000 teenagers packed
into one stadium…
Julia: They're very angry…getting rid of their angst.
Ezra: They have the coolest guitarist ever.
Julia: What's the line again?
Ezra: Sleep now in the….
Julia: I dunno…
Ezra: The cost of my desire, sleep now in the….it rhymes.
Julia: I dunno…something in the fire.
Ezra: This is the easiest one on here…bye, bye
Julia: (pause) bye. Yeah, Britney Speare, Christina Aguilera,
and N'Sync are so inundated in our heads, we're so inundated with
them…
Ezra: That's not so true…
Julia: Well, I mean, unless you're a hermit, you can't not
know the words to their songs.
Ezra: Well I didn't know what larger than life was until
we had to do it in a capella, but, whatever…
Julia: Maybe I watch too much MTV.
Ezra: Every time I'm down…I'm not sure the words are right
actually.
Julia: You're not really giving me enough to go on here.
Ezra: Every time I'm down, you can make it right
Julia: Is that the beatles?
Ezra: No.
Julia: No, that's I'm down.
Ezra: It's backstreet.
Julia: It's a backstreet line? Oh! (singing) everytime I'm
down, you can make it righ. I don't know…I'm not ashamed that I
don't know that though.
Ezra: Good, don't be. The answer: then that makes you larger
than life. This is going to be the easiest one for you and I happen
to really like the song…fire on each weapons manufacturer while…
Julia: umm…giving head to some republican senator.
Ezra: There ya go. Allright.
Julia: Yeah that is a good song.
Ezra: Yes it is. Now I'm going to move to a real interview
now that I've got your brain moving.
Julia: Allright. That was great, you really woke me up. I
enjoyed that.
Ezra: You enjoyed that, see.
Julia: Yeah I did, but I wish that I had done better on the
American history.
Ezra: Want some more?
Julia: Yeah, but see, we have different types of brains.
You seem to remember facts, well the Presidents, I guess you should
know that, but umm…
Ezra: Think about it in decades.
Julia: I had a very conceptual history teacher.
Ezra: Allright, what about world history?
Julia: No, no, I'm better at American history.
Ezra: (laughing) Oh I see…
Julia: (laughing) And my whole point in this is to impress
you, so…
Ezra: Allright, let's do business of strangers first, just
because that movie might be cool, I dunno I haven't seen it.
Julia: I think it will be very cool.
Ezra: Allright, Stockard Channing.
Julia: Stockard Channing is great.
[Brief audio check by Ezra]
Ezra: Allright, Stock Channing, she's on the West Wing…what
was it like to work with her? What did you learn from her? How good
was she? I happen to like her.
Julia: I really like her..I think that we have very similar
personalities.
[Ezra spills a clump of rice on the dirty table]
Julia: Don't eat that.
Ezra: Thank you very much, I hadn't figured that out….Julia
Goolia..
Julia: (laughs) Umm…cause we're like both sort of reserved
in the beginning of making a movie
Ezra: Shy or reserved?
Julia: Just reserved. And Stockard too, just thinking about
assessing the situation, and then she opens up and she has a sense
of humor that's, y'know, very similar to mine. But umm…
Ezra: Now the interested thing about Stockard Channing is
that I can't call her beautiful, but she's sexy…
Julia: Yes, sexy.
Ezra: How does that play into her personality.
Julia: I think she's really such a strong woman, and she's
really umm…not preoccupied with the way that she looks in the way
that other actresses are, because they're dependent on it.
Ezra: Yourself included, or are you completely against looks
as a way to remain…
Julia: No, I'm not completely against it. I would never use
it as my only means of remaining popular, but I'm fully aware of
how much of a part of my career – of any actresses career – that
they be someone you want to watch on screen, so, I'm not afraid
of..I don't deny that, but anyway…I think that she's umm…about personality…the
other thing that's weird is that she's umm…well, we became really
good friends and now I won't see her for another three months until
the premier. I think that she's actually…
Ezra: Actually, I'm going to run with that…screw what you
were going to say.
Julia: (laughs) Okay.
Ezra: What's it like not seeing someone for three months,
sometimes more after filming a movie? Do you keep in touch?
Julia: Some people I've stayed in touch with. This girl,
Rain Pheonix was in "O."
Ezra: I know Rain Pheonix.
Julia: You know her personally?
Ezra: No, I know of Rain Pheonix.
Julia: Okay. She and I became really good friends on "O,"
and we've kept in touch pretty regularly, as much as…she doesn't
live in New York, but she comes to New York a lot though. And I've
kept in touch with the people from Ten Things pretty well, but I
haven't…
Ezra: Yeah I'd say so! (smiling)
Julia: (laughs) umm…touché.
Ezra: You have to realize, I'm all in this for the fun.
Julia: Yeah.
Ezra: See, I'm allowed to insult you.
Julia: You're allowed to insult me?
Ezra: Yeah.
Julia: I dare ya….wait…no.
Ezra: (laughing) I will run with that if you will let me.
Julia: You will run with that?
Ezra: Yeah.
Julia: Umm…
Ezra: Actually I won't, because that'll make you angry and
you'll never do this again.
Julia: None of this made me angry.
Ezra: Okay, well, shutup. Let's do plot of Business of Strangers
– you tried to write it out, and you said it was going to be very
long..
Julia: That wasn't an adequate? Ok, whatever.
Ezra: We got to the point where you said quote "I'm fucking
with her head" after she's apologized to you. Where does it go from
there?
Julia: Well..the first twenty pages of the script and I guess
that means the first twenty five minutes or so of the movie are
just setting up the situation in the airport hotel. She fires me,
she thinks she's going to get fired, she finds out she's been made
CEO, we meet again, our flights are canceled, then we meet again
in a hotel bar, and she apologizes, and the night ensues and we
sort of become friends, and she's intrigued by my personality, because
I don't kiss up to her the way I guess many interns would.
Ezra: So are you a bad girl? You know, a punkish girl.
Julia: Umm…
Ezra: You have still the black streaks.
Julia: I wouldn't say bad girl, because that's a weird phrase,
but I'm very bold and in your face, and I don't…I think that if
all goes well, you won't notice like the tatoos and stuff until
later in the movie because I have my suit on and stuff . So we're
stuck in this airport hotel and we…she had been meeting with a headhunter…and
I see her talking to the headhunter…and she and him are flirting
with each other kind of, so I start crying sort of in the bathroom
and she comes in and asks what's wrong, and I tell her that he raped
a friend of mine in college.
Ezra: Is that true?
Julia: Just wait a minute. We decided to get revenge on him.
[From this point forward, Julia certifiably ruins the movie for
Ezra giving him spoilers that are removed for the readers sake.]
It brings up a lot of issues between men and women [Julia continues
to spoil the movie!] And that's the climax of the movie.
Ezra: Well, thanks…bitch…
Julia: Oops…sorry, well it's really not. Actually, it's probably
going to be one of those movies that's more interesting to watch
the second time…unless I did a shitty job and then, whatever. Then
other stuff happens and I'm not going to tell you about that.
Ezra: Allright, Now on to "O,"…
Julia: You might not want to put that in actually…I'm just
thinking that maybe…
Ezra: Thanks, Goolia, I hadn't realized that yet.
Julia: Oh, okay.
[Some group of assholes in the park blasts loud music…it sucks too]
Ezra: Dumb fuck, shitfaced assholes…
Julia: Do you want to go over there and tell them to turn
it down?
[Ezra looks at group of four 6'5", 230 pound thugs]
Ezra: Umm…no…no…
Julia: (laughs) right.
Ezra: Okay, so "O" which is now "One," is that correct?
Julia: No.
Ezra: "O' is still "O"?
Julia: Yeah.
Ezra: Was "O' going to be "One?"
Julia: They had a fight with Miramax about that. Miramax
wanted to name it "O," and the directors and producers wanted it
to be "One," no wait…Miramax wanted it to be "One," and the directors
and producers wanted it to be "O."
[Ezra gets pissed off at music]
You're not…
Ezra: I heard exactly what you said, I'm still paying attention
to you. You know, the sad thing is that the music really sucks too.
I mean if it was decent.
Julia: Yeah, I mean, can you imagine them blasting Bob Dylan,
that'd be pretty funny.
Ezra: (singing) Here's the story…
Julia: Yeah, yeah, y'know
Ezra: Allright, umm…
Julia: Maybe they're trying to start a fight
Ezra: Really?
Julia: Yeah, so keep going.
Ezra: Ok, so what do I want to go to?
Julia: O, the One, thing.
Ezra: You know what, I did have a follow up on that. Which
movie company do you hate most? Do they affect your life? Do you
ever get pissed off at some of them if they make a decision that
you don't like?
Julia: Umm…no, I mean, I have a lot of respect for the businessmen
in this business. Even though they may not have the same kind of
take that I do, they think that they're pretty smart in terms of
knowing how to manipulate a market.
Ezra: Though sometimes not…..Battlefield Earth
Julia: Yeah, there are some times where they think that their
audience is really stupid which they shouldn't – Down To You case
in point
Ezra: By the way, you ought to be thrilled that the entire
message board community thinks that Battlefield Earth was far worse
than Down To You. Actually the Washington Post, one of my favorite
reviewers, gave Battlefield Earth a review which had the line "a
thousand monkeys typing at a typewriter for 100 years, couldn't
come up with anything as bad as this"
Julia: Yet they could come up with Hamlet, that doesn't make
any sense…isn't that the theory of the thousand monkeys…yeah, that's
what the theory of the monkeys is
Ezra: Yeah, right
Julia: That if you have three monkeys, that doesn't really
make any sense, he's just trying to sound smart.
Ezra: It was a funny line though. Umm…let's see….oh, fuck
me, I can't do that to you.
Julia: What the Joseph Gordon Levitt question?
Ezra: Yeah, it's..
Julia: What, you skipped over Save the Last Dance!
Ezra: Well, because I wanted to move to something else and
then come back. Yeah, we can do Save the Last Dance, whatever.
Julia: Actually, we never finished "O."
Ezra: You have to realize I'm a very quirky, whatever, okay
let's go back to "O," because you want to do "O."
Julia: I'm very proud of "O," that's why.
Ezra: Very proud of "O."
Julia: I saw "O," the other day
Ezra: Josh Hartnett, uh-huh!
Julia: Yes, he's very attractive
Ezra: True/False, Josh Hartnett is more attractive than Ezra
Galston
Julia: (laughs) umm….
Ezra: Fuck, oh well…
Julia: Well, you know attractive is a broad term.
Ezra: Yes it is a broad term.
Julia: And it doesn't necessarily mean physically attractive
and it also doesn't mean, uh, emotionally attractive….
Ezra: To "O"
Julia: Yes, I'm very proud of "O."
Ezra: Tell me why you are very proud of "O."
Julia: Umm…I think it's a really good movie…it's really…I
think it will really be very thought provoking, it's very timely
with the school shootings, it's very intelligent.
Ezra: So is it about a school shooting?
Julia: No, but it brings up issues..
Ezra: Does it focus around violence in schools
Julia: No, it…
Ezra: Allright, I'm oh-for-two
Julia: No, I mean, by the end it gets pretty violent, it
stays true to the play in that everything is manipulative
Ezra: Ok, well, I am to Shakespeare what you are to American
History…so let's quickly run through the play.
Julia: Okay….WHOA…Like I am with American History?! I'm not
that bad at American History, I'd have you know that I did really
well in American History in High School, and my grades..
Ezra: (laughing) look, I told you I was going to take some
cheap shots.
Julia: Ok, well, I'm just going to defend myself, because
Ezra: Okay, feel free, feel free
Julia: You didn't give me a second, and I did get the answers
right eventually.
Ezra: That's true. Okay, so Othello, Othello….you're dating
Othello and his best friend gets jealous maybe, and says that you
cheated on him.
Julia: No, there's the whole plot that Diago is trying to
see….that he's composing the undoing of Othello, and he gets everyone
else involved without them knowing it. Like Roger or Rodrigo in
the play has a crush on me. And he gets Roger to doing all his dirty
work making Roger think that he's going to help..
Ezra: What's the dirty work?
Julia: Like, he sets up a situation to make Othello think
that I'm cheating on him, because we're, like, in love with each
other.
Ezra: So I was sort of right.
Julia: Yeah, yeah…umm….do I have a point?
Ezra: I don't know, do you?
Julia: No.
Ezra: (laughs) Okay, a while ago, we were at "why I'm proud
of O."
Julia: Oh right, well, I just think that it's very well done,
it's a beautiful movie, it deals with teenagers and various issues
about teenagers in the most realistic way I've ever seen And then
you also have the plot of Othello which deals with trust and betrayal
and all that stuff very well, too….in case you're not interested
what teenagers are going through, I guess.
Ezra: Here's a question about this that I can also associate
with Hamlet …A lot of responses…well not a lot, but I got some responses
from Hamlet which was essentially "the fuck gives Almerdeya.." How
do you pronounce his name?
Julia: Almeryda
Ezra: Almeryda the right to go screwing with the bard's language?
Julia: Who said that?
Ezra: Actually, my very pompous ass friend.
Julia: I would say that that's very pompous ass, and I'm
not afraid to say that even if your friend's going to hear this.
Because I just totally disagree…I think Michael did a really interesting
job with Hamlet actually.
Ezra: I personally loved it, and my friend of course decided
not to see the movie before making this judgment. His main criticism
was that what he read in the review said that because of the change
in the script – no words were actually changed – but some was left
out, scenes were changed..
Julia: Visuals tell you a lot.
Ezra: Yeah, so that Hamlet became a weaker Hamlet as opposed
to a very princely Hamlet.
Julia: Okay, weaker in the sense that he couldn't make up
his mind? How is he weaker?
Ezra: I dunno, forget it, I disagreed with the opinion…now
how does that play into "O?" What is different about "O" from original
Shakespeare? I read before that it was completely updated language
wise, I think…
Julia: Well, the language is updated, so obviously there's
going to be someone out there who has read the play and interprets
one line, y'know, wouldn't translate the line specifically that
way of whatever. But we rehearsed with the play, each scene corresponds
with a scene in the play.
Ezra: Really
Julia: Yeah, so it's like a lot more of a true adaptation
than Taming of the Shrew, I mean 10 Things I Hate About You.
Ezra: Okay, would you ever dare doing a Shakespeare movie
without actually reading the play first?
Julia: Dare to do a Shakespeare movie without actually reading
the play? I don't know why I would do that. I mean I don't think
that would be smart…
Ezra: Allright, you are correct…So, we are going to do some
quotes and you're going to tell me exactly what you were thinking
when you said that quote.
Julia: Okay, if I can remember, all right.
Ezra: This is somewhat recent, Manhattan File Magazine
Julia: Okay
Ezra: It seems that once actors becomes superstars it's harder
for them to those themselves. The scary thing for an actor – I know
it is for me – is to let fame go to your head.
Julia: Ok, well I was actually thinking two things
Ezra: Right, I see two things in there…one of which is..actually
from Catcher in the Rye which is my favorite book, Holden has a
line in there which is, he says, have you read Catcher in the Rye?
Julia: Mm-hmm
Ezra: He's watching a play and he thinks that the person
is doing a good job, but he says that he can tell that they know
that they're already a superstar and they're acting like it.
Julia: Yeah, that's exactly it.
Ezra: So that's one of the things you're getting at?
Julia: Yeah, I think that even if someone starts out as being
a good actor, it's really hard for them to once they get more well
known or recognition for that sort of first performance, it becomes
harder for them once they are affected by celebrity to be a good
actor because they can't get away from their own vanity, you know.
And I'm not trying to insult anybody by saying that, but I know
like for myself, it's really hard to maintain and sort of sense
of being a normal person when you're constantly inundated with people…It's
like, it's as if you're being surrounded by a mirror or the people
surrounding you are holding up a mirror to yourself and everyone's
focus all around you is you, and if you're very self-absorbed you
won't make a good actor, because you're supposed to be focusing
on other people, because you're playing other people. And the second
part of that, umm…
Ezra: Would you like the quote again?
Julia: Yeah.
Ezra: It seems that once actors becomes superstars it's harder
for them to those themselves. The scary thing for an actor – I know
it is for me – is to let fame go to your head. I mean is the second
part just about the fame issue.
Julia: Yeah, I mean it's just hard to not think real highly
of yourself, like you're doing the most important thing in the world,
when you're kind of gonna get smaller and smaller if you let it.
The thing about super stardom is that there are people who are into,
they get more and more for their own personality as opposed to being
an actor, and that's like the epitome of being a celebrity. And
I think people are not as open when they see them on screen to transforming.
For instance, I did notice that after Down To You came out, people
were expecting me to be like Kat, and then Imogen was a completely
different character.
Ezra: Right, I haven't seen Down To You, but I finally saw
Ten Things like a week ago
Julia: That's weird, so I don't understand why, you have
a website called (laughing) julia-stiles.com if you haven't seen,
if you hadn't until a week ago seen Ten Things
Ezra: (laughs) Umm…how about we get back to that at the end.
Okay, now this is the fun part…the cool thing about the Internet
is that there are a lot of people interacting, everybody has their
own idea, and so before this interview, I gave people the option,
just like I did last October where people wrote you some questions,
and this is somewhat similar, and since you're not writing this
it should be somewhat easier, although I do think writing helps
you to control your thoughts, maybe it's just me. Okay, some of
these are pretty stupid, I mean seriously stupid such as "did you
really flash the teacher in Ten Things or were you wearing something
underneath" (Julia laughs) and some of them are a little more interesting.
Allright, this one sent in by ScottV, what sports are you into and
what about them do you enjoy?
Julia: Oh, wow, that's a good question. Should I answer that
and then move on? I mean, I'm not writing these down.
Ezra: Answer it.
Julia: Umm…Sports
Ezra: Now, dammit.
Julia: Oh, otherwise you'll have a bunch of angry Internet
friends.
Ezra: Yup, (laughs) although I have no clue who most of these
people are
Julia: It's very appropriate actually, right now, sports
because I've just gotten into playing soccer again, and I really,
really, love it. I play for a league.
Ezra: What league? Oh wait, don't answer that
Julia: It's up in the Bronx, but it's a bunch of really tough
Irish women in their (Ezra starts cracking up) (Julia laughing)
no, no, I'm serious, and they have rogues and everything and they
push people
Ezra: They have what?
Julia: Rogues – Irish rogues, y'know the accent
Ezra: Oh, oh
Julia: They get really aggressive, and they'll check you,
and they yell and scream and like we play in the pouring rain.
Ezra: How old are these Irish women?
Julia: Most of them are in their twenties, some are a little
bit older,
Ezra: So like no grandmas running around
Julia: No, no, no, they're in the twenties and they'll be
like standing on the sideline smoking cigarettes and they'll like
run out of the bar on a Saturday morning right before the game….I
just basically told anyone who lives in New York where to find me
on a Saturday morning…oh well, anyways…actually the season's over,
so…
Ezra: Actually, I think you told me the exact street once
Julia: Oh, well.
Ezra: [Removed]
Julia: No, oh, that's our practices on the weekdays. It's
just really wonderful, I'm really into the yang of it.
Ezra: Any other sports?
Julia: Umm…I played basketball for a while, I went to basketball
camps and stuff…I used to be really bad and actually anybody who
went to Junior High School with me knows that [Ezra points to basketball
court behind Julia] Huh? Oh…
Ezra: Play later? Okay, but you're good now.
Julia: I'm better, I'm better
Ezra: What's your free-throw shooting percentage?
Julia: Well, I'm not a very good free-throw shooter but I
get better as I practice…I might not make the first one, but I'll
make the second one.
Ezra: Did you watch the playoffs?
Julia: No. Not really, I'm not a big fan of watching…I'll
watch it if it's on, but I like watching baseball.
Ezra: (truly surprised) Really?
Julia: Yeah, I'm a big, well not big, but it's always been
on in my house I like the Mets and Yankees (Ezra gets angry) I know
technically you're not supposed to like both, but I do.
Ezra: No, no, it's just that I'm from Baltimore and they're
the archrival of the Yankees.
Julia: Everyone's the arch-rival of the Yankees
Ezra: Well, not really, but now Boston I guess…
Julia: Yeah, because the Yankees rock and they've been winning
for years and years.
Ezra: No, wait, see…oh damn…well…yeah, damn my Orioles fuckin'
suck…ok, so that's about it for sports…actually what do you like
better college basketball or pro?
Julia: Umm…
Ezra: Ever watch March Madness?
Julia: No.
Ezra: Even when you were a kid you didn't watch it?
Julia: Nope, but I do like going to the fourth street courts
and watching them play there.
Ezra: Ever watch golf?
Julia: No way, I hate golf, I didn't even like playing golf.
Ezra: Oh, so you've played golf. When?
Julia: A couple of years ago with my dad and my grandfather
in Cape Cod.
Ezra: No shit, where?
Julia: Welfleet, well Orleans is where we played.
Ezra: Yeah, yeah, I stay right around there…Brewster which
is right next to Orleans. Okay, I personally think the next question
is kind of stupid, but this guy seems dead-set on it, so I'll ask
it.
Julia: Don't blame it on somebody else, you're asking the
question.
Ezra: That's true, I am asking the question, good point.
From Loganinlove, did you ever do commercials for television, he
thinks he saw you in an Applejacks commercial once.
Julia: That was one of the first jobs I had, yeah. That's
pretty amazing actually. I don't think.. it definitely doesn't run
anymore, but one of the very first jobs that I had was an Applejacks
commercial.
Ezra: I thought the guy was crazy!
Julia: No, it was embarrassing because people at my school
would call me Applejacks, that was like the first job that I had.
Ezra: So you did commercials starting off?
Julia: I never did that many commercials. I auditioned for
commercials, like when I was starting to audition a lot, I was never
really good and they never wanted to hire me because I was not bubbly
enough.
Ezra: That's kind of what they say to me too. I mean I think
character wise, so when it comes to commercials…
Julia: You have to act like an idiot.
Ezra: Yeah
Julia: And some people know how to do that
Ezra: And you know I'm really not all that enthused by chinese
food…
Julia: Also, when I was auditioning for commercials I was
like thirteen and anyone at thirteen, well not anyone, but most
thirteen year olds are angst ridden, so that made me even less bubbly
Ezra: Alright, this is the question I asked you before sent
in by Raver24, did you really flash the teacher in 10 things or
were you wearing something underneath?
Julia: Should I make up an interesting provocative answer?
Ezra: Yeah.
Julia: Okay.
Ezra: And later that night…we went back to our trailer…
Julia: (laughing) I gave Heath a special little treat that
day…umm…I don't want to dissapoint him, but I was wearing something
underneath.
Ezra: Aww….well isn't that too bad
Julia: I mean that guy from Empty Nest, he's like, oh nevermind
Ezra: Allright, this one sent in by vengeance/Ben, what is
the one thing you hope to do in your career?
Julia: The one thing I hope to do…
Ezra: You have to think of ONE thing
Julia: I would want to have..I would actually like to write,
and star in…write a movie that I am in or have a production company.
Ezra: Thanks for the perfect lead-in, sent in by Hippiechick,
latest on Anarchists Daughter
Julia: Ok, actually
Ezra: Why don't you tell me the plot of that, because no
one really knows, or is that secret
Julia: No, it's not. It's about this girl whose grandfather
has Alzheimer's disease and she's kind of taking care of him.
Ezra: So, I don't know the name, but when you were thirteen
you interviewed somebody with Alzheimer's...is that where you got
the idea? Did you learn something? Did you become personally attached
to Alzheimer's after that?
Julia: Yeah, the disease really intrigues me, and she…it
deals a lot with like what is insanity and she starts experimenting
with psychedelic drugs, and, uh…
Ezra: Because she's trying so hard to help her grandfather
and nothing works?
Julia: No, because she's a teenager. (laughs)
Ezra: (laughing) oh, allright, I gotcha
Julia: No, I mean, the thing is that he had raised her all
her life and now it's like he's, uh, not able to take care of her
anymore and she's too young to be burdened with the responsibility
of taking care of him, but she kind of has to. There are lots of
elements of King Lear and Cordelia, if you know that…but thing is,
what is happening with it..
Ezra: I'll tell you what I know which is that there are three
writers, I don't remember their names, one of them is the head of
the Ridge Theatre, and what I remember is that everyone is too busy
and after Sundance you got a lot of good feedback, but that everyone's
too busy to do anything with it
Julia: yeah, that's basically it. We went to Sundance, we
got a lot of good feedback, we wanted to change it in sort of a
different direction, we met a couple of times with new re-writes,
we weren't happy with the re-writes, and then he, Bob, the head
of Ridge Theatre went off to do more plays. He got like a commission
to do a bunch of plays overseas in Europe at ART, and I was working
pretty much non-stop, and Scott was working on another script and
we just never got back together again.
Ezra: Who's Scott?
Julia: He's the third writer
Ezra: And he does?
Julia: He did a movie called The Headhunter's Sister
Ezra: That never…was that produced?
Julia: It went to Sundance, and I think it might be coming
out eventually, anyways, but now I'm kind of over the story, I'm
not that interested in it anymore, and it's just been such a long
time, but I've been writing other things, thinking about other things.
Ezra: Writing's fun, isn't it?
Julia: It is.
Ezra: Do you enjoy that more than acting?
Julia: No. I mean, uhh…
Ezra: The thing about acting is that you have to be a character,
writing you can create one
Julia: Well you can also look at acting as creating a character
too.
Ezra: How so, I mean it's fairly obvious, but…
Julia: Well I mean you can add more than what's on the page,
but yeah, sometimes I do get frustrated that it seems you're just
taking orders from people, but you're working with good people and
you get to be more creative with it.
Ezra: Sent in by Mile11, this is my favorite question that
I'm going to give you tonight, would you consider yourself a graham
cracker or a French poodle and why.
Julia: A graham cracker or a French poodle, that's not even
like in the same category…the College Board would not approve
Ezra: See, hopefully by now you've picked up that I'm a silly
person, so anything serious
Julia: Okay
Ezra: is not really in my repertoire
Julia: Okay…well French poodles kind of gross me out, so
I would say a graham cracker
Ezra: Do you eat graham crackers?
Julia: Uh-huh
Ezra: Do you enjoy them?
Julia: I do…with chocolate and marshmellows
Ezra: So what's it called like a smookie or something, no,
a smore.
Julia: Are you kidding me?
Ezra: A smore
Julia: A smores-a
Ezra: Huh?
Julia: It's not a smore, it's aah smore
Ezra: Ass more?
Julia: Ass more what? Ass more questions
Ezra: (weirded out) Allright. What is your family heritage
and have you taken or made plans for any trips to visit those areas?
Julia: I am….
Ezra: Somebody told me a while ago what your family heritage
was, some guy from Costa Rica
Julia: Oh some authority, right….someone who worked with
me in Costa Rica
Ezra: Yeah, Habitat for Humanity
Julia: Who is that? What's his name?
Ezra: I don't remember, Blythe or something.
Julia: That would be his last name
Ezra: I really don't remember
Julia: I think he was lying, but….what's his first name?
Ezra: I really don't remember
Julia: Where did you meet him?
Ezra: He posted something, but it came right at the right
time, before you had really disclosed anything about it…it was mildly
believable
Julia: That's interesting, okay
Ezra: I can see what you tell me and check it to what he
said
Julia: What did he say?
Ezra: Well I don't remember, but…I really ought to know this,
but I don't…I generally have a photographic memory, but
Julia: That's fine, it's not that big of a deal. My heritage
is, my dad's side of the family is Irish, my mom's side of the family
is Italian and English, so I basically have all the countries in
Europe that hate each other (laughs) which doesn't really mean anything
about my family, and I have been to Italy, but I have not been to
England or Ireland.
Ezra: Where in Italy? Oh shit, that's a question later…some
Italian guy named Diego wrote in and asked "has she ever been to
Italy," so you've been to Italy.
Julia: I have been to Italy, and I'm about to go to Italy
actually
Ezra: When?
Julia: Next week. I have been to Florence, I saw Tom Waites
in Florence, he was wondeful, Rome, and I am going to Milan this
week.
Ezra: And Venice?
Julia: I have not been to Venice, but I would love to go.
Ezra: Allright, from JM, favorite Ani DiFranco song?
Julia: Hmm…tough one…Swan dive probably, oooh, oh, it's so
hard…Swan Dive or Head Shaped Hat
Ezra: I haven't heard either of those
Julia: Swan dive's on Little Plastic Castle and Head Shaped
Hat is on up,up,up,up,up,up….but I don't know actually, because
then there's…
Ezra: I like some of her more rockish songs like Anticipate
Julia: Yeah, that's a good song
Ezra: and Names, Dates, Times.
Julia: Yes, oh…Blood in the Boardroom actually, if you're
doing, that's from, uhh….
Ezra: I wouldn't know, I like to illegally get things.
Julia: Oh, ok
Ezra: Do you do bootlegs?
Julia: Bootlegs? Yeah, I just bought the Eminem bootleg.
Ezra: So you're a true New Yorker…even after getting paid
money for doing films you would
Julia: Oh Yeah
Ezra: Allright
Julia: Actually, I bought a Dr. Dre album, 2001, on the street
for five dollars because I didn't want to support…at that time I
didn't like Dr. Dre and I didn't want to support him, but I was
kind of intrigued by the album…but I actually kind of like Dr. Dre
right now
Ezra: Well, he did find Eminem
Julia: Yes, so I thank him for that.
Ezra: Allright…
Julia: But I don't like his, "I want to fuck bad bitches"
[We turn to see a man and his 6-8 year old child sitting right next
to him]
Julia: Oh, sorry (Ezra cracking up)
Man: Did you just say sorry to me?
Julia: (laughing) I don't know if you heard that
Man: I did.
Julia: Okay.
Man: You're forgiven
Julia: Okay, good Well…
Ezra: Warning, interview not meant for family life…okay,
this one's going to be a fun one, because it's sent in by Julia
Addict
Julia: (laughs) okay
Ezra: If the world as we know it ended yesterday, what would
you regret not having done?
Julia: Skydiving…and…going to Cuba.
Ezra: Going to Cuba?
Julia: Yes, I would really like to go to Cuba
Ezra: You a Fidel Castro fan? He in the same place as Eminem?
Julia: (laughing) No
Ezra: (laughing) Okay
Julia: I think Fidel Castro is so sexy…ummm
Ezra: Yo, that's on tape…(laughing) that's the kind of thing
I could take out of context
Julia: Yeah, I know, really…
Ezra: That's really the perfect out-of-context thing….title:
I think Fidel Castro is so sexy
Julia: And that I could say something about cigars and then
you'd really have a gift…
Ezra: I would like Bill Clinton to…well anyway…
Julia: Nope, I didn't say that
Ezra: Have you read the Starr report?
Julia: No, I haven't…I actually would like to, but I think
I'm over it now. I wanted to when it came out, but anyways…
Ezra: So, uhh, skydiving and going to Cuba. What's in Cuba?
Julia: Good music, and beautiful beaches…and I'd like to
practice my Spanish..I just think it's interesting
Ezra: You're a big Spanish person?
Julia: Yeah
Ezra: And you are taking courses in Latin America at Columbia?
Julia: Well I haven't actually registered yet
Ezra: But you're trying to become fluent in Spanish?
Julia: Yeah
Ezra: You there yet?
Julia: Pretty much, like by the end of my Costa Rica trip
I was almost fluent
Ezra: So then you studied in high school?
Julia: Yeah, and my mom speaks Spanish, and we go to Puerto
Rico every year…she has friends who live there, and I speak it when
I'm there
Ezra: From MasterC. Aside from acting, do you have other
life goals that you want to accomplish?
Julia: Yeah, umm….
Ezra: It's kind of a similar question, but more, like
Julia: This is more long term..uhh…one of my life goals is
to be able to speak Spanish fluently, I would like to own a business,
like a socially responsible business if that makes any sense.
Ezra: So like the mob…like a hitman.
Julia: (laughing) Oh yeah, I want to be a hitman…no,
Ezra: I don't know…I mean socially responsible
[Side 1 of tape ends, tape must be turned]
Julia: Not necessarily a business…more like an organization,
like Habitat for Humanity, but I wouldn't mind (laughs) profiting
from it. I mean, it's hard to explain…when I went to Costa Rica,
I had this idea that…to start a company, maybe a clothing company
that has factories in Costa Rica, but the people in the company
could have profit share in the company, so eventually they could
take it over and it would hopefully start a trend of better business
running….have a production company, that's a life goal.
Ezra: Production company.
Julia: Yeah….have children….maybe not actually…
Ezra: Have you looked into a production company?
Julia: Have I looked into owning…I sort of
Ezra: I mean, if I want to start a business, I have an idea
in my mind of where, what, how I'd like to do it.
Julia: Well I have to learn more about producing before I
can do that…I don't know enough about producing right now….But I
am slowly learning, and that's more of something that would have
to happen after college anyway.
Ezra: Allright…from Elwizard, what type of role/character
would you most like to play in a future project?
Julia: I'd love to do a comedy...I know I've said that before
Ezra: Have any in mind? I just wrote a comedy…it's pretty
bad though...it's based on my favorite play…do you know who Moliére
is?
Julia: Yeah, Tartuffe.
Ezra: It's based on a play of his called the School for Wives…kind
of a sexist play…it's kind of funny
Julia: Sounds interesting
Ezra: Not really
Julia: Sounds typical (laughs)
Ezra: Screw you.
Julia: I was kidding
Ezra: Question.
Julia: Oh…after seeing the Ballet today, I thought that I
might like to be in a period piece.
Ezra: So you could be the next Gwenyth Paltrow
Julia: No. I don't want to be the next Gwenyth Paltrow
Ezra: Don't want to be the next Gwenyth Paltrow
Julia: No
Ezra: Did you know that Gwenyth Paltrow is Jewish
Julia: I didn't know that….she's….I did not know that
Ezra: So is Catherina Zeta-Jones now, so we're gaining in
the world…
Julia: What do you mean you're gaining in the world? Don't
you have all the money in the world…
Ezra: (enthusiastically) Yeah! Yeah, we do…actually, yeah.
Julia: So, stop complaining
Ezra: It's like one percent of the population is controlling
eighty percent of Hollywood.
Julia: If not more…yeah eight percent is probably…yeah definately
Ezra: I just told the guy back there Rodney Dangerfield was
Jacob Cohen…that's his real name…
Julia: Yeah. Umm…Did I answer your question…yeah I guess
I did.
Ezra: I have to leave time for the question you don't want
to answer…and I do have to be at the Cornell Club, I have no clue
where that is, first off
Julia: Cornell Club?
Ezra: Yeah
Julia: For Cornell university?
Ezra: I don't know…I think it was just founded by the same
guy who founded Cornell…it's on like East 44th…is that far away
Julia: Are you going to take a subway?
Ezra: No, I'm going to take a cab I think.
Julia: Yeah, the traffic's not that bad…it might take you
like half an hour
Ezra: Really?
Julia: Or twenty minutes
Ezra: Ok, so…what do you want to talk about, about Joseph?
Julia: What do I want to talk about? I don't want to talk
about anything about Joseph
Ezra: So was this a….oh shit…
Julia: You're going to have to ask more specific questions
if you're going to get anything out of me (laughing)
Ezra: Allright…is this a relationship that ended on bad terms?
Julia: Geez…umm…Yes, but we're friends now…if that makes
any sense…It was kind of a messy breakup, but we're friends now,
and he's going to Columbia this year, so we keep in touch with each
other.
Ezra: So he's switching from Harvard to Columbia?
Julia: No, he was never gonna go to Harvard
Ezra: Oh, allright, you two dated for how long?
Julia: A year and a half
Ezra: And you broke up, when?
Julia: November of last…last November…no, no, I'm sorry,
it might've been December…it was sort of around November/December.
Ezra: Allright, I have to think about a question I can ask
that I can phrase correctly…you know what, this is stupid…I'm not
gonna do that, I have too much of a conscience….ok, so you've previously
explained your views on pre-marital sex
Julia: Wait, what you're gonna ask
Ezra: I'm not gonna do it?
Julia: I'm won't necessarily answer it, but I'm just curious
what…
Ezra: Allright, look, here's my thinking…I'm gonna pull a
Who Wants to be a Millionaire and say everything out loud…This is
exactly what's going through my brain: anything that I ask you is
going to be pretty personal and I would censor anything that I thought
was wrong, but I don't want to put you in a situation where one
of two things is going to happen…you're going to get pissed at me
for asking the question or I would feel uncomfortable knowing the
answer
Julia: No, I would just say, "no, I'm not going to answer
that," it's allright…it would just be exhibitionist of me to answer
these questions, that's my only concern…
Ezra: Ok, here…pretty broad…why did the relationship end?
Julia: I'm not going to answer that.
Ezra: Allright…
Julia: Sorry, I mean you can feel comfortable asking, knowing
that I'd be strong enough to say that I'm not gonna answer it.
Ezra: Allright, umm…what were the great things about the
relationship?
Julia: Hmm…
Ezra: Ended on bad terms, but I'm sure you can come up with
a few
Julia: No, but I…but see, it didn't really end on bad terms…all
breakups are going to be messy [Ezra does something] well you're
not really listening to my answer
Ezra: I am listening, I can do about twenty things at once…you
hate this…
Julia: I do…I think that all breakups are messy…it was not
great, but we're still friends and I still love him and I think
he still loves me, so that's….fine.
Ezra: So you would be willing to try again at Columbia?
Julia: I have no idea. I would be willing to try again, but
who knows if it would work out that way…he'd have to still be interested
in me, and who knows…you just can't predict something like that.
I have a lot of respect for him, I think he's a wonderful guy, I
love him very much, but it happened…it was inevitable…it's not like
we were gonna get married.
Ezra: Plans on marriage?
Julia: Not for a very long time.
Ezra: Not for a very long time?
Julia: I'm enjoying my youth
Ezra: Now have you...in your mind have you learned the differentiation
between loving someone and being in love?
Julia: No, I don't, what's the difference?
Ezra: It's frankly the most complex question I've ever been
asked.
Julia: Oh! I sort of think maybe I know the answer….loving
somebody means you can be selfless, but being in love means you
like the love that they give you?
Ezra: I'm trying to figure out the best way to explain this…Ok,
forget that question. Well, y'know I'm kinda getting tired…so…what
do you want to talk about? I'll leave the last ten minutes or whatever,
you can just say whatever you want.
Julia: Oh, no!
Ezra: What would you like to be heard?
Julia: Like to be heard…about me, about my opinions?
Ezra: About you, your opinions, whatever
Julia: Umm…
Ezra: By the way, are you against signing autographs too?
Julia: Am I against signing autographs? No…I don't really
understand why people like autographs, but maybe like proof that
you met someone, I mean I kind of understand it, I've asked other
people for their autographs
Ezra: Well, like my entire life, I've begin against taking
pictures and things thinking that I would always be able to remember
everything I'd done, but in recent years I've noticed that on some
things I just don't remember it all that well, and I kind of like
a picture or something, I dunno….just places I've been, or whatever
Julia: No, no, I understand, like a souvenir or something
Ezra: It's a souvenir, but in more of a way than y'know buying
something from a shop in that you kind of actively participated
in your experience, whatever…
Julia: Umm…wow…this is my forum.
Ezra: This is your forum, this is Politically Incorrect without
any of the other assholes on the show.
Julia: Well, do I have a topic, or…
Ezra: Golden Seal, I mean what do you want the topic to be
Julia: (laughs) Nah, I'm sick of that topic, I'm bored with
that. Uhh…gee…ok…you kinda need to give me a topic, I would say
about my work and about fans and stuff that I would hope that fans
appreciate, fans and critics, my intent in making a movie, that
I don't really focus on what the end result of making a movie is
going to be, more about what my experience is going to be making
that movie, so that I will choose a role because I think that it
will be an eye-opening experience for me, and it will challenge
me and I'll learn something from it and I'll have fun doing it,
and, I don't have very much control over how a movie comes out.
Umm…that's sort of my career, so just be open to that.
Ezra: I do have another quick question, screw your forum
shit
Julia: Yeah, don't give me a forum
Ezra: You really don't want a forum
Julia: Well, I don't have anything to rant about particularly.
I do, actually, I just thought of something, but go ahead.
Ezra: Rant
Julia: No, no, no, go first
Ezra: Rant.
Julia: Okay, I want to rant about other actresses, not specifically
anybody, but, umm...I just think that I feel sometimes like they're
fish out of water around other actresses, because most other actresses
who are well-know…they seem very weak to me, they seem very prissy
almost, and I feel like a lot of times…the message that I get from
other people is that they expect me to be that way too, and, I get
really upset when I see other actresses whom I thought I had respected,
sort of selling out…selling out's not the right term, because that
implies that they are achieving some sort of commercial or financial
success and I am not opposed to that…I'm just saying, selling out
to the, like, sex devil, is what I would call it. I have no problem
with actresses being sexy or sexual, but prostituting themselves
is I guess what I would say…like I see… I'm not going to name anyone
in particular.
Ezra: Is Shakespeare in Love, a sellout movie?
Julia: No, I like that movie. And I don't blame, I don't
have any negative feelings towards Gwenyth Paltrow for taking her
shirt off in that movie, I think that was a beautiful scene, I'm
just saying that to make my point…
Ezra: (devilshly) It was a beautiful scene!!
Julia: (laughing) Umm…I dunno, whatever, I can't really finish
that thought, because I don't know why I started on it. See, I even
feel a little hesitant to say something like that because I feel
Ezra: It's on the record
Julia: No, because I know that there's gonna be boys out
there who are gonna be like, "she's such a feminist," and can't
she just like…"I wanna see some tits," and I know that part of that
is what's going to keep me acting for the rest of my life (laughs)
so, I can't hate it, you know what I mean.
Ezra: Yeah
Julia: Ask me the question, because I can't do this anyways.
Ezra: Fucking devil, what was my question…oh right…does it
scare you how close people are to you? Now this entire night, nobody's
come up to you and asked for your autograph, is that normal?
Julia: Umm…no, today a lot of people did, I had three of
four…occasionally people will ask for an autograph, it just depends
where I am, and it's happened more recently, umm…
Ezra: Okay, but the fact that, and I don't want to scare
you, I mean we've done this before to a certain extent
Julia: Right.
Ezra: But, like every day people will send in things, where
they saw you and when. For instance I can tell you that you wore
those exact sandals on Tuesday
Julia: (laughs) They said she's wearing red sandals?
Ezra: Yes.
Julia: That's so weird…I do notice that when people don't
stop me for my autograph, they will stop and do a double-take or
something, and then that makes me wonder how many people are noticing
or recognizing me.
Ezra: So have you ever looked behind you walking towards
your apartment building?
Julia: Sometimes, before…I'll look around to see if anyone's
watching me, but I don't usually notice anything, but sometimes
I don't think about it, most of the time I don't think about it,
that's probably not a safe situation to be in, but I don't mind
it that much….so tell me what people have been reporting
Ezra: Well it's nothing bad, it's just alarming, like I wouldn't
want somebody telling somebody else exactly where I was, what metro
I took…like this time it was the six train, I think
Julia: Yeah, oh my god
Ezra: 2 pm?
Julia: umm….
Ezra: Maybe, I dunno
Julia: Monday I took the six train, but I might've also on
Tuesday
Ezra: But, y'know that just somewhat alarms me, and you feel
it's alarming
Julia: Well it's only alarming…I mean if someone just said
"hey, I saw Julia Stiles on the six train at 2 o'clock" then that's
not alarming, but if they say "I saw her on the six train on Tuesday,
and last week, and the week before that, and I'm gonna ride the
six train and see if she comes on!" then that's a little weird,
or if they, if they have any intent to do harm or invade my space
then that's scary, but I don't think that anybody does, maybe I'm
just being….do you think that I have any cause for concern?
Ezra: Umm…I will be happy to tell you – and I told you the
one time that I was a little worried where he said "and I waited
outside her building" or whatever or I followed her, I don't remember
– If anything serious came up, I mean I would tell that to you.
Julia: I think that If anything serious came up, you probably
wouldn't be telling me…but I don't even consider myself like somebody…like
an A-star who gets followed, so that's why I'm so unaware of it,
but I guess I should be more aware of it, I dunno.
Ezra: Here's my last question: why would you meet with me?
Julia: Who would I meet with you (laughs) I was asking myself
the same question
Ezra: Somebody that you had never met before in your life
Julia: Yeah.
Ezra: You had talked to me…you knew a little bit about my
personality…you may even find me a little bit annoying at times,
but
Julia: No, what…I mean I asked myself the same question,
it seems very exhibitionist of me, which is kind of weird and I
don't like that, but…
Ezra: What does exhibitionist mean?
Julia: Like I want people to know things about myself, but,
umm…I was intrigued actually, because it is flattering that you
guys started a website about me and I can say that confident in
my, umm….
Ezra: Comfortable in my staunch groundedness?
Julia: What? No, I wasn't going to say the same thing…that's
sort of a knockoff of a phrase from a movie and that's why I use
that phrase a lot
Ezra: Oh okay.
Julia: Anyway…yeah, I can say that knowing that I'm not having
a big head about it, umm…so I'm just curious to meet you, and see
what kind of person you are, and what kind of a person would take
an interest in me, and, I figured why not, I didn't really think
about it all that much actually…it's a public place, so if you're
a psycho killer I'm okay.
Ezra: Thank you Ms. Julia Stiles
[Tape ends, but seconds later Julia decides she would like to add
one thing]
Ezra: Julia's rant continues.
Julia: (laughing) No, it's not a rant…now I'm just thanking
the people who do take an interest in my movies, and y'know, I hate
to sound like Jennifer Love Hewitt, but I appreciate my fans.
Ezra: (girly voice) and I'm having the time of my life.
Julia: Shutup
Ezra: You like her?
Julia: What?
Ezra: You like her?
Julia: I don't dislike her, but I don't have any interest
in her really.
Ezra: I mean I loved her in Party of Five, but I think that
she's just…I don't want to use sell-out again, but I think she's
sold out to ditziness.
Julia: Oh, okay…see I feel the pressure to sell out to ditziness,
but, umm…I hate…you know you hear people going (ditz voice) "and
I want to thank my," like Britney Spears type people going (ditz
voice) "I love my fans and I want to thank my fans," I'm just saying,
I appreciate people coming to see my movies, because that means
that I can make more movies
Ezra: So, you're saying, in all seriousness
Julia: Yep
Ezra: You guys are really helping me out
Julia: Yep.
Ezra: Say it…in all seriousness
Julia: (laughs) No, I'm not a puppet-dunce, I said it in
my own words (smiling)
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