Maria Bello
Why the actress prefers Captain Underpants to Jane Austen.
by Mina Hochberg
September 19, 2007
I liked Jocelyn because she's very independent and able to be happy on her own, but then there's this implication that there's a consequence to this fierce independence.
I've found that in my own life. I've always been terribly independent, but there are the nights when you wake up and you feel so lonely and you just wanna be held by somebody who knows you.
Which of the other characters did you find yourself relating to?
We bonded on such a huge level, this cast. Robin had us do improv the first day of rehearsal. By the end of it we felt like we'd been friends forever. We're all sort of different generations and at different levels in our career, but we laughed so much and really enjoyed each other. I think my dearest friend walking away from it was Amy Brenneman, who is just a whirlwind who everyone gathers around. I think her character is someone I could relate to.
What was it about her character that was relatable for you?
You know, I've gone through a relationship and I have a child. The permutations of trying to make a relationship work and a family work. Her sort of emotionality I really understand.
You've worked on a couple of other female-dominated casts, like Sisters and Coyote Ugly. Is it different working with such a female-centric cast as opposed to one that's more gender-balanced?
I have to say doing a female-based movie, with a large group of females, there's much more conversation. We like to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. We like to talk about our feelings all the time, what we're doing, how we feel about our boyfirends, our children, our love. We just share our guts. Working on sets withI've always been terribly independent, but there are the nights when you wake up and you feel so lonely and you just wanna be held by somebody who knows you. men, they're a little more lowkey. Like [assuming a low, husky voice] 'How was your day?' 'Good.' 'What'd you do this weekend?' 'Nothing, what'd you do?' Kind of like that.
How did Jimmy Smits and Hugh Dancy get along with the ladies? Did they get any nicknames?
We called Hugh our mascot. He's like our lucky charm. He's an amazing actor and a lovely guy. And Jimmy we all had a crush on, he's just dreamy.
Do you have any favorite Jane Austen movie adaptations?
I sure loved Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma. I remember seeing that and falling in love with her.
This movie will probably have a lot more appeal to women. How would you sell it to men?
There hasn't been a sweet romantic comedy in such a long time, and it's a great date movie. It reminds you of falling in love all over again, and I think men are into that as well as women.
©2007 Mina Hochberg and Nerve Media
About the Author
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Mina Hochberg is a movie critic at amNewYork. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn. |
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