Take
two beautiful women, add one passionate kiss to the equation and
what do you get? Heterosexual
men in ecstasy and most women with a similar secret fantasy.
In an attempt to defeat a lifetime of failed or non-existent
romantic relationships, Heather Graham embodies Gray who embarks on
an alluring exploration of her sexuality in the upcoming romantic
comedy GRAY
MATTERS.
Starring
opposite Bridget Moynahan in an ensemble cast, Graham epitomizes
the typical single NYC gal searching for love and Mr. Right.
In her quest, she inadvertently discovers that the
“perfect man” is her brother’s (Cavanagh) fiance Moynahan,
thus prompting a sibling rivalry and awakening an alternate sexual
identity. Directed
by Sue Kramer, the film elucidates a classical NYC romance while
commemorating old Hollywood and toasting self acceptance.
It
is in essence a film that resonates “Sex And The City” with a
celebratory
L-Word twist.
Having
starred in BOOGIE NIGHTS and DRUGSTORE COWBOY, Graham was as cute
and bubbly as I had anticipated along with the poised and beautiful
Moynahan, who’s original debut was in COYOTE UGLY. It was a joy to
meet the 2 sizzling actresses who obviously shared a great
camaraderie based on their entertaining banter.
Check out what they had to say about their steamy lip-lock,
movie careers and the significance of their latest flick GRAY
MATTERS.
| Heather Graham | Bridget Moynahan |
Heather, you and Tom (Cavanagh) were on 2 Scrubs episodes together but
did you ever get to act in the same scene together?
Heather
Graham (HG): We didn’t.
We didn’t get the chance but I knew who he was and I’m really
excited I go the chance to work with him.
The two of you seemed to have really good chemistry together on screen in
this movie.
HG:
I really didn’t get along with Bridget (Moynahan) but Tom and
I got along (joking). No,
he’s really great. He’s
really funny and he really let me beat him up and hit him and push
him. Bridget and
Tom got along really well too but [I] really did get excluded from
their bond.
Bridget
Moynahan (BM): I’m sorry I
didn’t know you felt that way.
HG:
I did.
BM:
We would have included you more.
Heather, it was kind of like your relationship with them on screen.
HG:
Kind of. They
really got along well. Every
time Tom would look at Bridget, Bridget would crack up. It was like,
he would look at her and she would crack up and I would just sit
there like (makes this face like she feels left out).
Is Tom that funny?
BM:
He is that funny. I’m
sorry you guys are missing him because he’s quite entertaining. So
you wouldn’t get any real answers.
HG:
He probably wouldn’t talk to us at all but he would be very
fun.
How did you two get involved in a lesbian film?
What was the attraction to the script?
HG:
I really liked the script when I read it and I liked what it
was about. I liked the
idea of having a traditional romantic comedy set in an homage to a
40’s musical. So it’s a
very traditional story telling method and then you put this modern
twist in it and I like the mixture of those two things.
I really liked the end message of celebrating who you are and
be yourself.
BM:
I had been looking for a romantic comedy for quite sometime
and I really felt like this was much more of an ensemble situation
even though it’s really her (Graham) story but there is lots of
supporting cast around so it wasn’t such a big deal for me.
The cast was great and I felt like the script was more
intelligent and had a more interesting edge to it than most of the
ones I had been reading.
What was your experience in working with a female director as opposed to
a man? Had you been
directed by a woman before?
BM:
I hadn’t no and she was lovely.
I mean she was obviously very passionate about the piece
because she wrote it and it’s based on her sister.
She was hands on and we had a lot of rehearsing time.
On our free time we would sort of sit around and talk or go
over scenes. We became really quite close – closer than I’ve ever
become with any director. It
was one of the most special experiences I’ve had in a film.
HG:
Yeah it was really amazing and I mean I think that Bridget
and Tom are both obviously really talented but they’re both really
just great people. I don’t think that Bridget is real actressy.
She’s a really down to earth, cool girl and Tom is very
really sweet. He’s a
good hearted person – like he’s totally whacky. He’s just a good
regular guy. Sue Kramer
(the director) is just really passionate and I think she really
built us up and made us feel good.
(Whispers mimicking Kramer) “You guys are
amazing…great kiss.”
She’s like “this is going to be the MTV best kiss.”
[laughter]
Do you know the kiss has already made it on YouTube?
HG:
It has? We don’t
care about anything else…we just want to be on YouTube [joking]
It’s more important than the film.
We’ve already made it! [laughing]
How did you prep for that kiss? Did
you have some wine or liquor to loosen up and did you practice?
HG:
I was really looking forward to
(laughs). Bridget
was a little nervous because I kept being so excited about it. She
was a little creeped out.
How many takes did you two need?
BM:
Sue [Kramer] doesn’t believe in one takes.
We did a lot of takes. You
know how it is when you have that first kiss with that person
whether it’s an actor or not. You clunk teeth.
HG:
We didn’t clunk teeth. We
were laughing. We were
giggling too much. She
was mad because we were giggling.
BM:
It was fine, it was fun. I
mean I don’t get freaked out about kisses.
HG:
There was an X-rated version. We kept going on and then there
was an X-rated love scene but they cut that out (laughter).
Did
you get a practice kiss before shooting the first one to get it
right?
HG:
I kept trying to get a rehearsal in with Bridget for that but
she just wasn’t into it.
BM:
Come on now.
What was Alan Cumming like?
HG:
He was so charming and so funny and he really just tells the
greatest stories about his life.
BM:
I’m not so sure he really looks good as a woman though.
HG:
He did that a little on the L-Word.
He told me this crazy story that he did a scene in the
L-Word.
Speaking of the L-Word, what was Rachel Shelley like to work with?
HG:
Rachel? She’s
great she’s so smart and nice and really intelligent and fun.
In terms of homosexuality, how should we perceive this film? It’s rather
innocent rather than groundbreaking for the audience, so it might
just be for the exploration of the character.
HG:
I think that one great thing about it is that instead of
doing it and saying well this is groundbreaking, it’s just saying
this is normal. So
instead of saying this is a really touchy subject – putting it in
the format of a romantic comedy is saying let’s just get over
ourselves. It’s sweet,
it’s nice, it’s two people who are in love.
We can all just embrace who we are and be ourselves and like
who we are and not be so judgmental.
It’s just very light-hearted and fun.
How do you think this movie differs from the other gay movies out there
like Kissing Jessica Stein?
HG:
I feel this is more Yeah, Gay, Good!
This is more celebratory whereas in that one she was confused
and she goes back out with a guy in the end.
You say this movie is about celebrating yourself; have the two of you
embraced who you are throughout your lives or have you had issues to
deal with?
BM:
Well I think everybody goes through that.
It’s part of growing up, figuring out who you are, who you
like or dislike and sort of push the envelope in a lot of different
avenues and figure out what sticks, what you can live with or what
goes over your head.
HG:
Yeah I related to this story because I totally struggled with
different things and just accepting myself.
Certain things about yourself you wish might be different;
another way. Then
ultimately when I discovered who I am, it’s great.
Do you want to throw us a bone on that?
HG:
I over-pack (laughing). I
think to myself ‘this is disgusting, why did I bring this?
I’m just a crazy, neurotic actress’ and then I think
‘whatever, I over-pack! Yeay!’
That was an extremely emotional elevator scene in the end.
Were you reaching within an emotional place in your own
personal life?
HG:
Yeah, I think it’s just that feeling that sometimes you don’t
think you’re good enough or you wish you were different.
I do feel like I felt that way.
And also the director’s sister was there so I was trying to
do justice to her story. I’d
become really good friends with the director and her sister…I
think that society also puts all sorts of judgments on people all
the time. Like if you
read all these magazines, if you really care about what anyone
thinks about you too much, then you can get really screwed up in the
head. That scene is
great and it’s just about how my brother really supports me through
this horrible moment and just about letting it all out – all your
fears about how people are going to judge you.
Can you talk about how you choose your roles and having more freedom to
do independent movies?
BM:
It’s funny for me because I could never get an independent
film prior to doing IRobot. So
I was excited to finally being accepted in that world.
So if they wanted me I’d be like ‘great.’
But in the independent world you tend to get a little bit
more material, more interesting material and more likely to end up
straight to video but it gives you a little bit more opportunity to
explore yourself and in the character than perhaps in some of the
bigger films where most likely you’re supporting a bigger cast or
bigger male lead.
HG:
Yes I think I really like to do independent films.
I think that they, a lot of times, take more chances and do
things more uniquely and not as formulaic.
I think there are really great studio movies but they’re
harder to find. I just
love going to see them.
There are not that many movies made today that center on women.
As an actress, what does that mean for women in Hollywood
today competing for parts?
HG:
Well the way I think of that is that I have gotten into
developing material because I think that there’s not a lot of female
perspective in cinema. There
definitely is some but there should be more and as an audience
member I want that, not only as an actress.
So for the past 5 years I’ve been doing it and I have 3
things that I want to do. Hopefully 2 this year and 1 next year.
So you have more control over it?
HG:
Well that’s what I want to do instead of just [wondering] if
these random people out there will cast me for these things.
Is that a necessity for you to have control of your own projects?
HG:
I guess so. Singers
write songs and say what they want to say in a song.
In this movie, I actually believe in the message of this
movie but sometimes you can’t always totally control that.
So then I thought, that would be a fun thing to try.
BM:
Are you casting soon? (laughter)
Are you working on any new projects now?
BM:
I’m shooting a TV show, Six Degrees so that’s still filming
and I’m busy with that.
HG:
I just did a film at Sundance called Adrift In Manhattan.
Speaking of Manhattan, can you talk about how NYC plays a big part in
romance and the importance it adds to movies?
BM:
There is something romantic about finding love in such a big
city where everyone is moving so fast and everyone seems to be a
stranger and yet we’re still all connected whether it’s 6 degrees or
not. I mean I’m a
romantic so I always feel like there is somebody out there in this
city which is a beautiful sort of story of how you bump into each
other. This city has a
life of it’s own and it really feeds us individually with its own
personality. It really
is a character – I don’t think there’s another city in a film that
really has that same influence on film.
Did you ever expect the world of acting to be as it is?
BM:
No I had no idea what I was getting into. The first big thing
I did was Coyote Ugly and I had no idea what that was or who Jerry
Bruckheimer was. I didn’t know what I was in for.
Were you pleased with that project?
BM:
When I look back at it now I have this sort of giggle when I
see myself on the bar and stuff like that.
I was very pleased with what it was and how it opened a lot
of doors and my experience on it.
Heather, do you catch any of your old movies on TV and gush?
HG:
Yeah, weird, so weird. I
don’t really watch myself a lot but when I do I think to myself aww…like
when I was young, like 18.
Are you more secure now as an actress?
HG:
No not every minute but I think I just learn to have more
confidence in my life and not caring as much I guess because you
become an adult and just feel good about yourself and it’s kind of
like what this movie is about. You
can’t really worry about those things like how the movie is going to
come out. It’s just
like…you might as well feel good.
BM:
By this time you’ve moved on to so many other [projects].
I just mentioned Noise and we’re doing this now and I’m also
filming something else so there’s already so many other things that
have happened since then. Whereas the director is immersed in it
every single day still so it’s a different process.
How long ago did you shoot this movie?
BM:
Almost 2 years ago.
HG:
Maybe a year and a half.
Your kiss in this movies is getting a lot of attention from the press.
HG:
Good.
Courtney Cox came out to the press yesterday and said that her kiss with
Jennifer Aniston had no tongue at all and it was just a regular
kiss.
HG:
We had tongue if that’s what you’re asking [smiling]
Do you think there is too much attention on this sort of thinking?
HG:
I want to know if there’s tongue or no tongue actually. I
think it’s important news. It
could be breaking news. [sarcastically]
It may be relevant but there’s a lot of attention on the woman to woman
kiss.
BM:
I guess it’s sort of a fantasy for both sexes.
Guys and girls find it hot, and even girls that are not gay.
It’s still sort of a fantasy.
Was it one of your fantasies?
BM:
Sure. (laughter)
Women are constantly abused because of their sexuality so there’s this
hyper vigilance.
BM:
But for years it’s been celebrated.
I think it goes both ways.
Heather can you talk about the projects you are working on and what
they’re about?
HG:
One that I’ve been working on for a long time is about the
triangle fire of 9/11 because I watched NY documentary and saw a
section on that. So
that’s probably the first stop because it’s such a big kind of
production. And then
there’s another called The Accidental Virgin which is a like a sex
comedy about sex. And
then there’s another one that’s called Seymour’s Last Rule and
that’s kind of more like a dark sort of character.
It’s about the friendship
about these 2 people. It
[stars] Jorge Garcia from Lost.
Do you play a role in all of these?
HG:
Yes. There is one
that I think I’m going to do that’s not one of those three that I
just have a very small part in.
That would be an ensemble.
Do you believe in the paranormal?
HG:
Sure why not. I
don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.
You know the book Lovely Bones?
I just think it’s a great thought that like where do people’s
spirits go when they’re not completely gone?
I believe in it more in a positive way and not a freaky way.
Are they going to be bringing you back to Scrubs anytime soon?
HG:
I would go back. They’re
so fun. They’re so nice.
What do you think the best roles are for actresses in your generation
right now? Are they studio films, indie films or TV?
HG:
I think 100% indie films. I
mean if you look at the academy awards, all those actress are always
usually in independent films.
BM:
But then I think there’s also TV.
I see so many great actresses moving into TV.
I just saw that Jennifer Jason Leigh is doing a pilot, Glenn
Close, Sally Field. I
think you’re getting material on a weekly basis that’s pushing you
and challenging you and you’re getting some of the great writers
from the films who are going into television and have more control.
I think more and more actresses are going in that direction
but the kind of material that they’re probably gravitating to
doesn’t stay on the air so…