Even
since she played the adorably sadistic little vampire girl in
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (at the young age of 11), Kirsten Dunst
has been on the map. She’s just now reaching her mid-twenties, and
she’s already got over 20 major motion pictures to her name. But
it’s only recently that she’s gotten a chance to shine in some of
the biggest movies ever made. I’m talking, of course, about the
SPIDER-MAN franchise. She plays redhead Mary Jane Watson, the
leading love interest to Peter Parker (a.k.a. Spider-Man). The big
difference with SPIDER-MAN
3 though, is that it marks the first time we get to see MJ
and Parker in a full-fledged relationship. You can see more of what
I’m talking about when the movie hits theaters Friday, May 4
(you can read my review HERE).
We
here at JoBlo.com recently got invited to attend the SPIDER-MAN 3
movie junket in LA, where we met up with Kirsten Dunst and other
well-known talent from the cast and crew. I’ll admit, I originally
wasn’t too thrilled with the casting of Dunst as MJ for the first
film, but she’s warmed up to me since then. Part of this has to do
with the pleasant manner in which she presents herself. This was
especially evident when seeing her in person. She was nice, relaxed,
and wholly confident. In fact, she even discussed that very topic,
as well as how continuing work after being a famous child actress
has affected the place in stardom she resides today. Read on to find
out more.
Kirsten
Dunst
Did
you feel like this was the end of your experience with Mary Jane or
do you see yourself being in 4, 5 and 6?
This
is definitely the end to this trilogy. We’ve closed this chapter.
But if Sam and Tobey and I were to come back together, we’d
definitely do another movie.
This
time around, were you just focusing yourself on the actress
storyline and not worrying about the stress in the end or the
special FX stuff going on?
On
this one, they’re finally together and she is successful in what
she’s doing, and he’s been embraced by the city of New York and
getting all these accolades. It’s blown his head up a little bit.
Slowly, we start to unravel Mary Jane, their relationship –
they’re already ignoring things within that – it doesn’t help that
he takes on this other darkness that envelopes his character, and
brings out all the things he’s not dealing with in his life all his
anger really heightens that.
Could
you get focused in your storyline and not think about, say,
Sandman’s story?
Oh,
I just focus on what I’m doing. It’s a surprise when I see the movie
because I don’t know what half of it’s going to look like. I saw
Thomas and I said, “Hey, we’re in the same movie.” We all
had our separate lives and stories going on, which makes sense
because that’s what it’s like in the film.
Did
you enjoy singing?
I
was just happy that she finally got a gig. I’ve always sang so it
wasn’t a big deal to me and I could pre-record it and then just
listen to it.
Have
you heard about the ‘Spider-Man’ musical?
Yeah,
that’s amazing. I heard about it today. That’s the coolest ever –
I mean, Julie Taymor directing? I was shocked, because usually when
they do that kind of reinvention thing, they get a little cheesy.
But that’s incredible.
Would
you like to do Broadway?
I
could never sing live in front of big audiences. I couldn’t do
that. I’m not a Broadway actress. No, no, no.
Are
you going to play Debbie Harry?
Yeah,
but that’s very early, so it’s too early to talk about it.
What
about Mary Jane’s unraveling? Problems she has are being ignored,
but she doesn’t really tell Peter.
But
there wasn’t really an opportunity as well. Also, there’s a
responsibility in a relationship when someone’s doing something
that they’re really excited about, you don’t want to put that on
them that day. There’s a time and a place. And then there was that
other thing that happened with the keys to the city so it just kind
of builds and builds and builds.
You
and James Franco get to do the twist. Did you practice for that?
Oh,
I can do the twist. I’m a big dancer.
Did
you teach him?
We
had to get together. I remember they brought me all the way down to
like Culver City. I was like, “Why are we here? Oh, it’s
twist lessons. Are you kidding me? You brought me all the way down
here to do the twist?” I mean, I’ve done it. It’s not the
hardest dance in the world. So yeah, I did a twist lesson with
James, helped him out a little bit.
Was
it funny watching Tobey dance at the jazz club?
It
was so funny and I had to have a reaction – kind of like,
“Peter, what’s wrong with you?” – that I couldn’t
even have, because I just would laugh when he was dancing. I just
couldn’t help myself. It’s so ridiculous, I just couldn’t deal
with it. And I had to be in this kind of shock, like
‘what’s-happened-to-Peter’ kind of mode. And meanwhile, he’s
doing all these pelvic twists and thrusts and I just couldn’t
watch Tobey do it anymore. I was just laughing way too much.
Having
done three of these superhero films, is it disappointing that you
don’t get to do superhero stuff yourself?
Honestly,
I have absolutely no interest in being a superhero. I got to throw a
cinderblock in this one, which was fine. That’s enough action for
me. If I were to do any superhero-esque film, I’d do some werewolf,
avant-garde in-the-streets-of Paris or something. Remember that
movie with the vampire…
‘Interview
with the Vampire’?
No
– like I’m going to reference my own film and act like I don’t
know what it is – that would be so lame. [Laughs] No, it was
called ‘Lost Boys.’ Something that’s cool like that.
What
about the ‘Barbarella’ remake?
No,
I don’t want to wear that outfit. That’s too revealing. No, I
don’t want to be worried about being in a bikini during the entire
film.
Are
the acting muscles you flex in a comic book type movie like this
identical to the ones you do in a regular drama?
Well,
it’s interesting because [for] Marie Antoinette, we hardly talked
in that movie. It was a very sensorial way of working. And it’s
all about the way the fabrics felt and the way the food tasted and
smelled and how the air felt. I never just concentrated so intently
on just that. And then I realized after I made the film, you can’t
be too aware of yourself. And then when I start to work on
‘Spider-Man,’ I realized all these tools I had that I didn’t
realize before so it really… Yeah, all these films always change.
You learn things on every movie and so it really helped me in this.
But
you don’t go over the top because it’s a comic book movie?
It’s exactly the same kind of acting?
For
me, yeah. Except you’re in kind of fantastical situations. But I
hope I didn’t. I don’t know.
Oh,
I wasn’t accusing you…
Yeah,
I was like, “Did I?” I don’t know. I mean it kind of
gets sticky when you get into the blue screen stuff. I just forgive
myself for bad acting when it comes to those things because if I’m
good in that, then that’s just incredible because those things are
hard to do. I mean I had no idea what was going to be in the film.
So, yeah, and some of those lines are hard to pull off sometimes,
too.
Is
there anything you wish Mary Jane had gotten to do in these three
films? Maybe you suggested it and it just didn’t happen?
Yeah.
I suggested that she shouldn’t be in peril in the third one.
They
didn’t buy that, huh?
Nope.
If
you aren’t going to do another one, have you and Tobey and Sam had
that kind of, “Okay, this is over” moment?
No.
No. We’ve just, no. We haven’t had that moment.
Do
you see it coming? After all this press is over?
Oh,
no. Give us a little bit of time.
If
Sam decides to come back, but Tobey doesn’t, would you consider
still doing a fourth film?
No.
I wouldn’t.
Do
you think your Mary Jane should be with Tobey?
Tobey.
Yes. Exactly. Hands down.
How
different is Mary Jane in the three movies? And how different is
Kirsten Dunst after six years of Spider-Man?
Well,
for me, I think on the first movie I was so much younger, you know?
I was so much more impressionable and insecure and so I didn’t
have the confidence that I do as an actress today. And like I cared
what people thought and I was performing more for other people
instead of myself. And we’ve just grown up. Each film we’ve just
become more and more collaborative. And this last one has just been,
three individuals coming together and as equal adults collaborating
on a film. But you’re not that when you’re a teenager. You have
to grow into that.
So
you have no interest in being an action heroine, but is there
anything you do in your life for excitement or thrills?
I
mean, I like going to the movies with my friends. I’m trying to
think… I love to travel. I love going to new places. I like going
to Sunday night dinner. I’m not like an extreme sports person. I
love going to the theatre. I love seeing bands play.
But
you don’t have the desire to put yourself in danger?
I
guess I’m not an extreme sport lady. Although, my grandfather was
a speed skater, bicycle racer who was going to go to the Olympics
before World War II broke out. He was a really famous athlete. And
my mom, like my dad, is always really into sports. So I have it in
my genes. I just haven’t exercised it.
Your
new ‘Sweet Relief’ movie… How controversial do you think it will
be given the subject matter?
It’s
about a woman, you know. I don’t think it’s about Iraq. It’s
about a woman. What in this 24-year-old girl makes you want to go to
Iraq on your own without security and just be there, count bodies,
visit orphanages, manipulate soldiers into getting information, all
on her own accord. That takes a very brave and kind of a crazy thing
to do. I couldn’t put myself in that position. I couldn’t imagine
doing that. So I think it’s more about this woman.
You’ve
made that movie already?
No.
We haven’t made it yet.
That’ll
be your next project?
No.
Do
you know what your next film is?
Yep.
Which is this movie called ‘How To Lose Friends And Alienate
People.’ It’s based on Toby Young’s book. And Simon Pegg is the
lead.
He
plays the obnoxious Brit?
Yes.
Are
you the Vanity Fair writer in that?
Yeah.
I work there.
And
did the two of you have some romance?
We’ll
just have to wait and see.
So,
you’re doing that this May?
May,
June and July. Yeah.
You
have a Mary Jane moment where she has this big opportunity and it
falls to pieces – have you had a similar situation?
Of
course, I’ve been so bummed when I haven’t gotten a role. That
happened when I was younger. Now I’ve learned that it’s probably
for the best for some reason in my life. But when I was younger,
yeah, of course.
What
about critics?
Critics.
I’ve definitely been disappointed, like I usually have read the
New York Times and LA Times and I’ve been disappointed before, but
now I’m in a place in my life where I really don’t care, so
that’s a good feeling. I don’t let those things affect me
anymore. I don’t read the crap anymore. It’s not part of my life
and so it just I’m not worried about what people say or write
about me. I respect them and, you know, I’m not saying that I
don’t value what they do, I’m just not going to personally
invite that into my feelings about myself.
Outside
of the movies, do you have a chance to be friends with Sam, Tobey,
and James?
Yeah.
James is part of my life because I introduced him to this charity I
work with called The Art of Elysium and we put on plays and just
visit the hospital – and this one particular hospital called All
Saints – and do auctions. And so I got him involved with that and
then Bryce [Dallas Howard] and I have become really close. So those
are the two people I see the most. But when I see Tobey, it’s
great. But he’s just had a baby and so… but I love his fiancée.
Tobey
just had a baby. Bryce just had a baby. What are you feeling?
I
don’t know yet. I definitely want to have children. You know,
we’ll see.
You
talked about traveling. Would you think about doing possible charity
work in Africa?
Yeah.
Well, I’ve been involved with Bono’s charity before. So I would
completely, if I was going to go to Africa, I wouldn’t just stay
in some fancy hotel. Like that would feel totally awkward and weird
to me, so of course I’d want to do it on a level where I can
appreciate and be a celebrity face if that gets attention to certain
causes.
Tobey
Maguire mentioned the differences between the ‘Spider-Man’ fans in
Japan and the fans here. Do you think American fans are a lot
different than Japanese fans?
Yeah,
the Japanese are very excited about us. But also they’re more
demure… They either – I went to Universal Studios because we had
to open some attraction there and they had this girl scream like I
was a rock star. And I was like, “Calm down. It’s okay.”
But at the premiere, they’re very mellow. Even when you’re in
big crowds, you feel like you have your own space. They’re very
respectful of people’s spaces.
Who
brings out that kind of fan in you?
Oh,
Joni Mitchell. But I wouldn’t scream in her face. Diane Keaton,
Meryl Streep, who else? Barack Obama, I have a real crush on him.
Jon Stewart. I don’t know. There’s lots of people.
You
say you don’t want to be an action hero. Is there something you
really want to do?
Yes.
I really want to make like a Roman Polanski-esque, like ‘Repulsion’
or ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ type of film. But there’s nobody making
those movies. ‘The Others’ was the closest they got to it. If I had
to have one dream director, it would be Roman Polanski.
Was
there a scene that was maybe harder to do than any of the others or
more challenging?
No.
I guess just walking down the stairs in high heels, trying not to
fall. And lip-synch.
What
was it like being a redhead?
It
was nice. I liked the color. I like the man who did my hair, Manny.
He’s a real connoisseur. I like that Mary Jane doesn’t look perfect,
and her hair’s grown out. Manny is specific and it’s nice to have
people around that let you do your thing but are also supportive.
In
the last few years, have you taken any time to analyze why the
Spider-Man movies are so successful?
I
didn’t need to because I lived it. I’m part of it and I know why
because we never rested our laurels. We are all passionate for this
franchise. The producers, the heads of Sony, all of us want to make
a great movie. Obviously it’s about box office for the studio at
the end of the day somewhere, but we don’t want to produce just to
produce. We really care for [who] these characters are – these
people are so important to us. And Sam was working up to the last
second of giving over the film. So, we’re all very passionate. And
Sam is such a hard worker.
Why
does the public respond so much to the movie?
Well,
Spider-Man is every man. And if he can be a hero, you can be a hero.
And it’s always had very relatable storylines in this kind of
fantastical world, but somehow Sam manages to ground it with the
people he’s cast. And that’s always attracted really interesting
actors to play our villains and so I think that it’s just a very
international story. Who can’t relate to falling in love? Who
can’t relate to getting in fights with your best friend or feeling
like your work is killing you? Who can’t relate to all these
things? So, I think that’s why.
How
has acting changed for you? Did it just come naturally as a child?
Well,
when I was younger, I definitely worked with an acting coach. But
how else are you going to do ‘Interview with the Vampire’? You
can’t do that on instincts. And so he helped me make things seem
different and seem okay when they were maybe scarier to do. And I
was up for it. I really wanted to do it at that age. And I enjoyed
it and I had a great time on that film. But then I definitely have
had transitions in my life where, not every child actress goes to be
an adult actor. But I continued and I enjoyed it.
And
‘Virgin Suicides’ was big for me because it showed me in a light
that was a young girl having all these other emotions. Not being
just the cute little girl anymore, and Sophia did that in such a
poetic way that opened many doors for me. And then ‘Bring It On’ was
really helpful for me. And then it’s always kept changing and
growing. ‘Marie Antoinette’ was huge for me. So acting has changed
for me, my barometer for what I want to do, what I want to be a part
of has changed, who I want to work with. And you spend a lot of time
very closely with these people on films and I want to work with good
people who I can learn from – who are nice people. Because you
deal with so many personalities in this business and it’s just not
worth it. You can have the best time with the nicest people.
Do
you think you being a celebrity makes it difficult for some guys to
ask you out on a date?
Oh,
completely. I would stay away from somebody who wants to be part of
that whole thing, pictures being taken. Like you just have to live
your life. I live a really normal life, but then occasionally,
you’ve got to have a little bit of this stuff that’s not so fun
to deal with. I need somebody who can deal with all the aspects of
who I am.
Has
the confidence you’ve gained through working on these films helped
you to fight for a certain part if you want it, or fight to work
with a certain director?
Well,
this film didn’t give me self-confidence. I gave myself
self-confidence. I worked on myself as a human being. Films and
money and all those things give you nothing. You have to give it to
yourself, so I worked on myself.
Generally,
do you find that if you have problem with someone that you’ll
speak up and let them know?
Oh,
completely. Yeah. I’m very opinionated. [Laughs]
Got
questions? Got comments? Send me a line at: quigles@joblo.com
.