- Entertainment
- Movie Insider
Recently in Interview Category
When Julie & Julia hits theaters on August 7th, it's going to make audiences everywhere hungry! Luckily, I recently attended the Julie & Julia Blogger Event in New York City and got to snack on some Julia Child-inspired dishes right after the movie. The food was seriously good, but talking to Julie Powell, the author of Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously, and the director, Nora Ephron, was even better.
Right after the movie (which, by the way, was adorable!) bloggers from all over the city trekked down to The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers just in time to watch a cooking demonstration by Chef Brian Malarkey, a former finalist on Bravo's Top Chef 3 Miami. He whipped up Julia Child's classic recipe for boeuf bourguignon, a rich beef stew with sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions and some pancetta. Julie Powell joined him in the kitchen and helped make Julia's recipe for chocolate cream pie while they chatted about the movie.
Before she was a famous author, Julie Powell was miserable, working a dead end job and living in a cramped apartment with her husband, Eric. When she spontaneously started "The Julie/Julia Project" in 2002, her life took on a new meaning. She gave herself one year to make every recipe in her old copy of Julia Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, blogging about her experience every step of the way. The online response was huge, and her blog became a book three years later.
"I would never have gotten through this if I didn't have all my blog readers saying, 'Go, go, go!'" Julie said. Although it seems like she was an overnight success, Julie admitted that she often considered quitting the project during the first few months, but turned to Julia Child's story for inspiration. Julia paved the road for every Food Network star out there and didn't even start cooking until she was nearly forty! "She never tried to cover up her mistakes or be something she wasn't," Julie said fondly.
Although the movie is centered on passionate foodies, there is also a strong love story at its core. Julia Child's relationship with her husband, Paul Child, is depicted as loving, full of laughter and support. Similarly, Julie's marriage with Eric was one of the biggest reasons Nora Ephron decided to write and direct the movie.
"Nobody gets to write movies about marriage. If you do, it's marriages that are about to break up," Nora explained. "I got so excited at how sweet it can be to have a husband who thinks it's great that something happens to you." She was also drawn to the connection between Eric and Julie's love for food and each other. "If you're married to someone and you both love food, it's a big player in your marriage."
Between the drool-worthy dishes and real-life love stories, the movie and event left me craving seconds. Don't miss Julie & Julia when it premieres on August 7th... just make sure to bring lots of snacks!
--Sarah Levy
If you don't know who Rose Byrne is, I'm going to give you two chances -- go see her new movie, Knowing, and check out her uber smart and dramatic show, Damages. I promise, if you do it, you won't regret it. Earlier this week, I had the chance to chat with Rose about her roles and, of course, her love life.
Knowing
To explain Rose's character, here's some background on the film: The movie stars Nicolas Cage as professor John Koestler, the father of a young boy named Caleb. As part of a class project, Caleb and his fellow students open a time capsule that a previous class had created 50 years ago, in 1958. That class drew pictures of what they thought the future would look like. The drawing Caleb receives from the time capsule isn't a drawing at all - it's a paper filled with rows and rows of numbers.
When John studies the paper, he discovers that the numbers predict the dates, death tolls and coordinates of all the major disasters that have taken place in the past 50 years. However, there are three additional sets of numbers, telling John that these catastrophes have yet to occur.
To help him save the world from a global-scale disaster, he enlists the help of Diana (Rose Byrne), the daughter of the now-deceased author of the numbers.
Rose has actually been in a lot of sci-fi movies (Star Wars Episode II, Sunshine, 28 Weeks Later and Knowing), though she swears it's "pretty random" and "just a coincidence, really." That said, Rose has developed an affinity for the genre. "I think Sunshine really educated me on science fiction... Danny Boyle really took the cast under his wing and we watched a lot of science fiction classics. I got a bit of a crash course as it were and it definitely made me appreciate it."
Love and Relationships
Though Rose didn't seek out Knowing because of it's sci-fi nature, it didn't hurt that the movie was filming in Australia, her native country, giving the actress a chance to see her family. Rose, who's now living in New York City to film Damages, has made some really good friends in the States. When I interviewed her Damages costar, Noah Bean, he said that he Rose have "become great friends and hang out all the time."
Speaking of Noah, Rose has had the chance to work with some of the hottest stars, from Brad Pitt to Orlando Bloom to Nicolas Cage to Eric Bana. I asked Rose to give us some insight into what it's like to work with such good looking guys. "I'm incredibly spoiled, you know," Rose said. "They were mostly married with children. They're all very professional, so we weren't romantically involved, so I can't enlighten you on that, which is a shame." A shame, indeed!
Rose said that her long-time boyfriend, Brendan Cowell, An Australian writer, director and actor, is fine with her working with such studly stars. "He's worked with some great ladies," she said, laughing and adding that perhaps he did think twice about her working with Brad Pitt, "but that's understandable."
Damages
For those of you who are fans (and the rest of you should be!) of Damages -- the smartest show on TV -- Rose said, "I don't think she's [Patty Hewes, played by Glenn Close] all evil and she's clearly not all good. Sometimes you have to do a lot of bad to get the good done, and I think she falls in that category... Damages is not a comic book. It's not all good and all evil."
What about the situation with Uncle Pete? Did he try to kill Ellen Parsons (Rose's character) with or without Patty's knowledge? Rose says we'll find out the answer to that, though we might not know this season. (Suspense, much?!) In my opinion, knowing that will help us know how bad Patty really is.
I also asked Rose about how Ellen is supposed to stay sane and not end up in a mental institution. After all, her fiance was killed, and her new boyfriend, Wes (Timothy Olyphant) is working for the man who killed him. "I won't ruin it for you," Rose said, "but it's not resolved in this season. In a way, Wes is kind of a bit of a saint...He's got an incredibly complicated agenda." If Wes turns out to be good for Ellen... well, I need to see this! -- Jacki Garfinkel
Be sure to check out Knowing, which hits theaters on March 20, and Damages, on FX Wednesday nights at 10 pm.
Follow Jacki on Twitter!
Knowing
To explain Rose's character, here's some background on the film: The movie stars Nicolas Cage as professor John Koestler, the father of a young boy named Caleb. As part of a class project, Caleb and his fellow students open a time capsule that a previous class had created 50 years ago, in 1958. That class drew pictures of what they thought the future would look like. The drawing Caleb receives from the time capsule isn't a drawing at all - it's a paper filled with rows and rows of numbers.
When John studies the paper, he discovers that the numbers predict the dates, death tolls and coordinates of all the major disasters that have taken place in the past 50 years. However, there are three additional sets of numbers, telling John that these catastrophes have yet to occur.
To help him save the world from a global-scale disaster, he enlists the help of Diana (Rose Byrne), the daughter of the now-deceased author of the numbers.
Rose has actually been in a lot of sci-fi movies (Star Wars Episode II, Sunshine, 28 Weeks Later and Knowing), though she swears it's "pretty random" and "just a coincidence, really." That said, Rose has developed an affinity for the genre. "I think Sunshine really educated me on science fiction... Danny Boyle really took the cast under his wing and we watched a lot of science fiction classics. I got a bit of a crash course as it were and it definitely made me appreciate it."
Love and Relationships
Though Rose didn't seek out Knowing because of it's sci-fi nature, it didn't hurt that the movie was filming in Australia, her native country, giving the actress a chance to see her family. Rose, who's now living in New York City to film Damages, has made some really good friends in the States. When I interviewed her Damages costar, Noah Bean, he said that he Rose have "become great friends and hang out all the time."
Speaking of Noah, Rose has had the chance to work with some of the hottest stars, from Brad Pitt to Orlando Bloom to Nicolas Cage to Eric Bana. I asked Rose to give us some insight into what it's like to work with such good looking guys. "I'm incredibly spoiled, you know," Rose said. "They were mostly married with children. They're all very professional, so we weren't romantically involved, so I can't enlighten you on that, which is a shame." A shame, indeed!Rose said that her long-time boyfriend, Brendan Cowell, An Australian writer, director and actor, is fine with her working with such studly stars. "He's worked with some great ladies," she said, laughing and adding that perhaps he did think twice about her working with Brad Pitt, "but that's understandable."
Damages
For those of you who are fans (and the rest of you should be!) of Damages -- the smartest show on TV -- Rose said, "I don't think she's [Patty Hewes, played by Glenn Close] all evil and she's clearly not all good. Sometimes you have to do a lot of bad to get the good done, and I think she falls in that category... Damages is not a comic book. It's not all good and all evil."
What about the situation with Uncle Pete? Did he try to kill Ellen Parsons (Rose's character) with or without Patty's knowledge? Rose says we'll find out the answer to that, though we might not know this season. (Suspense, much?!) In my opinion, knowing that will help us know how bad Patty really is.
I also asked Rose about how Ellen is supposed to stay sane and not end up in a mental institution. After all, her fiance was killed, and her new boyfriend, Wes (Timothy Olyphant) is working for the man who killed him. "I won't ruin it for you," Rose said, "but it's not resolved in this season. In a way, Wes is kind of a bit of a saint...He's got an incredibly complicated agenda." If Wes turns out to be good for Ellen... well, I need to see this! -- Jacki Garfinkel
Be sure to check out Knowing, which hits theaters on March 20, and Damages, on FX Wednesday nights at 10 pm.
Follow Jacki on Twitter!
Felicity Huffman is a household name. But, that wasn't always the case.When Phoebe in Wonderland producer, Ben Barnz, approached her with the movie's script, she loved it, but said she didn't think she was famous enough to get financing for the film.
Not big enough? Felicity Huffman?
"I mean you have to understand I read it seven years ago. So this was before Desperate Housewives or anything had occurred. And I didn't have the juice to get a film made. I almost didn't have the juice to get a film audition, to tell you the truth," Felicity said.
Luckily, two weeks after Felicity read the Phoebe script, she was cast in Desperate Housewives, which opened the door for financing, and the movie was able to be made.
I say "luckily" because Phoebe in Wonderland is a magnificent film. Felicity stars as Hillary, the mom of Phoebe (Elle Fanning), a girl with a huge imagination, which helps her escape the strict rules of her school and society.
Hillary wants to believe that her daughter's quirks and fantasies are due to her creativity and intelligence. She doesn't want to admit that something could be wrong with her daughter, who seems to have increasingly more trouble fitting in with her classmates and the world around her.
And Phoebe isn't the only one having a tough time. Hillary and her husband Peter (Bill Pullman) are writers, and while Peter is getting published, Hillary barely makes any progress on her book about Wonderland. "In the publishing world," Felicity explained, "who you are is your work and whether you're producing. And Hillary is
not producing... So she's been robbed of her only identity and then
thrust into motherhood, which we all know is challenging and
bewildering. And she feels like all she's failing at that, based on her
daughter Phoebe who's having a very hard time." So, what could Hillary have done to make her life easier? Although Felicity doesn't like to second-guess her roles, she said, "I guess what she should have done is asked for help."
Between playing Lynette Scavo on Desperate Housewives, and oh yes, being the mother to two daughters in real life, Felicity knows a lot about being a mom. She says that she and husband William H. Macy are just like any other typical American family, though she added, "I'm not sure you want to come over for one of my dinners -- you, know pizza and cold broccoli. But, we're all American families... and we're all kind of families next door. Once you get toward bath time and bed time, I'm fried. I'd really like to go to bed at 6 pm. I'd like to do the reading in the evening and my husband to do everything else."
Felicity brings her knowledge and experiences from motherhood to her roles, saying she wouldn't know how to do otherwise. At the same time though, she also learns from the mothers she plays. For example, Felicity said, "The lesson for me with Hillary is that I think a parent's job is to really see your child, not who you would like your child to be or who you hope your child is, but who that child really is. And it's a simple sentence but it's a tall order. Because our hopes, our desires and our best intentions get in the way."
Though Phoebe in Wonderland is not exactly a feel-good movie, it's powerful and profound. You will be transformed by the depths the actors go to, and you will leave the theater pondering how you would react in the same situation.
Phoebe in Wonderland hits theaters on March 6. -- Jacki Garfinkel
Follow Jacki on Twitter!
In the animated comedy Madagascar, Ben Stiller starred as Alex the Lion, Chris Rock voiced Marty the Zebra, and Jada Pinkett Smith took on Gloria, the loud-mouthed hippo. Thankfully, those lovable animals will return to the big screen on November 7 in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
iVillage had the chance to sit down with these three very funny actors to talk about the movie, their lives and their late costar, Bernie Mac.
On Having Their Children in the Film:
Ben Stiller: Well, it was tough because he [son Quinlin], you know, he knew that like, there was something going on. He's only three... and Ella's six. They were sort of wary of the situation. They don't like to be told to do anything. But, then he got in there, and he got in front of the microphone, and there was a run of like a minute where he just had fun and he was like, making sounds, and we were saying like, "Oh, be happy, happy and sad." And then he started to, you know, get a little bit intimidated by the microphone and the whole thing. And then that's when you start to feel like this horrible stage parent... But, I'm happy that they're both in the movie. It's interesting because you realize if kids aren't that comfortable with that situation, you don't want to force them to do it... I was happy that they weren't like, sort of, getting up there and going like, all Shirley Temple or something.
Jada Pinkett Smith: Oh, that was so cute. Because she'd been asking. She was like, "So, how does that work? How does the animation thing work? Mommy, what happens?"... So, it was great when I got the phone call saying, "Would Willow like to play little Gloria?" And so she got to come in. Do some lines. And she got to see the process for herself, rather than me telling her. She actually could experience it in life for herself. So, that was great.
On Bernie Mac:
Jada Pinkett Smith: It's funny, because I saw the movie the day before he passed. [Someone at Dreamworks] told me that he was ill... I didn't know he was in the hospital. I said, "Oh, man, I gotta reach out to Bernie." Then I woke up the next morning and my husband was like "Bernie's gone." That was unfortunate. But, I did have the opportunity to know him. He was a great guy.
Ben Stiller: I mean, it's so sad and, what I did get the chance to do is listen to his performance a lot, especially in the last few months, as we're getting closer to the movie being finished. And I was so excited -- really -- I thought we were going to be able to spend some time together...because, I think he's so good in the film. I just thought it was great casting, and what he did with the role, it just like, exuded so much warmth. And so, it's obviously a really, really sad thing. And, my heart goes out to his family.
Chris Rock: I got a ton of favorite memories of Bernie, man. Just hanging out. We filmed this movie, Head of State, a few years ago. And just every day he was the life of the party. He was the funniest guy around. He made everyone around him feel welcomed and everybody felt like they kind of knew him. And, you know, he was just a great guy to have around.
On Balancing Work and Family:
Ben Stiller: Being together no matter what is probably the biggest thing. You know, just being in the same place. So, like, this summer I've been shooting in Vancouver and the family's been up there all summer, so we've been together. We're here [in New York] now together... Because even if the hours are long, you still get together at, you know, night, or in the morning, or you're just there, and there's a feeling that everybody's connected, which is really important.
iVillage had the chance to sit down with these three very funny actors to talk about the movie, their lives and their late costar, Bernie Mac.
On Having Their Children in the Film:
Ben Stiller: Well, it was tough because he [son Quinlin], you know, he knew that like, there was something going on. He's only three... and Ella's six. They were sort of wary of the situation. They don't like to be told to do anything. But, then he got in there, and he got in front of the microphone, and there was a run of like a minute where he just had fun and he was like, making sounds, and we were saying like, "Oh, be happy, happy and sad." And then he started to, you know, get a little bit intimidated by the microphone and the whole thing. And then that's when you start to feel like this horrible stage parent... But, I'm happy that they're both in the movie. It's interesting because you realize if kids aren't that comfortable with that situation, you don't want to force them to do it... I was happy that they weren't like, sort of, getting up there and going like, all Shirley Temple or something.
Jada Pinkett Smith: Oh, that was so cute. Because she'd been asking. She was like, "So, how does that work? How does the animation thing work? Mommy, what happens?"... So, it was great when I got the phone call saying, "Would Willow like to play little Gloria?" And so she got to come in. Do some lines. And she got to see the process for herself, rather than me telling her. She actually could experience it in life for herself. So, that was great.
On Bernie Mac:
Jada Pinkett Smith: It's funny, because I saw the movie the day before he passed. [Someone at Dreamworks] told me that he was ill... I didn't know he was in the hospital. I said, "Oh, man, I gotta reach out to Bernie." Then I woke up the next morning and my husband was like "Bernie's gone." That was unfortunate. But, I did have the opportunity to know him. He was a great guy.
Ben Stiller: I mean, it's so sad and, what I did get the chance to do is listen to his performance a lot, especially in the last few months, as we're getting closer to the movie being finished. And I was so excited -- really -- I thought we were going to be able to spend some time together...because, I think he's so good in the film. I just thought it was great casting, and what he did with the role, it just like, exuded so much warmth. And so, it's obviously a really, really sad thing. And, my heart goes out to his family.
Chris Rock: I got a ton of favorite memories of Bernie, man. Just hanging out. We filmed this movie, Head of State, a few years ago. And just every day he was the life of the party. He was the funniest guy around. He made everyone around him feel welcomed and everybody felt like they kind of knew him. And, you know, he was just a great guy to have around.
On Balancing Work and Family:
Ben Stiller: Being together no matter what is probably the biggest thing. You know, just being in the same place. So, like, this summer I've been shooting in Vancouver and the family's been up there all summer, so we've been together. We're here [in New York] now together... Because even if the hours are long, you still get together at, you know, night, or in the morning, or you're just there, and there's a feeling that everybody's connected, which is really important.
Jada Pinkett Smith: I just say, you know, "Mommy's out." ...You know, to just have quiet time. Even trips like this, you know? I'm here by myself. I'm only here for one day, but I'm here by myself. You know what I mean? It's like I got to sleep in the bed myself... I got the ride on the plane... So, that type of time is very valuable... Women, we put out so much. And it's so important that we plug in somewhere. A lot of times, people try to make it seem as though that's not important. Like, you've just gotta give, give, give, give. And if you don't, then that makes you a bad mom and a bad person, if you even want to take a sliver of time for yourself. And what I've learned is that I'm a much better mother, and a much better wife when I have time to be able to go and just collect myself. And my husband has learned and my kids have learned... [that they] receive the rewards of Mommy having time to herself.
Chris Rock: I guess my wife handles more of the balancing than me... You're not just working to take care of them. You're working to take care of them in the event something happens to you. So, you know, being a dad, not only are you responsible for your wife and kids, if you die and they have to move four years later, you're a bad father. Like, you're really responsible for these people. So yeah, there's no balance for me. I work, work, work. When I'm off work, I spend time with my family.
