Happy Sad Confused - Kirsten Dunst

Episode Date: August 21, 2019

Talent and good taste. That's really all a great acting career needs. Easier said than done but Kirsten Dunst clearly has both of those skills. From "Interview with the Vampire" to the "Spider-Man" films, Josh and Kirsten talk about it all even as they sweat it out on a steamy day in New York.  Kirsten's new series is "On Becoming a God in Central Florida" on Showtime! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Happy, sad, confused begins now. Today on Happy, Sad Confused, Kirsten Dunst returns to television with her new series on Becoming a God in Central Florida. Hey, guys, I'm Josh Harrowitz. Welcome to another edition of Happy, Sad Confused. Yes, as I said, Kirsten Dunst, the main event on today's show, and a unique opportunity for me. I never really had a chance to talk to Kirsten, surprisingly. She's very prolific. She's done it all.

But this was a rare treat, and I just loved her. I mean, I've always loved her acting. Shockingly, you know, she's very much a young woman, but she's already been acting for like 25 years, which is crazy to think of. But right from the start, you know, you probably saw her maybe at first with interview with a vampire. And then soon, very soon after,

then it's things like Jumanji and bring it on. And then she kind of moved into the Sophia Coppola movies and Eternal Sunshine and then the Spider-Man movie. She's kind of lived a lot of different lives in acting. And then most recently, in recent years, she did go to TV and had a great part in the second season of Fargo. She met Jesse Plymins, and now Jesse Plymins and her have started a family. I love that couple.

Love Jesse. And so, yeah, this was a real delight. She's in, as I said, a new series called Unbecoming a God in Central Florida. It is unlike anything you're going to see on television right now. It premieres August 25th on Showtime. Kirsten is the lead. And, yeah, it's kind, I don't want to say too much. there are a lot of twists in terms, even in the first two episodes I saw. But it takes place,

at least at the start, in the early 90s. She plays a woman named Crystal. She's a young mother, Merit to Alexander Scarsguard. The family kind of gets involved in a bit of a pyramid scheme. So it's, you know, it's like working class central Floridians. This is like a, you know, a strata you don't see in other television shows or really outside of the U.S. It's a very uniquely weirdly American show. It's quirky. It's odd. It's funny. It's dramatic. it's a lot of different things. In many ways, like the way that Fargo was like a weird blend of things. Again, she was, I discovered this when I was like doing my research about Kirsten,

is that she's always been attracted. Like, she has really good taste. She's worked with top-notch filmmakers from the start, and I think that's certainly behooved her well. Yeah, I mean, if you just look at like the filmmakers, whether it's Lars von Trere or Cameron Crowe or Sam Ramey, I mean, she's always worked with great filmmakers, and that's, you know, she's made a ton of fantastic films in her career going back to interview with a vampire. Then you think of bring it

on, you think of the work with Sophia Coppola, then you think of Fargo, and now you think of this. Like, she's done, she's done it all. So not only that, I think you're going to, you're going to just really enjoy her. She's, she's raw and real. She came in. She was, you know, fighting like a stomach bug. It was hot in my office. but like she was in such she was actually in really good spirits despite all those impediments and just we just relaxed into a groove

it was just me and her for about 45 minutes and yeah I really really enjoyed getting to know Kirsten on this one and hopefully we'll have her on again on the next project maybe future seasons of this show a couple things we reference in the conversation that I want to make sure that you have enough

context for in case I didn't set it up in the conversation we do talk about late in the conversation We talk about her working on Melancholia, which is a great film directed by Lars von Trier. And I referenced, like, there was this infamous press conference that Lars von Trier gave in Cannes. Kirsten's sitting next to him. And it's basically, Lars Van Trir, if you know anything about him, is very controversial. A great filmmaker, but also he's kind of out of his mind.

And he's said some really horrendous things, none more so than what he said in this press conference. If you want to look it up for context, he basically, like, says, positive things about Hitler. There's no other way to say it in this press conference. Who knows what it was really in his mind, what he was trying to say, but we talk a little bit about that and what Kirsten was thinking during that infamous moment. But look it up on YouTube. It's worth checking out. I also reference something called the Cruz Cake. So if you don't know this, maybe we've talked about this on the podcast before. Tom Cruise, and I'm fascinated by this, sends a cake to many, if not all of his, like, friends and co-stars over the years

on their birthday every year. And it's apparently the best cake on the planet. So that's what we're talking about when we're talking about the cruise cake, because she, of course, did work with Tom early in her career. We also cover Spider-Man in this one. We talk about, people might not remember this, but I want to get her take on it. And she does spill a little bit, at least sort of what it was like to go through this. Spider-Man 2, Toby McGuire, of course, had played Spider-N-Wy Man almost didn't return for Spider-Man 2. There was reportedly a back injury he was fighting when he was making Seabiscuit, and they actually had Jake Gyllenhaal basically on standby to play Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2.

Now, where in the fact that Kirsten at the time was dating Jake Gyllenhaal, and you've got an interesting situation that I wanted her take on. So there's the context for that one. Lots of good things happening for Kirsten right now. I'm very happy for her that she's found a great new series to add to her resume and that she's, you know, started a family with Jesse Plymonds. They seem like a great couple, so always rooting for both of them and happy for them. So check out the show.

As I said, premieres on Showtime, August 25th. Otherwise, what do I want to mention? Oh, let's see, let's see. This week, I believe Brittany runs a marathon opens in theaters. I haven't had anybody on from that one. I would have loved Jillian Bell if the timing had worked out. Who knows, maybe later on in the year, she's always funny and hysterical. I saw this one in Sundance.

It was one of the best things I saw in Sundance, if not the best thing. That probably in the farewell, were probably my two favorite movies. Go check it out. Smaller film, but it is getting a theatrical release. So support that one. And yeah, I think that's about it, guys. Let me give you the usual reminders. Review, rate, and subscribe to Happy Say I Confused.

Spread the Good Word. We have some cool Comedy Central after-hour segments that have gone on. up, are about to go up. We did one with Jacob Tromblay last week. If you haven't checked that out, please check it out. It's amazing. Lots of Daniel Day-Lewis jokes in there. You'll understand after you see it. Look that up on Comedy Central's After Hours YouTube page. And I think that's about it. That's enough plugs for one preamble, right? Enjoy the main event. This is Kirsten Dunst, and yeah, enjoy it. Shall we have a chat, Kirstie?

Yeah, let's have a chat. Welcome to my weird little office. Thank you. I know. I like all the things in your office. We're unbuttoning things because we're all swelling. They're too high-waisted. That's what happens when you have a baby.

Just sit down on you unbuttoned things. Apparently I've had a baby then because that's what I do all the time. Well, everything's so high-wasted these. It took off my shoes. It's good. I want you to feel comfortable. I'm very comfortable. Good, good, good.

It's a pleasure to have you. We've never really chat. I'd probably talk to you on carpets or stupid junkets, but that stuff is not real. This is, we're going to get real today, Kirsten. Okay, let's get real. One of us is going to cry by the end of this. Oh, God, I hope not.

Maybe both. Who knows? I don't know. I cried on the plane last night to some not great movies. Oh, no. It's just one of those altitude-based cries. Yes, always. I'm really one of those people.

Yeah. We're old. Everyone is. Yeah, yeah. I remember like a, I don't know, I was like clearly inviting pain and misery into my life. Like, I watched Terms of Endermment on a plane.

Oh. And it was just like, I mean, that will make you cry in any. Any, yeah, yeah, yeah. It feels good, though. It does feel good, good cry. Yeah. We're going to talk about a lot of things. So your new show is wonderful.

I watched the first couple episodes. Oh, you did? You can't confuse this title with any other title in television nowadays. No, it's very long. On becoming a god in central Florida. I got it. I know. I know.

And when we were at YouTube for a minute, they were like, we need another title. I was like, no, this is a great title. And you can call it On Becoming a God. You could say the whole thing. You could do the acronym, O, B, A, that doesn't sound so good. Never mind, I take that back. First of all, you're back in NYC. You lived here for a time.

I lived here for five years right around the corner from you. Is that right? Yeah. So are those fond memories? What do you remember of your five-year time in NYC? Dancing at Beatrice in a lot. Do you ever remember that place? I do.

Yeah. I just remember. There was this place called the cabin down below, like down below the east villa, just partying a lot. Yeah. That's what you do. You drink a lot. When you're a young person in New York, it's your oyster. The ear in all the time.

That was my local spot. Because I grew up in the city and I've lived in all different parts of Manhattan. And as I've gotten older, I've gone to progressively less cool parts of town. It's like I lived in, you know, East Village and Lower East Side and now I'm like midtown, you know, it's like I'm totally. Where are you now? Midtown. Midtown. Yeah, yeah.

I grew up on the Upper West side. So I guess I'm just getting closer to my roots. Yeah, yeah. I grew up in New Jersey, but New York was just, it's a lot. It is a lot. And now I have a kid. I just want grass that I don't need to worry if there's like a needle in it, maybe. I don't know.

I just want to know the grass he's playing on. This is fair. You know, I just. So is L.A., it's L.A. full time? Because I know Jesse spent a lot of time in Austin for a time. Yeah, and we were there for most of the summer, too. Got it. So we're kind of going to be back and forth, I think.

Got it. Yeah. You like Austin? I mean, who doesn't like Austin? It's the best. Yeah. It's so chill. It just is like the best food, the best sushi I've ever had is in Austin.

Really? Yeah. I was not aware. Who would have thunk it? It's either Uchi or Uchiko. They're owned by the same guy, Tyson. Okay. He studied in Japan, and it's, it's, I went to L.A.,

and I had sushi with my friend at this random place, and I was like, I'm having a hard time eating. It's like beyond anything I've ever had. It's incredible. It's one of the best meals I've had. This is, look, you can leave. now, because we've found the most vital information that I need personally. Go to Uchi, sit at the bar, and the older, the oldest guy there, you want to sit in his section, and then you just, I literally, I don't even eat foie gras, that my dessert there

was like, foie gras on rice with the socky whiskey, basically. I was like, I don't even know, this is so not what I would normally even, but I was like, great, this is amazing. Amazing. And you get high off of it. That's how good it is. I'm high just hearing about it. I have the contact tie.

Um, okay. So, so we'll circle back to kind of like the this is your life kind of stuff later, but I want to talk a little bit about the show because, uh, it's interesting. Like, this show was your first gig after you had a kid? So how much like often are the, the jobs you take tied into sort of where you are in your own personal life? Like do you find, like, was this tied into sort of like where you were at in your life? And do you find that's generally the case where like, yeah, decisions are made based on like where your head's at, where you're living, yada, yada, yada. This, it was a decision three years. before I even was pregnant or anything. So I just read this script and thought, this is one of the best things I've read. So it was based on that. And then we shopped it around, landed at AMC. They changed hands. It was a very long process.

So they changed hands. We were just sitting there kind of. Yeah. And actually one of our producers passed away. Oh, no. And then another producer left. It's at George Clooney's company, so she left. So it was kind of like,

of like we were constantly just, you know, not knowing where it would land. And then we had Yorgos Lantamos as our director and producer. We all were at YouTube and then Yorgos left to go make a great movie. Right. But like, so I just felt even me, like through, you know, getting pregnant, giving birth, whatever, it was like, I guess almost a month before we were maybe going to, two months before we were going to start. I just was like, I don't even know if I could do this anymore. Yeah. Especially after you have a kid, you're just in such a bubble.

You don't leave the house. You know, you're just in, like, baby bubble. I just didn't think I had the energy or capacity to even do that. Right. But then we all talked again, and I was like, this is too good to let go. Yeah. So then we started at the end of September we started. Well, that also speaks to the level and the uniqueness of the material.

Because, like, oftentimes, I mean, I have this in different kind of projects I do, and I'm sure you do. Like, the first time you read it, yeah, like, there's a lot of excitement. in the first month or two and getting it off the ground but like if you're in it for a couple years and you still have there's still that thing

in your stomach that says I don't want to let this go that means it's pretty special yeah and I did go back and forth like a few times I was like God damn it it's calling me back in

yeah it's true I was like and also TV is so amazing these days it's like you make money people actually see it and you get to play good roles that doesn't like

the indie movies a little bit in a really bad place right now unless it's Roma on Netflix. Unless it's like a major director or you've really, you know, you're, you know, you've really made something. You have to make something pretty extraordinary to break through now. Right. And it can be great. It could, but it just might not hit the right boxes. It's weird. It's like, you know, I still go to Sundance every year for my job and like the percentage of stuff that like no one will ever see. That's actually pretty good. Yeah. Is alarmingly high. I know. I know. And even, TV, like, is suffering from this also.

I mean, there's an embarrassment of riches. Yeah. Like, this is my job, and I still feel like, I don't know about you, I feel like I'm behind on a dozen shows I need to watch. Yeah, me too. But also, yeah, I want to watch Fleabag. Fleabag's amazing. I want to watch that.

That's next on my list. That's an easy one, because that's like three hours. And I loved Penn 15. That was one of my face. I haven't seen yet. I thought that's good. You'll enjoy it. Yeah.

I just, I loved it so much. Yeah. So, yeah, TV's been pretty good to you, too. Very good to me. I mean, all right, you know. I mean, I found my man. He found, he got a family out of it. I got a family, yeah.

And it was a pretty good show, too. Fargo was amazing. Do you and Jesse have some more tastes in TV? My wife and I, like, 80% will watch the same stuff, but like there are certain shows that were going off to our own thing. Yeah, us too. Like, sometimes, because I think I fall asleep before him, but he likes those documentaries that are like documentaries that you watch in school where the, where the narrator just puts you to sleep.

I'm like, I don't want to watch a prohibition like three hour, four hour or Documentary on the Prohibition right now. So that's him, but I love documentaries. I just don't like those really long educational ones like baseball. Like, I just want the quick, quick version. I just want a little bit of a fun version. I understand. And there's a lot of those now.

Yeah, I prefer that rather than the five-hour, six-part series about the circus. And what do you watch that he can't abide by? It was, HGTV, but now. higher channel. He hates it, but he'll watch Fixer Upper now. And he watched it

like all day with me and I was like, oh, because he's from Waco. He's from just outside of Waco. So he finally, but now I'm kind of over them

and he was like getting into them. So we missed the, we missed it. Aw. The ship's passing in the night of HGTV. But otherwise we watch

everything together. Yeah. Like he'll watch Bachelor with me, Badger and Paradite. He'll watch all the crap with me. No kidding.

Yeah. Most of it. That's a good couple. That's a sign of true love. Yeah. Same for me. I feel like, yeah, I watch a lot of Bravo by osmosis, but even I find that I've come to grow fond of Southern Charm.

Yeah, I haven't, see, I haven't watched. I don't watch a lot of, only the Bachelor and batch, you know, those do I watch. You go to the high brow. Yeah, yeah, yeah, important stuff. I just don't watch, well, no, like, Jesse introduced me to Love Island. I was like, what is this is horrendous? The British version or the American? Well, I saw one episode of the British and was like, holy shit.

Like, this is how people, like, this is too nuts. And then he introduced me to the American. conversion. It's just mind-blow. I just, yeah, I can't. It was, it's a little too trashy for me. Yeah. It's kind of like old school reality. Like I think back to like the early days of early days, but like that wave of reality in the 90s where it was like Joe Millionaire. Do you remember like these like crazy high concept things that were like how are they even allowing this kind of stuff on the air? I just remember real world. That was the only, yeah, I know. Yeah, yeah. But that's, that was it. Yeah. Me too. I love the first few seasons of real world. They're like ingrained in

me the first like three or four seasons. Oh really? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, so sorry. So back to important stuff like this, this highbrow project of years. You did end up with a great Charlie McDowell ended up directing the first couple, right? I've known Charlie from before this. Oh, really? Yeah, I was always a fan, and he's just like a, he's just a great guy. His stepdad's actually Ted Danson, and I worked with him in Fargo.

So it was, it just, with Charlie, it feels like very family. Yeah. Yeah. And his mom is on the show. His mom did a part for us on the show, Mary Steen Virgin. Yeah, yeah, okay. I've only watched the first two episodes. I haven't seen her yet.

One of my favorite episodes that Daniels did, you know them? Yeah. They did Swiss Army Man. Oh, yeah, I love Switzerland. I know. You will love that episode. It's one of my favorites. I think it's five or six, I don't know.

But each episode was like it's a little independent film. And that's one of the things that's great about television because you get a new, totally new vibe every week, week and a half. But it's also one of the hardest things because if you get someone that you don't jive with, you just kind of have to work with them for seven days. So talk to me a little bit about, so this is, look this is not like CSI or a hospital drama that's like an easy kind of like one liner that like it describes it this is kind of like

I mean I don't even know it so it starts in 92 it's kind of about the American dream in a way it's a very uniquely American story I don't know if there's like a central Florida equivalent in Europe for instance definitely well no not that I'm aware of maybe there is but

Australia is always the closest to America yeah right don't you think they're a little bit like us the most? I see that yeah Yeah. So what, okay, so what's, what is unique and what pops off the page of this one, about the character or the story of this? For me, it was just the whole, I'm into, like, cultish kind of things, and I just had never really explored, you know, the idea of Ponzi schemes or multi-level

marketing schemes. Like, I didn't know much about them. I didn't have any family members. Right. But in the 90s, like, you know, the minimum wage was so bad. Like, this was really helping people, or so they thought. so I just was so fascinated by that whole idea and I hadn't seen a show about anything like that

so I always like when I find something that I haven't seen before and the way the writers came their direction they came from was so unique to me it was like oh you like weird stuff but it's grounded but it can be surreal and like yeah I like that you kind of could do whatever with this show I love this kind of like, I feel like there's like a sub-genre of film and TV that I've grown to love, which is I called the ugly Alexander Scarsgaard work, which is like Alex, I love his choices. Well, I picked Alex for this.

Well, you guys go back to Melancholia, yeah. But I was like everyone, I was like, let's try Alex Sarsgar because we were, you know, everyone was throwing out ideas of mostly comedy people. And I knew he was like a goofy swede. I worked with him. He was great in Zoolander. Amazing. I know, but no one, everyone's like, he's so serious. I'm like, no, he's not serious at all.

I know. He's really funny, actually. He's a crazy man. And he agreed to do, and he was great. Yeah, he's been on my list for like these kind of Michael Shannon shenanigans. I've been trying to enlist him to do one of these because he's just a genius. Yeah, he is. He's great.

And seemingly willing to do anything. Oh, anything. Right. That's the kind of actress I like to work with. Yeah. Yeah. So. And so is Beth and so is Melvin.

Like, our whole cast that we put together is just very. They'll do anything. Yeah. Did you ever, the first glimpse of you in this, you bear your smile and it's like, oh, we're in this, braces. Yeah. Did you have braces ever? I didn't, because I was a kid actor.

I was going to say, you probably got to. Well, no, I had a retainer. Yeah, yeah. But I'd just take it out at school because it would make me have a lisp. So my teeth never got fully straightened, but it's, I don't really care. So what's it like to inhabit a character where, like, I mean, the appearance is a very important. part of this character, all the characters. The look of this show is kind of fascinating.

It must be a different kind of set of worries, concerns for you as an actor. Is it? Does it feel like a different kind of thing to concern yourself with in terms of how your appearance in this? Well, I actually, because I was a producer, I hired my friend, Stacey Battatt, who did our costume. She did Beguiled with me with Sophia, and she works with Sophia a lot.

So I wanted a girlfriend on set just because I, you know, had just said a baby. I just wanted as much creature comforts as possible. And she's also very talented. But we discussed, you know, because the 90s are so hot right now, we didn't want any clothing that looked cool. And also I wanted a lot of repetition with her clothing. And then her look was, I had a spray tan every Sunday.

I couldn't even hold my kit. I hate getting spray tans. It's nasty. Every Sunday night for six months, I got a friggin' spray tan. Wow. I don't, I know that means nothing. You may like, it sucks. No, it's not.

You're just naked standing there called. You've got to take a shower. Scrub your body before get it off the old spray tan. Get it done. And then I couldn't hold my kid. I remember the next day at like one day, my mother-in-law who helped me in New Orleans when I was working. I was like, I think Ennis is getting some reddy brown hair in the back. I was like, no, Lisa, that's spray tan.

It's like I died my son. Don't call child services. He's like, he's definitely not getting ready brown hair. I'm like, look at your son, look at me. That kid's not growing brown hair suddenly. Oh, no. But, yeah, so spray-dant and nails and just, yeah, it was a lot at the braces. It was a lot of look, but it's good.

It's good to go for it. I like making a fun character. You mentioned you're a producer on this, you're an executive producer on this. Yeah. Is that the first time you've done? I did it on like a friend's movie, but yeah, this is the first one where I was like, holding my kid, making phone calls. So is it important to you going forward to have kind of a seat?

at the table. Like, I'm sure you've been through experiences where, in retrospect, oh, it would have been nice to have a, like, an actual on-paper, you know, legal voice in the process. I feel, like, good about it now. There's some things, though, I don't want all to have to be responsible for all that. Yeah, there's enough job to be the actor. It's just, like, especially, but this was good because the casting, to me, is so important with anything.

Movies. It makes her break, like, makes her break, you know, a show. It's like, my friends was so bad. It's, like, the chemistry between people is all that match. her. So, Beth, I'd seen it. Beth Diddo I'd seen in a Gus Van Sam movie. And she had a smaller role, but she was just so natural and awesome. And I was just a fan of hers from before. And then Melvin, I hadn't seen in a role like this. And Theo, I read with People for Cody and Theo was just an actor that I knew I'd have such a great time with. He's just, yeah, he's just

great, has the freedom, has the, we'll do, try anything. So that, and then I would look at Paul Thomas Anderson cast. I'd just go to his movies and be like, oh, okay, maybe he's the villain. No, we did, we cast, we cast, that's how I cast it some people in the show. Wait, is it, this is it, this is it true that he recommended you to Lars? Yes. So what's the connection there? I don't know.

I mean, man, put me in one of your movies. It's a good advocate to have on your side. I know, we haven't even worked together. I'm like, please, he's like one of my favorite directors. No, I know. Lars told me that. Yeah, I don't know. So do you have any personal relationship with PT?

I mean, I've emailed him occasionally. Hey! Hey, yeah, not working. Just read about your new film in the tree. Yeah, exactly. Good luck with that. Please, please. I'll do anything.

It'll happen. It'll come around. That would be awesome. But yes, I would just look at his, like, cast. Yeah. Yeah. One of our guys, the guy that plays Roger Pendlin, uh-huh.

He's in a couple of his movies. Amazing. This is a good, a good, good. Good rule of thumb. Why not? I'm like, come to Caros and work out just looks at Baltimore.

No, I mean, it's brilliant. Okay, so starting to circle back around. It must, does the math ever boggle your mind when you're like, okay, I'm this age, but like I'm 90% of my life I've been acting. Like, I've been acting for like X many years. It must be kind of surreal to think about it in those terms.

It is, but it's meant something so different for me over the years. Like, I had fun when I was younger. It was just something, it was fun for me, and I loved it and then it started to get not as fun for me and then it got even better for me like it kind of has shifted over the years

I wouldn't be doing this still if I didn't really love it yeah but were there like so as a as a quote child actor were there what kind of like things you had to unwearn as you kind of matured as an actor and as an adult like because there are different things that kids can get away with

and use and utilize like quote quote being natural or whatever. No, I know exactly what you mean. I always worked with an acting coach that I think gave me better tools than just, you know, you know, I know how to do, you know, the bag of tricks, I guess, that you're talking about. And I just worked, I worked very instinctually. But then there's this whole other level that when you get older, you need to learn. You know, that starts to get, too.

Like if you're on set and you're in Spider-Man, you're doing like 50 takes of the same, thing. You better learn some more tricks. Yes. So like that, I think I started to get, also I realized too is, it's very hard to work with actors that like you don't like working with. It's just like any job. You're not going to be as good as your job. Yeah. You can try, you can try, but it's just, it's, you can edit together however you want, but like it's just not going to be fun for me. Yeah. Same apply for directors. I mean, I'm sure because, you know, they're the notoriously. like asshole directors that are very talented I honestly don't care if you're an ass

if you make good cinema I'll be in your movie okay so I don't care what but why is it different then for a director than an actor because the director will actually I'm not doing the scene with the director you know I mean like yeah I just my all my choices in my 20s were all director based I was like director director director I don't care what the role is because really it's just you know you could have a great role in people directors mess things up all the time yeah I told all my like young actress friends, I'm like director, director, director. It's totally true. It's like I always go back to the famous like leading man example of that I think is

always Tom Cruise. Look at Tom Cruise in his 20s. He worked with Scorsese and Oliver Stone and it was just like great directors. Directors that make you, they'll make you look good. And even if you're not even one of their good movies, it's still going to be a better experience. Like, you know, I loved Midnight Special, but that wasn't a huge hit. Like Warner Brothers had changed hands and like they They were all into this. It was like a new Superman movie they had coming out. Right. So our movie kind of got, you know.

But the right people see Jeff Nichols' movies and appreciate Jeff Nichols' movies. And I love it and I'm proud of it. And like I would rather do that than any movie that's successful with like a crappy director. Yeah. Do you look at, is there a demarcation point? I get like a role where you felt like you were starting to like be an adult actor where like you were like, where there was a transition point for you. I think I can guess with that. What do you think?

I would say version. suicides for you. Oh, see, okay, then there's two transitions. Yes, virgin suicides for sure. Yeah. Because it was like people saw me in a different light as just not a little girl anymore. And I was lucky because it was Sophia, so it was in a woman's hands and all the like, even though, you know, I was very lucky, you know, it's nice to have one of those. It's nice to like be pretty in a movie of substance. You know what I mean? Not everyone gets that like iconic young girl thing. And to have it be with a woman in those hands was like a very very. very pivotal thing for me personally as a 16-year-old and then career-wise too. Of course.

So I, you know, but the funny thing is with soap is like sometimes I'm like no one, no independent spirit award, nothing. We like, no one ever, they're not. What do you think that's about? I always felt like, she, and then Maria Antoinette, everyone shafted and now everyone likes that movie. All of her stuff. Yeah.

I feel like she, what she got, maybe a nomination for Lost in Translation, I want to say, screenplay, I feel like, right? did and won. She won. Okay, there you go. But I just feel like if that would happen now, because I just think it's so interesting to me, like the different, you know, what people gravitate or two

or just decide to celebrate, basically, or not to celebrate. Look, I mean, and there is definitely a gender part of this discussion where, like, the way she is, as you know, like you're obviously close with her, she's very soft-spoken. Yeah, she's shy. Yeah. She's a sensitive, shy. Right, yeah.

And sometimes the people that in that kind of awards fray that kind of rise to the top are the ones that the work the room and kind of our big personalities. Right. But I also think that people were probably like, well, she had help. She's a coppola or whatever. Definitely at the beginning. I think you're right. Yeah.

But honestly, you could have all the help that you could have everyone great and make a shitty movie. It's pretty easy to make a shitty movie. I've seen great people make not great movies. So it doesn't matter if you have all the help or this or that. She worked so hard to get that film off the ground. What was the movie you were going to say? You were going to say something else. I was going to say, I had like a transition when I was like 27,

where I started working with this acting coach that really changed how I approached my work and everything. So, and the first time I worked with her was on this movie, All Good Things, which no one really saw. No, I've seen it. Andrew Derecki. I love Andrew. Have you talked to him? He's so fascinating. I talked to him way back when, you know what one of my favorite movies of all time is?

It's a doc. Capturing the Freedman. It's fucking, I don't, can I curse on this? Yes. Okay. It's, no, it is truly like, it would be top. It's like top 25 movies of all time. I love that documentary too.

I was like, this is incredible. So then when he was like, do you want to make the video? I was like, yes, I loved his documentary. And then he made the jinx after that. Yes, he did. And guess what? He also wrote, helped write the theme song to Felicity. And he also created movie line.

And he comes, he's a man that comes from money too. Yeah. So like, he's in for the right reasons. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just can't believe, like, all the things he's done. Yeah. So, so, yeah, that was the first time I worked with this acting teacher that really just changed. And I've worked with her since that.

And that, correct me if I'm wrong in the time one. Like, that came, so, like, post-Spider Man 3. Post-Spiderman 3 is kind of like when you took, you know, you had some, you had, you had some issues that you've talked about before, right? Yeah, I was depressed. You were depressed. It happened for the best of us. Yeah. So, like, and that, that was sort of where you, because that was the first film, I feel like, out of that.

kind of period where you were kind of you were alluding to earlier questioning like whether you were even enjoying this yeah it was I needed a change yeah yeah and it was part of that related to um the spider man three of it all because like being in that kind of spotlight and and having the expectations on you at the time or no not really had I had I'd done two and one and no I know yeah like I didn't feel like it was that at all I think it was more personal stuff like boyfriends or this So that was never my career. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, the only, the thing that actually in my career that bummed me out the most was actually Marie Antoinette, just because I was the lead and like, it just, I remember people making a big debil a booing account and like no one booed at our premiere. Like, it was at like some screening and we're doing Marie Antoinette in this very American way in France. Like, it's pretty like different. But I remember it really hurting my feelings as a young 20 year old. Sure.

Because you're the lead of something, you love so, you like care so much, and to have something when you're just vulnerable and you're young, just sucks so bad. But you're right. I mean, that's one that, like, even now, no one poohs that movie. Yeah, I know. It's like, I think it's like one of the most Instagram movies or something like that. And it gave a infamous episode of Cribs hosted by Jason Schwartzman in character. That's right. God, you're good.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I love that guy. I love that man. Love that, man. Yeah. Yeah. But it's why you say that, like, you know, having, you know, a thin skin as an actor.

I mean, we all have, I certainly have a thin skin. But, like, you, again, you've grown up in this. Like, you've been auditioning since you were a little kid. And, like, I can only imagine, like, the insecurities that kind of stuff raises up in a kid. Like, I would be, I was a wreck anyway as a kid, let alone being, like, rejected by a room full of adults. Yeah. Did you, how did you handle that at the time? Okay.

So for me, I didn't, I think because, okay, Virgin Suicides was great for me because I had Sophia as an example. Just as a woman who was older than me and she was like, I love your teeth, da-da-da-da. So by the time I got to like the big, big Hollywood movies like Spider-Man where they were like, you should fix your teeth. I knew, no. Like Sophia's way cooler than you and she says no. Totally. Like I'm not going to get some stupid veneers and be your dumb, blonde actress. Sorry, guys.

But I had that. I always had, I had some good information. I always went to regular schools, too. So I never felt that insecurity like, I'm not pretty or I gotta be skinny or I got to be this or that. Like I never had like that kind of insecurity because I had my girlfriend. I was in my own world with my friends. Yeah.

The only things, of course I had heartbreaks when I didn't get things that I wanted and I cried like anyone else would. And that's it. When were you, you know, when were you at your most monstrous of a... Monstrous of a shit. I don't think I ever went. No, you never went through a period of what you turned into. asshole?

Never. Really? Never, ever, ever. Because I hate those people. I hate, oh my God. Especially, oh, God. Well, I don't want to talk to stuff. But like, yeah.

Yeah. When people get to like actory or actresses, you know, like just every, you're not doing the most important job in the world, just you know, just your job and be nice to people and everyone's on the set trying to make, you know, everyone's working hard. Of course, I mean, the first thing that I think a lot of people saw you and it was Obviously, again, we're going back and forth. I apologize. But interview with the vampire.

My important question on that is, do you still get the Tom Cruise cake sent to you? Yeah, yeah, every Christmas. Okay. Cruise cake. Cruise cake. Yeah, it's so good. So he still does this with, like, new people he works with, I know. I've talked to, like, recent people.

I mean, I think he keeps that bakery in business. This is what I'm saying. Like, does he literally own a bakery? Is there a full-time Tom Cruise bakery on? I have a lot of thoughts of it. Oh, no. No, no. I mean, it's just his place.

Downs Bakery in Woodland Hills, they just make the best cake. And he infamously sends to his co-stars and friends. Everybody, yeah. I actually was off the list for a while, then I ran into him, and then I got back on the list. I ran into him like six years ago

or seven years ago at some, like, party for some awards stuff, and we chatted, and it was so good to see. It's so weird to see those guys that you've worked with when you're a little girl, and like, you know,

I feel like they're proud. Once upon a time in Hollywood. Yeah, Brad. I feel like they're proud, too. They must feel some kind of, like, good on you, kid. So as you were leaving the conversation where you're like, by the way, cruise cake, you used to love that cake. No, but I guess he just put me back on the fold.

He runs over to one of his 12 assistants, be like, put her back on. She's earned it. I think his sister's actually his assistant. Oh, yeah, yeah. She used to, like, be his own publicist, too, I think, yeah. I don't know, but like, yeah, he keeps in the family. He's from Jersey, too. Fascinating, no endlessly fascinated by that man.

Yeah. yeah um so okay so then go for it's a little steamy in here uh it is hot in here i apologize it's the questions no it's okay i just know that like some of these things i can go on tangents in real life but you can't on the radio okay i'm gonna cut this short so i can get the real stuff afterwards screw the listeners i want the real stuff uh little women yeah oh yeah have you seen the trailer for the new Is that one?

No, is that out? Yeah, the dead girl just released it. Oh my God, I want to see it. It's pretty great. Who were you, was there, was any of that ensemble in particular kind of like mind-blowing for you to work with at the time that you looked up to? Okay, let me think. I'm putting my place, myself back in the early 90s.

Okay. I was too young for my soul called life, so I wasn't like, uh-huh. I think Winona was my biggest because of Edward Cizzer Hand. I love them. That was one of my favorite movies as a kid. so that to me was pretty mind-blowing but it was funny too I remember as a little girl like seeing Winona and her boyfriend

with like dreads and I was like yeah he's stinky like but I was just a little girl but you know she had this like boyfriend with like all these dreads like this rocker dude I was making like me and Susan Saranda's Susan Sarandon's daughter Eva like put on lemonade stands at lunchtime so like we were very I always was very

young I was never, you know, I didn't like grow. If anything, this industry weirdly kept me sheltered. Yeah, yeah, yeah, interesting. I know that doesn't happen for everyone, but I always have my mom with me and like my brother, and I always went back to my normal school. So the little one was just so fun. I think coming from interview with a vampire to have such a female coziness, it was very different.

Is there any resentment that you've not gotten the call for one of these Jumanji films yet? It feels a little strange. I mean, everyone's making so much money off of my hard work. How is Nick Jonas in a Jumanji film before Kirsten? Yeah, exactly. Like, give me a cameo and pay me some money. The Jonas Brothers are doing fine. He's all settled.

He's good. Yeah, you're right. We have Jonas Brothers money. Maybe you need to start a band. I've been... Oh, God. Just looking out for you. Yeah, you're right.

We're our Spider-Man for. I know we're older, but we're not that old. And J.K. got back into it. He did? Did you hear about this? No. I'm not in this world. He's playing J. Jonah Jameson back in the new Spider-Man movies.

I'm so offended. Have you watched any of them? Even the Avengers, I feel like they pepper people in and people don't even know they're in the movie. Gwyneth doesn't even know who she's working with. Have you heard all those quotes? No, no, that's so funny, though. It's pretty great.

So there have been like, I think, five or six different Spider-Man movies since you're running. I'd like those residuals. Like, just put me in as a ghost. I don't care. Have you seen any of them? No. But I'm not a...

It's not your thing anyway. Yeah, no. I never would have... Yeah. I mean, when I was younger, I guess the... I loved the Batman movies when I was younger. Yes. But other than that, that was all I really...

I loved this. I saw... When I was reading about Spider-Man, like, you were so self-aware, in a good way, I think. Like, no, no, this is good. I think you said this at the time, I think. You said, I really wanted the role because I knew it would give my career a boost, especially in foreign markets where I don't feel I'm that well known. I mean, look, that's like an honest.

part of the I mean look you also are working with Sam Ramey so like he's a genius I did it because Sam Ramey and Toby I love too yeah but I think that's the part of the press junket where you're so tired that you're like I don't know what I'm going to say now yeah they wear you down you're just so tired that you say things and you're like I mean that is a very astute thing of me to say but it's an honest thing and it honestly but I was I didn't take that role because of that no I get it yeah but by the way it kind of came true too like then you get to work with people like Cameron Crow, Michelle Gondry, and like, that's probably somewhat connected. Oh, no, no. Actually, you know what? I probably said that post Spider-Man because people, I said I'm

now a lucky, now I'm afforded to make the films, you know, or help finance films that I'd really like to be a part of. So, yes. That makes sense for later. I don't think I would have said that during the Spider-Man. Fair enough. Or maybe, yeah, on the independent film tour. This is very old history, but I'm just curious about this. Okay. Spider-Man, too, there was a time when Jake was going to take over the roll for a second. I remember that. I think you were seeing Jake probably at the time, right? Did that put you in a weird spot?

Like, were you? I was just like, whoa. I was kind of like, you know when there's something that's so crazy that's happening that you kind of get like a weird, you're kind of like, well, this is so crazy that it's kind of fun. You know what I mean? What the hell is happening? Like, whatever happens happens.

I was like, this is nuts. Yeah. That's what all I thought was. Like, this is so crazy. Because Toby, for a time, he got injured on C Biscuit, and then I guess they were, Jake was plan B. And in the end, Toby ended up being okay enough to do it, supposedly. Uh-huh.

Oh, boy. I know this is another tangent that she has to give off Mike, apparently. It was just, yeah, it was weird. It was funny. I was just like, whoa, this is crazy. That's all I thought. I literally was just like, whoa. That's all I can say.

The fable abandoned Spider-Man 4. Did you ever read a script for that? Wait. No, I didn't. No, I was just thinking about Spider-Man 2 poster because I was on the poster and Spider-Man masks was, but meanwhile, everyone else

is making so much more money than me. And if that whole pay disparity thing happened then, I would have made so much money. So when you see a poster for Spider-Man, So low on the totem pole compared to Toby? I was like, oh, crap. You keep talking about how I'm the heart and soul of the movie with Toby. Where's the paycheck?

Yeah, exactly. You're willing to switch him up, but... That's funny. It's very hot in here, right? I'm sorry. I know. Oh, because you have to shut it off for the sound. Yeah, got it.

We're almost done. I know. I'm just kidding. It's really heated. This is when the good... Again, this is the end of the junket when all the good stuff comes out. Just giggling, yeah. I have to be careful.

did um so spider man forward did you ever you never read a script there was nothing i had no idea no nothing from what i gather it was it was malcovitch was gonna do it anne hathaway and then all of a sudden really you never heard that no mouthwich was vulture anne hathaway was like vultriss apparently i never heard any of that this is true you know more than ms sam's been here mr ramey's spilled all um all good so okay it was also was a big turning point in recent years fargo did it like that was a big because you had point well just meaning you hadn't done I mean aside from like a stint on ER when you were probably 10 or something yeah that's true I hadn't done TV in a while yeah by then it was it was cool again to be back in TV so was it

didn't feel like I was still like I don't know if I was still like TV I wasn't sure but then I watched the first season and I was like oh wow this is a really great television yeah and I met with Noah Hawley and I read the first episode and yeah I I knew that whatever this character, whatever her journey was going to be, was going to be crazy and fun to play. Where do you think, like, you developed your taste in filmmakers? Because, like, you clearly, like, there are two reasons probably for the great career we've had, which is talent and good taste, I would argue. Thank you.

I appreciate that because it's true. It's all you. It's your taste at the end of the day. Yeah. That's all it is, everyone's careers. And, like, how many movies to make, how many little movies to make, even when you're not in a great area, Like went to hold back and just like, yeah. And I would think like, you know, in times when you need a boost,

you can look back at the filmography. And, you know, you've got a good half dozen, like, pretty amazing movies. Dece moves. No, you've probably got 12 deece moves and like six like Bullerline classics. No, no, no, no. No, no. I was just like, I want to be in Criterion Collection movie. When I was a kid, I was like, I didn't know about it.

And then I like started to get into cinema and like, you know, I would watch like, the Nightport. or like, don't look down. I started to get into movies and good movies, and I'm just like, I want to be a part of that kind of thing. I just wanted to be, that was when, you know, the CD store, what do you can call it? Like a tower video kind of thing?

Thank you. Yeah, but like, what was the other one? There was like tower and where you go and you can listen on your headposts. Yeah, something. I don't know. I just remember listening at the stations, but you'd go upstairs and there'd be all the criterion movies and everything and I just look through and I was like I want to be in this collection

well you've done it so far we got one one criteria in yeah what's the one version suicide I'm surprised I'm sure melancholy I was going to say melancholy is got to be there so then I've got two that's all I care about Josh wait what was the first we what about eternal sunshine that's got to be criteria I once spent I once had lunch and Sophia might have a box at one day yeah total so then I'll have There's a net in there. Yeah, who knows? Stick with Jeff Nichols.

He'll take care of you. Yeah, hopefully, yeah. Keep emailing PTA. He'll get you in there. Yeah, exactly. Please, PTA. Do you keep a short list of the directors? Like, can you will that into existence

the directors that you're chasing? Or is it sort of just at this point they come to you? No, no one comes to me. She's available. No, I feel like it's hard these days. You kind of like just, you don't know. These people write like one movie a year. I know.

What am I talking about? One movie every five... You know what, this heat's getting to me. I've barely eaten because I have the stomach for you, so I got to drink my cocoa. It's getting to me now, Josh. I'm like getting really hot in here. Speaking of getting hot in here...

There are a little eminels over here, if you want. A little sugar rush. Okay. What was going to be your mind when Lars von Trier was talking during that press conference for Melancholia? Oh, God. I just watched the video again the other day.

I felt free. I was just so upset for him because I know that he didn't... mean how what came like what came out of his mouth yeah is not totally reflective of that the man you knew at least it's just what he was trying to explain how it started and he got provoked was someone asked him on your mother's deathbed didn't you learn that you weren't germany you were actually Jewish right so that's where it came from so when someone asked you about your dying father and what he said to your

mother and you finding out that you're different than what you thought you were, it's kind of a fucked up question to ask somebody. That's the basis. But then whatever he took that and his tangent, I was like, die. I wanted to melt. I just wanted to run over and shut his mouth up so bad. I just, I was like, I didn't know what to do. I was like, you're literally, I was just mortified.

You're potentially ending your career in front of. I was just mortified. I didn't know how bad. How, like how, because he says crazy things. Of course. Sorry, I'm eating my memory. No, it's okay. We're keeping you alive.

It's okay. I don't know how bad it was, I didn't know because he says weird things all the time. Right. And I wasn't totally listening to everything he was saying. I was just hearing things, snippets in my brain, and melting at the same time. So, yeah, I just, I felt bad for him, but I also was. mortified. Yeah.

It's probably a similar kind of environment to this where he was melting in his seat. You're melting right now. Low blood sugar. I know. Eminem smell in your hands, actually not in your mouth in your office. I'm going to let you go, not because I'm run out of questions, but I fear for your health and I want to keep you alive. It's like, it's really hot.

Just getting over food poisoning. No, it's okay. I drive it would be hot than cold. I disagree. This is our first point of disagreement. I'm sorry. Yeah, not a. I'm not a beach guy.

Look at me. I'm like a troll New Yorker. I'm like a cave dweller. I just rather be hot than freezing. I don't want to be either, but I hate the feeling of sweat. I just don't like sweat. Oh, well, all I've been having is night sweats because of my illness. I changed three times the other than I was like,

ah, at least I'm getting it out, but food is still weird for me. Yeah. But these M&Ms are delicious and this Coca-Cola is helping me. Excellent. I hope that this gives you the boost you need for... My next interview. Yeah. and my whole other day.

Oh, no, don't think about it. It's good, okay, one at a time. Have you ever heard of AOL build? Yeah. Okay. Well, usually you do it, though, with, like, four or five other people. Oh, is it true? Or, like, other cast members or a director.

It was just me talking. This was just you talking just now. I know. It's so tiring. I don't talk this much in real life. I barely talk in real life. Me too. This is, like, the only time I speak to another human being.

Yeah, this is basically the only time I do. Jesse and are just like, we look at each other. We're like, uh-huh. Yeah. Like, we know each other. It's not like we need to have diatrives about what we're eating or anything. Same zies. You're speaking my language, Kirsten.

Thank you for sweating it out with me. Yeah. Letting everything up before you go out into the rest of the world. Thank you. Congratulations on the show on becoming a god in Central Florida. See, I remembered it. Yeah, you did. Everybody check it out.

It's a great unique piece of work as most of your work is. That's kind of you. Thank you. I'm very proud of it. should be you should be uh you're welcome here anytime we'll get the AC working next time okay just have a low fan okay like a whole little dins silent silent i'll just wear like less clothing right yeah that seems as good as any place to end the podcast on okay and so ends another edition of happy sad confused remember to review rate and subscribe to

this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts i'm a big podcast person I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't pressure to do this by Josh. Hey, Michael. Hey, Tom. You want to tell him? Or you want me to tell him? No, no, no. I got this.

People out there. People. Lean in, get close, get close. Listen, here's the deal. We have big news. We got monumental news. We got snack-tacular news. After a brief hiatus, my good friend, Michael Ian Black, and I are coming back.

My good friend, Tom Kavanaugh and I, are coming back to do what we do best. What we were put on this earth to do. To pick a snack. To eat a snack. And to rate a snack. Nentifically? Emotionally. Spiritually.

Mates is back. Mike and Tom eat snacks. Is back. Podcast for anyone with a mouth. With a mouth. Available wherever you get your podcasts.