MARK RUFFALO: I don’t know. I try to tend not to use those things. That doesn’t work for me, but I know the nature of those things and I use that. Who I am is a conglomeration of probably all the things that have happened to me, so somewhere along the way that works its way into the work. I think we’ve all been kind of…everyone’s been hurt, everyone’s felt loss, everyone has exultation, everyone has a need to be loved, or to have lost love, so when you play a character, you’re pulling out those little threads and turning them up a bit. But I try not to delve too much. It’s already miserable the first time, you know, but to go through it again, I just think it’s remembering the nature of something, and applying it to where you’re at in a particular script at the time.
KIRSTEN DUNST: I agree.
"Eternal Sunshine" is a very romantic tale. Are there any romantic movies that have inspired you?
KIRSTEN DUNST: Well I always liked the movies where it was like
real relationships, like “Annie Hall” and “When
Harry Met Sally.” Like human beings and smart
women, and not just like one specific version of the
same thing. And that’s why I liked the script for
this. It’s a real story, you know, about a real
relationship, and not some boxed version of it all.
MARK RUFFALO: I like some of the older [romantic movies]. “Splendor In The Grass” is one of my favorites. It’s just such a beautiful, bittersweet love story. I like “A Place In the Sun.” I just like these lovers who can’t, just can’t really get together, you know? I think there’s something beautiful about that.
This movie is about memories and growing up, what’s your memory of your worst summer job?
KIRSTEN DUNST: (To Mark: ) I bet you have some winners. I
just know he has a good answer.
MARK RUFFALO: I had to work on a Marlin boat, like gutting fish, like as the bait boy. And I was just covered in fish guts and sh*t and blood and then I was sick all the time. Every time we went out I got sick. And I got beat up by like the first mate.
How old were you?
MARK RUFFALO: I was fifteen.
And you got beat up?
MARK RUFFALO: Yeah, for being a smart ass. I mean, it was a
good thing for me.
How about you, Kirsten?
KIRSTEN DUNST: Well, I was working since I was so young, so
it’s probably some movie or something like that. But yeah, I never had other summer jobs. I worked
like my whole childhood, so no McDonalds.
MARK RUFFALO: They put her to work right away.
PAGE 3: More on "Eternal Sunshine," Plus "Spider-Man 3" and "Collateral" News
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Eternal Sunshine" Cast Interviews: Jim Carrey / Elijah Wood / Kate Winslet
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" Photo Gallery
Kirsten Dunst Interviews and Photo Galleries
Mark Ruffalo Interview and Movie News
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" Credits, Trailer and News
