No. I think that I was cast and then Luke was cast. I think that when you cast whoever, whether it's the girl or the guy, I think that the director wants to make sure that the people get along and you know that you're okay with them, that it's right.
Rob [Reiner] just basically said, “I'm meeting with Luke, and I really like Luke Wilson,” and I was like, “Great, great, I'd love to work with Luke.” The only problem was when we did have to kiss in the movie, it was really hard for me. At one point in the scene where he comes up and kisses me at the end of the day, he says some things and he gives me a kiss. He went into the kiss and I just started to laugh. He was so defeated. He was like, “Why are you laughing? I'm kissing you.” I [said], “I'm sorry, but that's why I'm laughing. I can't believe you're kissing me.” It was like kissing my brother (laughing). That was the only thing, sometimes we had to get a little intimate and it was just really weird for us.
Your character is a stenographer. Did you have to leave to use a stenograph?
Yes, I did have to learn how to use a stenograph. Actually it was really fun. I had the most beautiful stenography coach. I believe that she was 79 [or so] and she was so beautiful. I just loved her. It's like learning a whole different language, like learning shorthand, basically, but on a typewriter.
Are you as forthright a woman in your real relationships as you are in this movie?
No. I mean, I do it in my own way, but she's pretty straight to the point. I don't think that she has a sense of that sort of female, using your sexuality or femininity to sort of persuade in order to get stuff. She has no idea what that is. She just says what she thinks. So no, I'm a little different. Like if I wanted to say to my husband, “I don't really like this character that you've written in your short story,” I could never say it like she could.
Interview with "Alex and Emma's" Luke Wilson
Interview with "Alex and Emma's" Director, Rob Reiner
