Never a question. I knew that I had to. You read the script, you realize you have to.
Did you do anything to get ready for that? Anything special to get in shape?
No, I did nothing. I thought, “It’s going to be a woman’s body and that’s the way it is.” It’s okay, it’ll do.
Can you talk about that scene in terms of its celebration of older women?
I think that that was Nancy’s intention, and God bless her. I’m just thrilled she picked me to be the representative. I’m going to be the spokesperson now, huh? I’m going to try.
When you saw the completed picture, how did it compare to your expectations?
I think we had high expectations because Nancy was a big taskmaster. She really wanted a lot from us. She demanded a lot emotionally from both of us. She was a very meticulous, detailed director in that Nancy was very precise about the words. I’m a big slob so I was constantly being reminded that that wasn’t the actual way it was written.
I think that I didn’t really know. I just trusted Nancy’s expertise about a movie that was so close to her heart. You can never forget that. This is Nancy’s baby, her professional baby, and it meant a lot to her. I was buoyed by Nancy’s confidence and also be her hawk-like eye on everything that had anything to do with the movie.
You do so much with acting, producing, directing, photography. Was there a point where you said that getting a part in the next movie isn’t everything?
I had to ask myself that because I’ve had so many dips. I had to adjust myself to that, which I think had been really kind of a godsend in a weird way. I wouldn’t wish it on myself again, but it happens all the time. I think it just forces you to look out toward other things that are not so self-directed. Do you know what I mean? That’s kind of fun. It permits adventure. It gives you an opportunity to explore other means of expressing yourself.
Are you a different actor because you’ve been a director?
No. I think the two are two separate worlds. My feeling about being an actress is that the responsibility of telling the story, once you go to shoot, is not mine. My job is to do my job. I don’t like to direct and protect myself when we’re shooting. I like to just do my job and that’s it. But when you’re directing, it’s the exact opposite, obviously. As a director, I feel like my job is with the actors, because that’s the most important aspect of the films that I’ve directed is working with the actors, which is also the most dangerous aspect because I’m terrified of actors, knowing full well that if they get too much control, they can wreck your intentions. I always like to just let them find their way and listen, and be a great audience, which I learned from watching Woody direct actors actually. Also Nancy is somebody who is a great audience. She’s more of a specific audience with her words. Woody just wants to throw the words away. He doesn’t find anything that he writes particularly precious. He’d always say to me, “Loosen up the sentence. Mess it up, stop it. It doesn’t sound like a normal person talking. You sound like you’re saying the words.” Whereas Nancy also approaches it from a realistic way, but she also wants those words, her words. You’re dancing around it a lot.
You joked about becoming the poster woman for older women. What is it about finding love later in life that makes it so enriching?
I think the fact that you’re up against the wall. You don’t have the time that you once had. So if you’re here, right about where I am, the fact that you fall in love is so sweet. It couldn’t be like more heavenly because you know that it can’t last. When you’re a kid you live under the illusion, which is the delusion that it will last forever. And of course it frequently doesn’t.
You also got to kiss Keanu Reeves in this movie. Is that like another day at the office for you?
No, it’s not another day at the office. I realize that this is probably going to be my last go-round. I’m enjoying every second of it, okay? Every single second of it.
Do you have to work up to that?
You know you bring that up and I think that was one of my preparations for the movie, the realization that this was never going to happen again, so who cares? I’m going to just go for it (laughing). I’m going to just like all of it. I’m just going to enjoy every aspect of the kissing and the hugging and the yelling and screaming and being in love because I know it’s not coming my way again. I don’t think so, do you? I doubt it.
Additional “Something’s Gotta Give” Cast Interviews:
Jack Nicholson and Keanu Reeves
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