Playing the racy best friend of Kate Bosworth’s character, “Win a Date With Tad Hamilton” director Robert Luketic proclaims Ginnifer Goodwin a scene-stealer. “Ginnifer came in to read and charmed the pants off us. It was once again the notion of casting opposites. They complement each other so well – the beautiful blonde, Kate Bosworth, and the vivacious, sexy brunette, Ginnifer Goodwin, who was wonderful in the role of Cathy,” says Luketic.
INTERVIEW WITH GINNIFER GOODWIN ('Cathy'):
Have things changed a lot since the release of "Mona Lisa Smile?"
No, not yet. That thing that everybody said would happen, which was that I would be recognized a lot, has happened. [That’s] also baffling to me because I'm like, “It's one movie.” It's baffling to me how we made it a year ago and, to me, it was like we'd put on this phenomenal play and I couldn't comprehend that the whole world was going to see it. As time passed and I moved on to other things, I separated myself from it a bit. But it's baffling that I'm getting approached and recognized a lot. I don't even think I really look the same as I did in the movie, but that's been kind of exciting. I hope that it gets me work though! That's the whole point [laughing]! In that way, nothing's changed. I'm still auditioning and begging and hoping more and more people go to see these movies so that I can continue to do what I want to do.
What kind of roles are you looking for - comedies or drama?
I don't really care what genre. I don't want to be a part of broad comedy. I really think that this movie is specifically just very well written and clever and not too obscure. It’s got a lot of heart. I find that a lot of the sort of broader comedies I'm reading are emptier. I have no interest in doing that. So it's not the genre so much as that I need to play characters that really challenge me or else I need to get a different job.
I've been so spoiled in that the only characters I play have been 180 degrees from each other. That's where I get my rocks off. For instance, playing Cathy Feely. [She’s] someone who embarrasses herself all the time, and that's something I'm not used to doing. That was liberating, to be someone sort of obscene and inappropriate. I mean, I literally was shaking in that scene when Tad Hamilton comes in. The things that I was saying, hearing them come out of my mouth I would start shaking worse. I couldn't believe [it] Watching it is humiliating. I really need parts that do that for me. Cathy Feely was a 180 from Connie Baker [in “Mona Lisa Smile”] in that Connie Baker was always on the verge of tears. [She was] lost and trying to find herself as a punching bag. Cathy Feely would not have put up with ANY of that BS. I'm just reading and trying to find [a good character] whether it's the sidekick again or [whatever] Frankly, I would rather do the sidekick again if it's more definitive and extreme than play a vague leading lady.
Which one of those two characters are you most like?
Oh God, I don't know. I'm probably halfway in between. I'm certainly vastly more confident than Connie Baker in "Mona Lisa." I respect myself so infinitely and her whole thing is how she doesn't, and so in that way we're very different. But I certainly relate to her optimism. I think I'm probably as expressive in real life as Cathy Feely. Not expressive in that I certainly do not recite Harlequin romance novels, but I am a talker and I like attention and all of these things that Cathy Feely does. So [I’m] somewhere in between. I'm sure there is something in every character I play that's very much me or I wouldn't be able to do it.
What's the most romantic date you've been on?
That's a good question! I had a boyfriend who one Valentine's Day, I had been working all day long and I got off work at like ten or eleven o'clock at night and I had missed Valentine's Day. I came home and this guy, who does not like fish but I'm obsessed with fish, had made me this big fish dinner and had a candle lit and had presents for me. I never felt so spoiled in my entire life. It was so romantic just because I felt so loved. I'm someone who loves attention, but when it comes to my relationships, I'm actually someone who is sort of fiercely independent and likes my space and all of these things. But letting that into my life was very romantic.
Page 2: Teen Crushes and Onscreen Friendships
Additional “Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!” Cast Interviews:
Josh Duhamel / Topher Grace / Kate Bosworth
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" Photo Gallery
"Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!" Credits, Soundtrack and Trailer
