In "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, a "How-To" columnist for Composure Magazine. When her editor assigns her a story on how not to hold onto a man, Andie spends 10 days trying to drive an unsuspecting male crazy by using all the classic relationship-killing techniques.
The film's tagline - "One of Them is Lying. So is the Other." - accurately sets up the story as the unsuspecting male, played by Matthew McConaughey, is working on a secret 'assignment' of his own.
On casting Kate Hudson as Andie, director Donald Petrie said, "Kate's debut in 'Almost Famous' showed what an amazing talent she is, and now this film will showcase her incredible comedic timing. Ten actresses might read a line one way, but Kate does it in the most unexpected way that radiates across the screen. She's also a very generous actress. She never takes a scene, she shares it, and that's what sparks chemistry."
KATE HUDSON ('Andie')
How quickly could you lose a guy if you tried?
Well, I've lost a guy probably on the first date. We've all gone on one date and it hasn't gone anywhere.
What's the thing that pushes them away?
There are so many things. My thing is always the calling. I always think that's probably the worst thing in the beginning of a relationship - if you just call all the time. And writing a letter is always a little rough. E-mail is kind of casual now. You get to two-way and you can write, "Hey, just seeing what's going on," and then you don't have to pick up the phone to call them.
What's the biggest turnoff for you in a relationship?
I think it's just smothering. I think it's a guy who's really overly interested. There's got to be more going on in a guy than just being interested in you. They have to be interested in other things. Then there's the other side of it, which is when you find love, it just happens no matter what you do. When you fall in love with somebody, it's just right. The dating thing is a pain.
Did you hate it?
I hated it. But you know, I was really happy being single. I wasn't ever the kind of girl who always wanted or needed to be in a relationship. I was always the one who wanted to get out of the relationship.
So you're the one that usually broke off the relationship?
As far as long-term relationships, it was always me who ended it. I appreciate every relationship I was in and learned from [them]. But, I was always the one who wanted to move on.
How is married life?
Some guy said to me the other day, and he was just getting pumped up for the SuperBowl I'm sure, he said, "It's funny because for girls, when you get married, the fun begins and for guys when you get married, the fun ends." What a horrible thing to say. That's horrible. I think he's wrong. Definitely for me, it opened up so many things.
How do you deal with love scenes? Is your husband cool with them?
He's cool with it. He and Matthew got along really well, too. It was really easy.
How do you deal with it?
I don't even think about it. It's part of what you do. If a job required me to, like Kathy Bates, be naked in a bathtub, and that's what it is, I'm totally comfortable with anything I have to do in a character.
What did you think of Matthew being shirtless?
He's always shirtless. Yeah, I'll give him that job any day.
I heard the director made you attack Matthew without warning him in advance. Did Matthew ever do things to you?
I don't think so because I was really more of the attacker in this movie. So, it was more about shocking Matthew.
Could people see this movie as a negative thing, showing that women are crazy?
I think every woman will completely be able to relate to it. We've either done it and we will all sit there and laugh about it, because women have great senses of humor, or we'll have a friend who has done it or been there or is in the process of doing it. And I think it goes both ways. Every man will be able to relate to it, too, and every man has done the same thing. They do just as many things to drive women away.
Do guys just hate the "what are you thinking" thing?
I loved doing that scene. Yes, we've all done that. I've done that. Why? They don't want you to know what the hell they're thinking. A lot of times they're not thinking about anything and you're like, "I know you're thinking about something." And they're not.
It took awhile for this movie to get made. Why did you stick with it?
I loved the movie and I loved working with Lynda [Obst, producer]. I had such a passionate relationship with her and the movie. I think she's one of the most amazing producers because she gets the job done. [She] is so smart in developing scripts. I knew she was going to make a fun movie and do it right, and make it different and funny. I wanted to be a part of her venture, so I stuck with it.
Was it fate you got into acting or something else?
I think that even people who knew me before I knew I wanted to act, probably knew that I was going to do it.
Why?
Because I was always performing and doing something. I was all over the place as a child; I was always singing songs to somebody or dancing or doing a thing that I saw on "The Harvey Sisters" or something. I really was always 'on.'
Did you drive people crazy?
I probably drove people totally insane as a child. My brother couldn't stand me as a child. We didn't start really having a great relationship until he left for college. We have the best relationship; my brother and I are very, very close. Oliver and I are very close in age. When you're close in age anyway and you're the girl, they do everything to torture you.
Was it Kurt Russell or your biological dad who said, "Now you can have a career," after the Oscar loss?
When I say dad, I mean Kurt. It was a beautiful thing. It was the most incredible experience. You can't imagine. 21 and being nominated for an Oscar is unbelievable. To me, I was just in shock. It was an incredible moment. When I lost, I just kind of went, "Okay," and my dad was saying, "Well, congratulations. Welcome to your life and welcome to the rest of your career." I think he basically was saying this is what it is. Now go do your job. That's kind of how my family is, anyway. We go and we do our jobs and we do the best that we can do, put our all into it, and hopefully people respond. If they don't, then they move on.
What do you play in "Le Divorce?"
I play Isabel, who comes to Paris to take care of her pregnant sister that Naomi Watts plays, Roxie. It's a James Ivory movie and it's a little complicated. I end up having a jolly old time and I meet this boy, a French boy, and I have a wonderful little affair with him. Then I end up having an affair with... Anyway, her husband leaves her pregnant for another woman. They're getting a divorce. There's a fight over a painting. During that process, I end up falling in love and having an affair with his 55-year-old uncle. We end up having an affair, so it's sort of slightly incestuous.
Is is a drama?
It's another slice of life. It's funny and it's a comment on the beauty of Paris. How Paris sucks you in and being an expatriate, and also being quite patriotic - a clash of cultures. It's a really interesting film. I can't wait to see it.
Are you shooting something right now?
Yeah, I start a movie Tuesday, "Raising Helen." It's Garry Marshall directing. He's great. He's so great. I'm 'Helen.'
Is the title a play on 'raising hell?'
Kind of. The story's about three sisters. It's actually more of a dramedy. It's more of a slice of life type of movie. The oldest sister and her husband die in a car crash and I get the kids. It's about my relationship with my sister, who Joan Cusack plays, and it's a growing up picture. It's a movie about relationships and life and how you deal with things that come your way, and the importance of family. It's a wonderful, wonderful story. I'm really excited to do it. It's very timely, too. I think it's an important. It will be an important message.
