Sandra Bullock: "What’s weird, and most actors will probably attest to it, is that when you have a full page of well-written dialogue that has a thought process to it, it is pretty easy to memorize. It’s a lot easier to memorize than if you’re in a scene and other people are talking, and you have maybe one word or one sentence that you have to interject at the right time and in a natural way. The one-page monologue is far easier to memorize. And, because Kim and I are frenetically the same with the way that we spew out information, her writing [was easy to remember]. When I want to get information across, it’s like the firing of pistons. One goes off, and it sets another one off, and I just can’t stop. I have to explain everything and get it out of my head and she’s that way too, so I felt very comfortable with that rhythm. And we matched it up with the physicality or running after them or chasing, or something. She just wrote in a rhythm that made a lot of sense to me."
Sandra, this character is very sweet and determined, but everyone else labels her as a stalker. How do you feel about that label?
Sandra Bullock: "It depends on what side you’re looking at it from. It’s not a 'he said, she said'. But, she heard society saying, “You’re not living a normal life,' so she started to doubt herself. At the same time, this guy says, 'I wish you could be with me, but you have a job.' She doesn’t think twice about that, until she loses her job and says, 'Maybe it’s the universe saying that I need to go in this direction. I was invited.' And, as Angus said, Steve should have just told her to get out of the car if he didn’t want her in the car."
Bradley Cooper: "But, it’s not until Mary starts to physically injure Steve [that he thinks of her as a stalker]. So, his logic is going down a whole different avenue."
Sandra Bullock: "And, at the end, both sides meet, and that’s what I like about it. He’s like, 'I’m sorry. Don’t change.' And her rebuttal is, 'I’m Jewish Catholic.' In her quiet way, she goes, 'I know I was an idiot. I went down the wrong path.' There’s the meeting of the minds, and they can both go on their way and admit their short-comings, but they also take away something. I didn’t want her to change at all. I wanted her to continue being who she was, and be okay with it."
Thomas Haden Church: "But all of us change."
Sandra, you said that you won’t do romantic comedies anymore because they’re not romantic or funny. How do you see this film?
Sandra Bullock: "This isn’t a romantic comedy. Why should it be? It’s just as loving, funny and unique without needing her to end up with the guy, and that’s the reason I made the film. Why does Mary Horowitz have to end up with the guy to be a complete woman, but we don’t do that to men? Why can’t we women have a diverse selection of comedies to play in and be actors in and make people laugh with? Why do we always have to end up being the woman who, thankfully, gets the guy? She could have had Steve, if she wanted. She just didn’t want any more of that. So, I made it for the very reason that you asked the question. If I can do anything in this time of my career, I want to make it easier for other actresses and girls who are growing up to go, 'I get to be a part of a comedy or an action film or a romantic comedy or a thriller or just a romance, without having to wind up with someone to complete us.' I complete me. I just got lucky that, after I completed myself, I met someone who could tolerate me. I love good romantic comedies. There just aren’t a lot of them. But, I love comedies, and I’ll never stop doing them."
Sandra, what is your own personal relationship with crossword puzzles? Have you ever been a clue in a crossword puzzle?
Sandra Bullock: "I have, and I get that one, every time. I get very excited and I’m like, 'I know that one!' But, the other ones, not so much."
Bradley Cooper: "Is it, 'Actress Bullock'?"
Sandra Bullock: "Yes. But, if you read quickly, you could just see, 'Actor Bullock,' and they’d throw you off with Jim J. Or, 'Musician Bullock,' which could be Anna Mae Bullock, who is...?'
Bradley Cooper: "Your mother?"
Sandra Bullock: "Tina Turner."
