How did you work out your scenes with Ethan Hawke? They were pretty intense at times.
You know, from the first day that we met to rehearse, he worked every day – 15 hour days for 3 months straight. And by the last week of it, he had the same energy and enthusiasm that he had the first day. His presence of being really into it and enthusiastic about it is who he is as a human being and as an artist. So he would show up for the scenes that day with this power and excitement and asking, What should we do? How should we play it?” And we would work them and re-work them and just play back and forth. It was just like throwing a ball back and forth to each other.
I really love his work. I love his acting. I just saw “Before Sunset” – the movie that he and Julie Delpy helped write - and I was just riveted. Did you see that? Did you like it? I loved it. It wasn’t just about two people walking around Paris. I was never bored for a minute. You really get to know those two people. And you get to know yourself, in a way. Especially if you are a mature person who has kind of had this love experience. You understand the essence of what they are discussing and feeling.
Can you talk about your character in the “The History of Violence” with Viggo Mortensen?
I have had great experiences this year- I have to say that. All the jobs I’ve done – they’ve been great crews and casts. David Cronenberg is one of my favorite directors ever. His sensibility is so bizarre and gets to you emotionally. But you meet him and you think he is going to be this bizarre guy, but he is the most down-to-earth, sweetest family man you’ve ever met in your life. But I think that is why he can tell stories that are so bizarre and dark, because he is in touch with his lightness.
Viggo and I play a married couple who live in the Midwest and Ed Harris shows up one day – he is this mob guy from Philly - and it is a case of mistaken identity. He thinks Viggo is somebody he’s not. Our whole lives start to unravel. This violence comes into our little small town lives.
I want to say it was an intense shoot. It was some days. I had some of the hardest scenes in my life, Viggo and I had to do. I’m not a very nervous actor. I find that if I work from a very joyful, a playful place, it’s easy and it’s fun. But I had some days when I came to set literally just shaking, thinking, “I can not possibly do this scene.” I was just terrified because it was quite, quite intense. But we just sure had fun. David Cronenberg was an incredible leader/father figure.
You said that you have been doing a lot of dramas lately. Why do you think the directors look to you for dramas and not comedies?
I don’t know! I think people who know me would describe me as kind of quirky funny. But the roles that I’ve done just haven’t been that, you know? I tend to take roles that are a little quirky, but dramatic as well. I’m drawn to that. But right now I’m interested in expressing a different side.
Are you getting any good scripts for comedies?
Some, but not a whole lot. I said I’ve worked for 10 whole months – I have a boy who is going to be 4 in March and he has been all over the world this year. He’s been to Toronto, Oregon, London and Wales. Finally I got done working on November 12th and decided that I needed to be home with my boy. You know, just hang out with him and focus all of my attention there. Only if I just love something and I can’t say no is when I’ll work. I don’t have anything lined up and I don’t really care at this point, to be honest. Unless something blows me over, I’d rather just be with him and do my pottery and hang-out and be neurotic.
Does your son want to be an actor?
He always says, “When am I going to do my movie?” “Umm, when you’re 18.” And that’s the truth. I wouldn’t let him doing anything until he’s 18 and can decide for himself. Let him finish high school and then make that decision. I have no control over his soul’s journey and where it’s going to lead him. That, I don’t know. But he sure is fascinated with filmmaking. Actually, he’s really into directing. He likes to tell everyone what to do. My last movie with David Cronenberg he would sit in David’s chair behind the monitor and he would go, “David, I think they should do that one again.”
PAGE 4: Maria Bello on Writing a Screenplay and What She Wants to See Onscreen
