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Munching on Yummy French Pastries: Dunst snacks away throughout the film yet doesn’t gain an ounce. How’d she do it? “I don’t know,” answered Dunst. “I don’t really pay attention because I always pretty much stay the same. I don’t know. When we were eating the delicious French pastries, I’d eat them you know. I wasn’t paying attention to that because they were a little bit heavier. I tried to make her food experience be not about eating anything in front of the court when they were sitting there except for pastries. I just didn’t want to put anything in my mouth that wasn’t a pastry or a raspberry or something buttery and delicious. I thought that was Marie Antoinette’s relationship with food - just the sweets. I didn’t really worry about that in playing her. I don’t think that was part of her mentality.”
Pairing Up with Jason Schwartzman: Although they play the royal couple (Schwartzman stars as King Louis XVI), the two actors don’t actually talk to each other much in the film. Dunst admits that was a little awkward. “It was hard because we’re such good friends. But I think that was a major part of why there was such a bonded feeling without so much talking, because they were the only two who knew what the other was going through. Even though it was hard for him to talk to her and they had an awkward relationship, I think by the end they were brother and sister and had such a love for each other. I think they became more like best friends and that’s what Jason’s and mine relationship is. I think that need to want to communicate, but not [talking] makes the scenes more interesting than just, ‘We’re not communicating because we just don’t get each other.’ It’s like we get each other, but we just don’t know what to do about it.”
Working with Writer/Director Sofia Coppola: Coppola used different techniques to explain the motivation and tone of specific scenes. “She’d give me little analogies at times, but she usually… There were so many personal moments and that would evoke certain feelings. Like at the party, she had Siouxsie And the Banshees song playing. You know, when you’re shooting at 8am in the morning and you just got done with tons of makeup and wardrobe and everyone’s a little tired, to have that kind of energy really helps so much.”
Dunst first worked with Coppola on The Virgin Suicides back in 1999. “When I was 16, I don’t think I was in a mind set of really observing her as a director, like how is she doing and things like that,” says Dunst. “I remember thinking back on that film and thinking, ‘Wow, nobody really wanted those things from me at that age.’ People wanted me to be cute and this and be more that all-American kind of cute girl. She didn’t want that from me. She wanted me to feel the actual feelings that I was feeling. I really respect her for giving me that and for seeing that in me. I noticed definitely after Lost in Translation… I mean she hasn’t changed. She’s still the Sofia that I know, but she’s a much braver film maker. To do a movie like this and totally take a period film, something on such a talked about historical figure. To take that on takes confidence and belief in your art, and to not compromise that, that shows a sign of growth to me.”
The Unavoidable Question – What’s Happening with Spider-Man 3?: Addressing the rumors of the need for additional shooting on Spider-Man 3, Dunst said she hasn’t been called back for any reshoots. “I think there are some blue screen things. Nothing major.”
As far as bringing in another lead female character in the form of Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy, Dunst seemed to be all for it. “It’s so funny. Everyone asks me that like it’s a competitive thing, but Bryce and I got along better than anybody. I was happy to have another girl to share all of that testosterone with. It was nice to come to set and have a girl to hang out with. Her character adds another type of woman that puts Peter in a position obviously with conflict with me and lying. All of those things just creates more drama in our relationships.”
Shooting Marie Antoinette and Spider-Man 3 wasn’t as big of a culture shock for Dunst as you might expect. She was lucky enough to have had a year in between the two films. “It was nice to have that year because I was really excited to go back to work again. I love working with Sam [Raimi] and coming back to a place where you know everybody, which is a good thing because you’re confident. You’re not afraid to give your opinions on anything, like lighting or whatever it is. You’re there with your team again. It’s a long movie so when you start doing the blue screen things and you’re just lying there and reacting to all of these things and these long takes, you feel like you’re losing your mind. But when it comes to the scenes and Sam, it’s all about that for him. That doesn’t feel like I’m making anything less important than this film.”
