Leoni Online Articles
Téa Leoni: The insiderreel.com Interview
Wassberg: If the world ended tomorrow, what would you
do?
Leoni: (beat) It's a fun question that I can't answer. I think that
even as I can look at my character, she lived this situation and even she didn't
even know what she'd do. (putting her finger quizzically to her mouth) Caught up
in her ambition, she really needs this comet. I'd like to think (raising up her
hands in a I-told-you-so gesture) that I don't need a comet. I think I
appreciate a lot of the blessings of my life. I suppose off the top of my head if
I had a year left, I'd continue to do so.
Wassberg: When you wee
approached with the script for DEEP IMPACT at then get-go, what were your
thoughts? Did you think Is this just a big special effects picture? Why should
you, as Tea, take this role.
Leoni: As it was presented to me, special
effects were a given. It was Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks. We knew we'd have
them. What attracted me most to this picture was the interest in the personal
relationships for my character...her relationship with her mother...her
relationship with her father...and that it was not just about special effects.
I've heard, even in reference to the TITANIC, that as great as the effects were,
at the end of the day, the TITANIC is a love story. What do you know? A good ole
love story is what brings em in. In a way this movie, not quite just a love
story, allows you to look at what you would do and, I know, when they were
researching this movie they did not only look at the technical specifics of a
comet hitting the planet and what the ramifications of that would or could be
but also talking to teachers and psychiatrists and others about what we would do
as a people. One thing that they did come up with and I agree with is smoking.
(looking at me with a sardonic grin) Not many people would be on the patch
during that last year.
Wassberg: They'd also be drinking
a lot.
Leoni: Yep.
Wassberg: That is the one thing I didn't see in
the film. I didn't see people partying a lot or becoming violent and out of
control. Why do you think it was good that was left out?
Leoni: Because I
think when we show things like that...One person had said that wouldn't there be
such incredible sexual promiscuity and recklessness? Yes, that's possible. So is
smoking. So is partying. So is suicide. I think that a lot of times the tendency,
when you see movies, is that a lot of films feel the need to give you all of the
answers...really hold your hand through every moment of it. What I like about
this film and the fact that it doesn't do that is that you are left to wonder.
You don't watch it and decide after what you see that this wouldn't be you.
We've heard a little bit that people are thinking...that they are wondering what
they would do. (smiling...she feels triumphant) Excellent.
Wassberg: Now
this film is directed by Mimi Leder, the first great female action director
since Katheryn Bigelow. What do you think she brought to the film because she is
not a male testosterone director? What did she bring to the picture that you
liked?
Leoni: I think to credit Mimi because she's a female or to applaud
her efforts as a female would be insulting to her. She is a great director. That
she is female? That always does well for us...to have a sister in the field, but
Mimi's technical expertise matches with the best of the boys. I don't think she
would applaud any distinction between herself and a male director. I think it
would be an insult to some of the great male directors out there to say they
couldn't pull it off because they're not female but Mimi...as a human
being...she's very sensitive. She's as technical as she can be. She doesn't
leave behind performance at all...or even just the fact that sometimes, when we
were doing the film, some of the ends of some of the days could be very
morose...especially when you've been speculating about the end of the world all
day. Mimi was always careful to allow for that and take it into consideration to
be gentle in her direction.
Courtesy of insiderreel.com.
Affiliates | view all affiliates
Leoni Online is strictly a fan site and not affiliated with Ms. Leoni in any way. Material from this site may be reproduced as long as proper credit is given. This site is a Web-Glitter production and is hosted by Fan-Sites.org. © gertiebeth 1997-2007.
Stalkerazzi
Latest News:
Search for Téa: