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Interview: In Depth with Kirsten Dunst on Spidey 3!     
 
Written by Robert Sanchez 
Saturday, 21 April 2007
Part two of our Spidey 3 press day is no other than Mary Jane Watson herself, Kirsten Dunst. By far  one of the most sought after young actors of Hollywood and she has embodied Mary Jane Watson for the better half of the last decade.

Will she return to Spidey 4? What is she working on next? Surprising to hear that she is heading off to London to work with Simon Pegg in How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. Read the entire transcript below and see what else Kirsten has to say.  Warning: Spoilers ahead.

IESB: Did you feel like this was the end of your experience with Mary Jane or do you see yourself being in 4, 5 and 6?

Kirsten Dunst: I think this is definitely the end to this trilogy. I think that we?ve closed this chapter. But if Sam [Raimi] and Tobey [Maguire] and I were to come back together, we would definitely do another movie.

IESB: Were you, kind of, just playing the Mary Jane the actress storyline in this and not thinking about the stress in the end or the special FX stuff going on?

Dunst: On this one, I think that, you know, they?re finally together and she?s successful in what she?s doing and he?s really been embraced by the city of New York and is getting all these accolades and is, you know, it?s blowing his head up a little bit. And then we just slowly start to unwrap on Mary Jane and, you know, their relationship is already?they?re kind of ignoring things within that. And then it doesn?t help that he, you know, takes on this other darkness that envelopes his character and brings out, you know, all the things that he?s not dealing with in his life and all his anger and really heightens that.

IESB: I guess what I'm thinking is that everyone's storyline is so strong. Can you sort of get focused in your character's storyline and not have to think about how Sandman gets into his?

Dunst: Oh, I just focus on what I?m doing. Like I, you know, that?s why it?s such a surprise when I see the movie because, you know, I don?t know what half of it?s going to look like, you know what I mean? And I?d see Thomas and we?d be like, hey we?re in the same movie, how are you doing? And then, you know, yeah, we all had our separate little lives and stories going on, which makes sense because that?s what it?s like in the film, so.

IESB: Having to do the singing, was that fun for you guys and was that in the script or did that develop later?

Dunst: No, Sam, you know, I was just happy that she, you know, finally got a gig, you know. Yeah. I mean and that, I?ve always sang so it wasn?t a big deal to me and I could pre-record it and then just listen to it.

IESB: Have you heard about the musical?

Dunst: Yeah. That?s amazing. I heard about it today. I was shocked. You too? I mean that?s incredible. It?s like the coolest ever. And Julie Taymor directs? I mean I was shocked. I guess because usually when they do that kind of reinvention things they get a little cheesy, but that?s incredible. I was shocked.

IESB: Would you like to do something like that?

Dunst: I could never sing live in front of big audiences. I couldn?t do that. I?m not a Broadway actress. I can?t do that. No, no, no, no, no. I couldn?t do that. No, no.

IESB: Are you going to play Debbie Harry?

Dunst: Yeah, but that?s very early so it?s too early to talk about it.

IESB: There?s a reprise of the upside down kiss with Tobey and Bryce [Dallas Howard] in this one and your character responds to that as 'that was our kiss.' Did you, kind of, think that too when you saw that in the script? Did you say, hey, that was my kiss?

Dunst: Well, I don?t want to give too much away, but yeah, I just, you know, can you imagine how hurt you would be if you had this intimate moment with the love of your life and that?s kind of duplicated in some cavalier way? That?s heartbreaking.

IESB: What about Mary Jane?s unraveling? It seems like, you said they were ignoring some things and she doesn?t really tell him?

Dunst: But also, yeah. But there wasn?t really an opportunity as well. Also, there?s a responsibility in a relationship when someone?s doing something that they?re really excited about, you don?t want to put that on them that day. You know what I mean? There?s a time and a place. And, you know, and then there was that other thing that happened with the keys to the city so it just kind of builds and builds and builds.

IESB: You and James get to do the twist and that?s not exactly your era.

Dunst: Oh, I can do the twist. I?m a big dancer, I dance so I?m?

IESB:  Did you teach him?

Dunst: We had to like get together. I remember they brought me all the way down to like Culver City. I was like, why are we here? Oh, it?s twist lessons. Are you kidding me? Like, you brought me all the way down here to do the twist? I mean I?ve done it, it?s not the hardest dance in the world. So, but then we, yeah, I did a twist lesson with James, helped him out a little bit.

IESB: Tobey dances in the jazz club. Was that pretty funny for you? Were you on set?

Dunst: It was so funny and I had to have a reaction of kind of like, ?Peter, what?s wrong with you?? That I couldn?t even have Tobey do it because I just would laugh when he was dancing. I just couldn?t help myself. It?s so ridiculous I just couldn?t deal with it. And I had to be, you know, in this kind of shock, like what?s happened to Peter kind of mode. And meanwhile, he?s, you know, doing all these pelvic twists and thrusts and I just, I couldn?t, I couldn?t watch Tobey do it anymore. I was just laughing way too much.

IESB: Having done three of these films now, the superhero films, is it a little disappointing that you don?t get to do any superhero stuff yourself? Or would that be something that you would want to do? Or would you like to see that in film where women get to play the superhero?

Dunst: Honestly, I have absolutely no interest in being the superhero. I got to throw a cinderblock in this one, which is fine. That?s enough action for me. And if I were to do any kind of superhero-esque film, I would just do like some werewolf avant-garde, like in the streets of Paris or something. Like something really cool, you know, like remember that movie with the vampires?

IESB: Interview with a Vampire?

Dunst: No, no, not, like I?m going to reference my own film and act like I don?t know what it is. That would be so lame. No, it was called The Lost Boys. Like something that?s cool like that. You know, like the little bits?

IESB: What about the Barbarella remake?

Dunst: No. I don?t want to wear that outfit. That?s too revealing. No, I don?t want to be worried about being in a bikini during the entire film.

IESB: Are the acting muscles you flex in a comic book type movie like this identical to the ones you do in a regular drama?

Dunst: Well, it?s interesting because after I did Marie Antoinette, we hardly talked in that movie. It was a very sensorial way of working. And it?s all about the way the fabrics felt and the way the food tasted and smelled and how the air felt. I was so, I never just concentrated so intently on just that, that. And then I realized after I made the film, like, then I kind of realized all these things because when I was doing it, it was kind of, I was aware of it, but you know, you can?t be too aware of yourself. And then when I start to work on Spider-Man, I realized all these, like, these tools I had that I didn?t realize before so it really, yeah, all these films always change. You learn things on every movie and so it really helped me in this.

IESB: You don?t go over the top because it?s a comic book movie? It?s exactly the same kind of acting?

Dunst: For me, yeah. Except you?re in kind of fantastical situations. But I hope I didn?t. I don?t know.

IESB: I wasn?t accusing you of that.

Dunst: Yeah. I was like, did I? I don?t know. I mean it kind of gets sticky when you get into the blue screen stuff. I just forgive myself for bad acting when it comes to those things because if I?m good in that, then that?s just incredible because those things are hard to do. I mean I had no idea what was going to be in the film. So, yeah, and some of those lines are hard to pull off sometimes, too.

IESB: Is there anything you wish Mary Jane had gotten to do in these three films? Maybe you suggested it and it just didn?t happen?

Dunst: Yeah. I suggested that she shouldn?t be in peril in the third one.

IESB: They didn?t buy that, huh?

Dunst: Nope.

IESB: If you aren?t going to do another one, have you and Tobey and Sam had that kind of, ?okay, this is over? moment?

Dunst: No. No. We?ve just, no. We haven?t had that moment, ?this is over.?

IESB: Do you see it coming? After all this press is over?

Dunst: Oh, no. Give us a little bit of time.

IESB: At one point there were rumors that in Spider-Man 2, Tobey was talking about not coming back and replacing him.

Dunst: Right. I remember that time very well. (laughs)

IESB: If Sam decides to come back and Tobey just doesn?t know, he just doesn?t know if he can make number four, would you consider it?

Dunst: No. I wouldn?t. No.

IESB: Do you think your Mary Jane should be with Tobey?

Dunst: Tobey. Yes. Exactly. Yeah. Hands down. Yes.

IESB: How different is Mary Jane in the three movies? And how different is Kirsten Dunst after six years of Spider-Man?

Dunst: Well, for me, I think obviously, you know, not obviously, but on the first movie I was so much younger, you know? I was so much more impressionable and insecure and so I didn?t have the confidence that I do as an actress today. And like I cared what people thought and I was performing more for other people instead of myself. And we?ve just grown up. Each film we?ve just become more and more collaborative. And this last one has just been, you know, three individuals coming together and as equal adults collaborating on a film. But, you know, you?re not that when you?re a teenager. You got to, you have to grow into that.

IESB: So you say you have no interest in being an action heroine. Is there anything you do in your life, any kind of excitement for thrills?

Dunst: What thrills me?

IESB: Tobey talked about like adventure sports.

Dunst: Oh, right. Okay. Thrills me? I mean, I like going to the movies with my friends. I?m trying to think, I mean I love to travel. I love going to new places. I like going to Sunday night dinner. I mean I don?t, I don?t really have, I?m trying to think if there?s anything, I?m not like an extreme sports person. I love going to the theatre. I love seeing bands play.

IESB: But you don?t have the desire to put yourself in danger?

Dunst: I guess I?m not an extreme sport lady. Although, my grandfather was a, you know, speed skater, bicycle racer who was going to go to the Olympics before World War II broke out. He was like a really famous athlete, thank you. And my mom, like my dad is always really into sports. So I have it in my genes. I just haven?t exercised it.

IESB: This new Sweet Relief movie, how controversial do you think it will be given the subject matter?

Dunst: Oh, how controversial do I think it will be? Is that what you asked me? How controversial? It?s about a woman, you know. I don?t think it?s about Iraq. It?s about a woman. And, you know, what in this 24 year old, I think she?s 24 at the time makes you want to go to Iraq on her own without, you know, security and just be there. And, you know, count bodies, visit orphanages, manipulate soldiers into getting information all on her own accord. You know that takes a very brave and also probably, you know, it?s kind of crazy thing to do. I would never put myself in that position. I couldn?t imagine doing that, you know. So I think that it?ll be, it?s more about this woman and not so much, you know, yeah, it?s about this woman.

IESB: You?ve made that movie already?

Dunst: No. We haven?t made it yet.

IESB: That will be your next project?

Dunst: No.

IESB: Do you know what your next film is?

Dunst: Yep. Which is this movie called ?How To Lose Friends And Alienate People?. It?s based on Toby Young?s book. And Simon Pegg is the lead.

IESB: He plays the obnoxious Brit?

Dunst: Yes.

IESB: Are you the Vanity Fair writer in that?

Dunst: Yeah. I work there.

IESB: And did the two of you have some romance?

Dunst: We?ll just have to wait and see.

IESB: So, you're doing that this May?

Dunst: Yeah. May, June and July. Yeah.

IESB: Did you have a Mary Jane moment where she has this big opportunity and it falls to pieces, have you had a similar situation?

Dunst: Of course. Of course I?ve like been so bummed when I haven?t gotten a role. That happened when I was younger. Now I?ve learned that it?s probably for the best for some reason in my life. But when I was younger, oh my God, yeah, of course. Yeah. Of course.

IESB: What about critics?

Dunst: Critics. I mean I?ve definitely been disappointed, like I usually have read the New York Times and LA Times and I?ve been disappointed before, but now I?m in a place in my life where I really don?t care, so that?s a good feeling.

IESB: You talked about how tight you are with Tobey and Sam and James aside from only wanting be in the movies with them, but do you have an opportunity to be friends with them when you?re not making these movies?

Dunst: Yeah. I?m, James is part of my life because I introduced him to this charity I work with called The Art of Elysium and we put on plays and just visit the hospital and this one particular hospital called All Saints and, you know, do auctions. And so I got him involved with that and then Bryce and I have become really close. So those are the two people I see the most. But when I see Tobey, it?s great. But he?s, you know, just had a baby and so, but I love his fianc?e.

IESB: Tobey just had a baby. Bryce just had a baby.

Dunst: I know.

IESB: What did you feel about having a baby?

Dunst: I don?t know yet. I don?t know. I mean I definitely want to have children. You know, we?ll see.

IESB: Do you want to be married?

Dunst: I don?t know. We?ll see when, I don?t know. I don?t know.

IESB: Is it weird to see your peers go into that zone?

Dunst: No. Not at all. No, it?s not weird. It?s beautiful.

IESB: You mentioned travel. Do you have any plans for your summer break or do you get one?

Dunst: Well, I?m going to be working in London. So, but working in London that?s pretty awesome, you know. It?s like I have no complaints, but yeah, so.

IESB: Are there places in the world you still want to visit?

Dunst: Yeah. Of course. Of course there are.

IESB: Like?

Dunst: Well, I want to go to India. I want to go to Africa. I want to go to, where do I want to go?

IESB: Patagonia?

Dunst: Sure, why not? Patagonia. I would love to go to like Antarctica or some place, you know, I just want to see it all. I don?t know.

IESB: You said you?re not worried about what critics think because you're at a certain place in your life. Can you explain that a little bit more?

Dunst: Well, I?m just not, I don?t let those things affect me anymore. I don?t read the crap anymore. I don?t, it?s not part of my life and so it just I?m not worried about what people say or write about me. I mean I?ll definitely read probably like a few reviews, but I?m not, just not, and I respect them and, you know I?m not saying that I don?t value what they do, I just, I?m just not going to personally invite that into my feelings about myself.

IESB: You talked about traveling. Would you think about doing possible charity work in Africa?

Dunst: Yeah. Well, I?ve talked to, I?ve been involved with Bono?s charity before. So I mean I would completely, if I was going to go to Africa, I wouldn?t just stay in some fancy hotel. Like that would feel totally awkward and weird to me, so of course I?d want to do it on a level where I can appreciate and be, you know, a celebrity face if that gets attention to certain causes, you know.

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2nd half of the Interview

IESB: Is there a big difference between a Japanese every day fan and the American?

Dunst: Yeah, the Japanese are very excited about us. But also they?re more demure about, they either like scream, I went to Universal Studios because we had to open some attraction there and they had, this girl like scream, like we went on a Spider-Man ride after and she screamed at me like I was a rock star. And I was like calm down. It?s okay. But at the premiere, they?re very mellow. Even when you?re in big crowds, you feel like you have your own space. They?re very, like, respectful of people?s spaces.

IESB: Who brings out that kind of fan in you?

Dunst: Oh, Joni Mitchell. But I wouldn?t scream in her face. I mean. Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep, who else? Barack Obama, I have a real crush on him. Who else? Jon Stewart. I don?t know. There?s lots of people.

IESB: What do you like about Obama?

Dunst: He?s just like such a dashing, like I love that he just lays it all on the table. He already wrote the book, there you go. He?s dashing, he?s just like everything you want a president to be. I think.

IESB: You say you don?t want to be an action hero. Is there something you really want to do?

Dunst: Yes. I really want to make like a Roman Polanski-esque, like Repulsion or Rosemary?s Baby type of film. But there?s nobody making those movies. I mean The Others was the closest he got to it. And I mean my dream in my life, if I had to have one dream director, it would be Roman Polanski, so.

IESB: Was there a scene that was maybe harder to do than any of the others or more challenging?

Dunst: No. No. I guess just walking down the stairs in high heels, trying not to fall. And lip sync.

IESB: What was it like being a red head?

Dunst: It was nice. I liked the color. I loved, I liked my, the man who did my hair, Manny, he?s a real, you know, connoisseur and I liked that Mary Jane doesn?t look perfect and her hair looks a little too grown out. And you know, Manny?s very aware of character development, he?s like very specific and it?s nice to have people around you that will let you do your thing, but also very involved and very supportive.

IESB: In the last few years, have you taken any time to analyze why the Spider-Man movies are so successful?

Dunst: I didn?t need to because I lived it. You know I?m like I?m part of it and I know why because like we never rested our laurels. We are all passionate for this franchise. The producers, the heads of Sony, you know, all of us want to make a great movie. You know obviously it?s about box office for the studio at the end of the day somewhere but, you know, we don?t want to produce just to produce. We really care for, we, these characters are so, these people are so important to us. And Sam is, is not, I mean he was working up to the last second of develop, you know, giving over the film. So, we?re all very passionate. And Sam is such a hard worker and so.

IESB: Why does the public respond so much to the movie?

Dunst: Well, Spider-Man is every man. And, you know, if he can be a hero, you can be a hero. And it?s always had very, you know, relatable storylines in this kind of, fantastical world, but somehow Sam manages to ground it with the people he?s cast. And that?s always attracted really interesting actors to play our villains and so I think that it?s just a very international story. Who can?t relate to falling in love? Who can?t relate to getting in fights with your best friend or feeling like your work is killing you. Who can?t relate to all these things? So, I think that?s why.

IESB: Starting out as a child actor and continuing to do this and do it so well, was there ever a part where the acting became a different thing for you? I mean, I would think as a kid it just might seem all very easy or natural. But as you get to be older, you realize it?s a discipline or it requires other kind of skills.

Dunst: Well, when I was younger, I definitely worked with an acting coach. But, you know, how else are you going to do Interview With A Vampire? You can?t do that on instincts, you know. And so he helped me make things seem different and seem okay when they were maybe scarier to do. And I was up for it. I really wanted to do it at that age. And I enjoyed it and I had a great time on that film. But then I definitely have had transitions in my life where, you know, not every child actress goes to be an adult actor. But I continued and I enjoyed it. And, you know, Virgin Suicides was big for me because it showed me in a light that was, like, a young girl, you know, having all these other emotions. Not being just the cute little girl anymore, but you know and Sophia did that in such a poetic way that opened many doors for me. And then Bring It On was really helpful for me. And then it?s always kept changing and growing. You know, Marie Antoinette was huge for me. So and acting has changed for me, my barometer for what I want to do, what I want to be a part of has changed, who I want to work with. And, you know, you spend a lot of time very closely with these people on films and I want to work with good people who I can learn from who are nice people, you know. Because you deal with so many personalities in this business and it?s just not worth it. You can have the best time with like the nicest people.

IESB: Mary Jane?s career kind of hits a rough spot as Peter?s Spider-Man career is kind of taking off and it causes some friction. Have you seen that kind of a thing or experienced that kind of a thing in Hollywood where the  dichotomy in career level has existed?

Dunst: Sorry, I lost the first, I was a little, what was the first part?

IESB: Well, if two careers are not on the same plane, have you seen that or experience that?

Dunst: Oh, right. I?ve always been supportive, like I think that it?s important to support whoever you?re with in their job. And I?ve never felt threatened, but I can understand if you?re in a position where maybe the other person doesn?t make you feel as confident or something in yourself. You know it really has to do with how you feel about yourself at the end of the day.

IESB: Do you think your celebrity makes it difficult for some guys to ask you out on a date?

Dunst: Oh, completely. I would, I would stay away from somebody who I could possibly, like who wants to be part of that whole thing, pictures being taken. Like you just have to live your life. I mean I live a really normal life, but then you know occasionally, you?ve got to have a little bit of this stuff that?s not so fun to deal with, but you know, then you know, then that person is not meant for me. I need somebody who can deal with all the aspects of who I am. Well, who can, not even heat, but just who can deal with it in a way that, that?s like who cares, which it should be.

IESB: Have you ever considered lawsuits, like especially in England?

Dunst: No.

IESB: This confidence that you?ve gained through doing these films, has that helped you in terms of asserting yourself in other films, saying, well I think we should do this, or just in terms of working with directors and producers and stuff like that.

Dunst: Well, this film didn?t give me self-confidence. I gave myself self-confidence. I mean I worked on myself as a human being. That?s, you know, films and money and all those things give you nothing. You know you have to give it to yourself, so, I worked on myself.

IESB: But generally, do you find that if you have problem with someone that you?ll speak up and let them know?

Dunst: Oh, completely. Yeah. I?m very opinionated.

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[rsvpjrdot]

Greetings,

What a fantanstic interview!

Kiki is sooo wonderful - she is smart, funny, in control, and knows what she wants!

And she is gorgeous!

Also, it looks like we are in for a real treat - because she will making some amazing movies over the next couple of years!

Cheers,
- rsvpjrdot


"Not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond the image. "

[gkfi]

I just love reading those interview! Seeing Kirsten knows exactly what she wants and be truthful to herself is truly amazing. Glad that she gets to play a more comedic part next,  because our lady definitely has some extraordinary comedic talent and she will work with Simon Pegg!

[Glen]

I agree. It was pretty long though but it is adequate enough to give us details about her upcoming movies and possible visits in some other countries like India and Africa. Vacation or charitable works perhaps?

She's fond of talking about vampires and stuff there. Man, how could I ever forget that line "I Want Some More" from the movie Interview with a Vampire. It's so freeky just imagining it. *shudders*

[Jen]

That new film sounds amazing!  I've got a feeling that it will be like a cross between "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and "The Devil Wears Prada".   

[Roswell Crash Survivor]

Is there anything resembling a cat-fight in Spider-Man 3, as in between Gwen and MJ? I somehow get the impression there may be one.

[gkfi]

Seriously? I don't think a cat-fight is gonna happen though, maybe only a fight inside MJ and Gwen's heads.

[dan]

I saw Spiderman 3 tonight, and unfortunately there isn't a catfight... the movie is great though!!

[Sergio]

Too bad. A cat-fight would have been awsome. Kidding I'm sure the movie's gonna rock.

[Nellie]

Dude that was a long interview!
But it was pretty awesome.!! lol