http://movies.glam.com/articles/detail/kirsten_dunst_and_simon_pegg_get_chattyHow to Lose Friends & Alienate People follows the outrageous escapades of Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist who is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. In spectacular fashion, Sidney enters high society and burns bridges with bosses, peers and celebrities. Glam got the hilarious silver-screen (and silly nonsensical) scoop straight from the movie?s chatty stars, Kirsten Dunst and Simon Pegg.
What attracted you to your roles?
Simon: Welllllll?
Kirsten: I read the script but I got this really beautiful letter from Bob Weide who's worked on Curb your Enthusiasm for a very long time. And I worked with him when I was younger on this movie called Mother Night. And so I met him awhile ago and he was always funny and making me laugh. And so I read it and then he said Simon was attached. And then I saw Shaun of the Dead and thought ?Oh my God. He's the best.?
Simon: Kirsten wasn't even attached when I joined, otherwise I would have leapt even quicker. I just read the script and I was a big fan of Curb so I kind of figured it was going to be a good job. And I remember I got a call saying I was going to be playing opposite Ms. KCD and I was extremely excited because I'm a fan. Not anymore, but I was then.
Kirsten: Aww.
Simon: Kidding, kidding.
Do you remember the first time you came to New York? Were you overwhelmed like this character?
Simon: I think I was 24 when I first came here.
Kirsten: You were probably overwhelmed in a bar.
Simon: Yeah, I got overwhelmed by Bourbon.
Kirsten: The English, they like their pubs.
Simon: They do. It's like a movie set in some respects. I'd seen so much of it before on the screen and on the TV and I knew so much of it just from consuming American culture so to be in it was like being in a film set and it was overwhelming. Now it feels like my second home. I love it. I've grown affection for it.
What are some books you're reading right now?
Simon: I'm reading a book about a dog who goes to the park. And?
Kirsten: What's that called?
Simon: Dog Goes to Park.
Kirsten: Oh, really?
Pegg: I can't read very well.
Kirsten: Well, I'm reading a book right now called?
Simon: House of the English.
Kirsten: House of the English? No, I'm reading a book called?I'm reading this William Carver book of short stories. Sometimes when I'm really busy, I'm working on a documentary right now, I like to read short stories. I like to read The New Yorker. There it is. It's up on the wall (pointing to the framed cover of The New Yorker).
What's this documentary you're doing?
Kirsten: It's about why we vote on Tuesday. It's a nonpartisan documentary about voting. Not really about which president I think should be president. Pssst. Obama. But basically it looks at our voting system and how it's kind of an ancient law ? We voted on Tuesday because we took a horse and buggy. We observed the Sabbath. Wednesday was market day and it was Tuesday because it was the only day available. It was the second week in November because it made it convenient for farmers but now we're just keeping farmers down.
What is it like to live in the spotlight every day?
Kirsten: To live in the spotlight every day? I don't. I live very comfortably. For me, I'm very grounded with my friends and my family and the people who work around me. So, for me, it's just about, you know, not having people around you who want to use you for the wrong reasons.
Simon: Being a stranger in Hollywood, whatever the hell that is, and seeing the way it works, I'd say you're?Kirsten differs from other people I've met in that she's there, but she doesn't necessarily participate the whole time. It's a delicate balance. You're taking on a many-headed monster. Celebrity and the whole notion of that is a dangerous game and you see people fall foul of it, yah know.
Kirsten: Yeah, but, there are plenty of people who have made it.
Simon: Yeah, sensible people like you.
Kirsten: There are a lot of good actresses out there.
Simon: Name one other.
Kirsten: I think Natalie Portman has made the transition.
Simon: Yeah, she's great.
Kirsten: And Jody Foster obviously but that's just a given.
Simon: Yeah but they're smart.
Kirsten: A lot of people also weren't given the opportunity. It also has to do with how you were raised. I mean, everyone's situation is very different and the media puts a lot of attention on certain things. And it's harder for women too?in the media.
Would you ever write a memoir and if so, what would it be called?
Simon: I am writing one actually. I?m writing a book.
Kirsten: What is it called?
Simon: I don?t know yet. It?s just a kind of set diary of my film experience. You?ll be in it [Kirsten].
Kirsten: I will?
Simon: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very scandalous.
Kirsten: I?m really worried.
Simon: It?ll just be about going from a sitcom actor in the UK to being in Star Trak. Just that kind of odd path. I?ve been writing a blog on the internet and I?ve quite enjoyed that. Have you read my blog?
Kirsten: No, I haven?t read your blog. But, I looked on it recently because you talked about it. You talked about the movie. You were making a video thing. And I saw some funny stuff about the Hampton?s party that was really in London.
Simon, what can you tell us about your role as Scotty in Star Trek?
Simon: Not much, unfortunately. We?re kind of sworn to secrecy and I understand the reason for that. It?s entirely because JJ Edwards wants the film to be a surprise and wants it to have the maximum impact on the audience. It?s so hard these days. With the level of information, it?s hard to keep anything a secret. When you say anything, it gets out there. People will start putting it together so we just actually button it up.
Kirsten, you?ve overcome a lot of obstacles this year. What have you learned about yourself?
Kirsten: I think that everybody in life goes through obstacles in different times. I wouldn?t really call them obstacles. I think it?s just called growing up. I think it?s hard to be in the industry at such a young age. Actors are a pretty funny group of people and if you make it out and realize the whole bigger picture of it all, I think you?re in a good spot.
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