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April 2004
Laws Of Attraction: An Interview with Julianne Moore

By Julian Roman

Laws Of Attraction: An Interview with Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore was radiantly beautiful during our interview in New York City. She was relaxed and easygoing, smiling the entire time. Julianne is one of the most versatile actresses. Her latest feature, Laws of Attraction, has her playing opposite Pierce Brosnan, as two divorce lawyers that fall in love.


You guys have fantastic screen chemistry as mother and daughter. Frances [Fisher] and Peter [Howitt, the director] said there really wasn't any practicing. You guys just went in there and did it. How does that happen? What's that process like?

JM: Pretty much, you know, hopefully it's effortless. You have certain situations where you go in there and say, you look like me. It's true though, people don't know this thing that people with red hair, see each other and (winks). I think you just hope you go into a situation with an actor and you think, it'll be great if it's easy. And when it is easy, it's just a pleasure and it really was. I think with everybody in this movie. Frances and I had such a great time together. She's a wonderful actress. She really is. It was a nice thing to be able to experience that way, when there isn't a lot of hard work. It just works out.


What was the drawing point to this movie? Was it Pierce [Brosnan] or was it the script?

JM: It was both. I heard about both at the same time. Basically, this is Pierce's movie and they offered it to me. Pierce wanted to make this movie with you and I thought, this is really delightful. It's really funny. I can't believe they want me for it. I was thrilled to be able to do this with him. It's charming and funny and hopeful, and I think all the things we like to see in movies.


People magazine voted you on of the 50 most beautiful people in 2001...

JM: I'm exhausted. It takes so much work! (Laughs)


You have a sense of humor about it.

JM: You have to. I always tease Pierce about being the sexiest man. He was like the sexiest man alive three times or something. Something insane, you have to have a sense of humor about stuff like that because, frankly, you know, I think all of us have these moments where you feel like you look okay. Then you have moments where you hate how you look and don't look good at all. It's all completely subjective, beauty, and it's nice if someone gives you a compliment but you have to realize it's kind of a silly thing.


What do you enjoy most about doing comedy?

JM: It's fun. I think everybody will tell you that. There's real precision involved and stuff, but I think there's nothing better that the results that you get when you make people laugh; because it's great to make people feel good and it's a wonderful spontaneous reaction. It's a way, something that all connects us when we laugh at something. It was a lot of fun to do.


There were some amazing shots of Ireland, beautiful and picturesque. Did you have any time to kick back?

JM: time, not at all, not a moment, not a moment. People always say, ah it must have been so great, Ireland, it's so beautiful, and we didn't do a thing. Basically you work every day and on the weekends I have my kids. We'd go to the park or we'd go to the zoo. Every Saturday we went to dinner at this restaurant right around the corner, our big night out. And that was kind of it, I really enjoyed the city, to tell the truth, and met a lot of cool people. I wish we'd been able to travel around. We simply didn't have time.


You're a very versatile actress. From Evolution to Far from Heaven to this movie, you go from drama to comedy deftly, but I never see you do films with any kind of violence. Not only action films, but gritty films, do you have an aversion to violence?

JM: It doesn't interest me particularly. I think that, there were some things in Hannibal that were violent, but one of the things I liked about it was that it was almost operatic. I felt like there was something cinematic about it and stuff. I don't like to see movies with a lot of explosions and a lot of fights. It doesn't interest me. It's not something I'm attracted to.


What's next for you? Is there a particular role you'd like to tackle next?

JM: No, not really, I never think of it that way, sort of whatever presents itself. You always look for an interesting script and great directors and stuff. It would be wonderful to do more comedy. I had a great time doing it. It's something that, I've sort of been the drama girl, so it would be fun to do more things like that.


Would you encourage your kids if they wanted to be an actor or actress?

JM: I would encourage them to do whatever they wanted to do. I think it's important to encourage people's interests. Whatever there interests are. But it's your responsibility to make sure they have an education. That's what my parents did with me. They weren't crazy about me being an actress, but they were happy to pay for college and I was allowed to major in acting. Then I could make my own decisions. That's the thing, to encourage your children to find something they care about. Life is short and if you're working, it's a big part of your life. You should really, really enjoy it.


Was it fun to play a lawyer and make fun of the whole justice system?

JM: I don't think that we were making fun of the justice system particularly. I think we were poking fun at divorce law a little bit. It's sense of how people are looking for tricks and loopholes. It was a fun script.


Do you know any good lawyer jokes?

JM: I don't. (Laughs)


You're married right?

JM: I am.


So you're in a movie with Pierce Brosnan. Women love him. Did you ever find yourself saying, ooh, I get to make out with Pierce?

JM: He's such a lovely guy. And he's honestly one of those people that get handsomer and handsomer the more you know him, because he's so nice. He's a very dedicated family man. He talks about his wife and his kids. I talked about my husband and my kids. So that's the situation. It is kind of great to be in a movie with a guy that is killer handsome. He's so sweet and loving to my character during the movie. It's a nice quality I think he has.

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