Cameron Diaz

I think that’s misrepresenting the film. This film is not at all a chick
flick. It has chicks in it, but it’s a universal story about family, and
siblings, and relationships. And it’s about our complications and our
dysfunctions in those relationships. Everybody comes from some place and has a family, and that deep relationship definitely guides you through your life
and influences your behavior. So, I think everyone can relate to that.

Born in San Diego on August 30, 1972, Cameron Michelle Diaz ran away from home at 16 only to be discovered by a photographer at a Hollywood party. She was signed by Elite Modeling agency which sent her on assignments to such
exotic locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America.

In 1994, the California girl made a much-ballyhooed acting debut as Jim Carrey’s love interest in The Mask, though the breakout role which made her a superstar came as the object of Ben Stiller’s affection in There’s Something About Mary. Since then, she’s enjoyed hits with the Charlie’s Angels and Shrek franchises, along with such diverse flicks as Any Given Sunday, Gangs of New York, Vanilla Sky, Very Bad Things, Being John Malkovich and The Sweetest Thing.

Celebrated for her beauty as much as for her acting ability, Cameron was twice named one of the World’s 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine, in 1998, and again in 2002. She has also been ranked #8 by FHM Magazine [2004) among the Top 100 Sexiest Women, and #3 by Stuff Magazine (2002) on its Sexiest Women in the World list. And she was dubbed the 11th Sexiest Female Movie Star by Empire Magazine (2002). Here, she talks about her latest outing, playing an aging party girl opposite Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine in In Her Shoes.

BSN: How would you describe your character in this movie?

CD: Maggie hates herself. She’s self-loathing. That’s why she behaves the way that she does. She’s completely insecure about every part of herself. She uses her body and her sexuality to get what she needs, because, being dyslexic all her life. She’s walked through the world kind of wondering what everything is. Not knowing, it’s chaotic to her, so she creates chaos constantly. It’s the only way that she knows how to exist. And eventually, she has this change, in an arc, where she goes to some place that she had never existed before.

BSN: Why’d you choose to take on such a challenging, mostly-dramatic role?

CD: With a script as well-written as it was, I knew this was a good opportunity to have people understand who she was and who she became. And with Curtis Hanson being such an amazing director, and his ability to bring people so intimately into relationships and human nature, I trusted that it was going to show up on screen.

BSN: Were you at all uncomfortable spending so much time scantily-clad in this film?

CD: No, I’m in a bikini half the time anyhow, because I love surfing. So, it wasn’t uncomfortable to me, because I don’t associate any shame with it. I try not to be too worried about my body image, although it was very important to Maggie.

BSN: Shirley MacLaine is really upset that critics have been calling this a chick flick. How do you feel about it?

CD: I think that’s misrepresenting the film. This film is not at all a chick flick. It has chicks in it, but it’s a universal story about family, and siblings, and relationships. And it’s about our complications and our dysfunctions in those relationships. Everybody comes from some place and has a family, and that deep relationship definitely guides you through your life and influences your behavior. So, I think everyone can relate to that. It’s universal.

BSN: What do you see as the film’s message?

CD:  I think it has to do with what I said before about people being courageous enough to make changes in their lives. I think that’s admirable.

Thanks.

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