Yes. Well, I don’t know if it scares me. I think it requires more aligning with the right people and pooling our resources and choosing to not spread
Yes. Well, I don’t know if it scares me. I think it requires more aligning with the right people and pooling our resources and choosing to not spread yourself too slim so that you have the energy and the desire to keep moving forward. But it’s always been challenging. I mean, I started at 14, so I’ve seen a lot now.
Right now, is there something where you’re like, “I want to do that. I haven’t done that yet.”
I’m working on Scarpetta. We’re not shooting yet, but it’s terrifying. It’s terrifying.
Why?
Because it’s so well-written. It’s crazy how I’m frightened reading it. I haven’t done that. I can’t think of a film I’ve done where it was so terrifying. Like what? The Others wasn’t terrifying.
I’m excited to see you and Jamie Lee Curtis working together.
Yes! That’s why I was like, “I’ll do it with you, but you have to play my sister. You have to go with me.” And she’s like, “Okay.” So, we’re producing it together and we’re in it together—and that is glorious. That’s what I mean, where you go, “Okay. Who’s got the same amount of passion and enthusiasm?” Look at her. I mean, she’s unbelievable. She is a force.
I wanted to ask you about your AFI tribute and specifically that astonishing list of directors you’ve collaborated with. Is there anyone you have your eye on who you haven’t worked with and want to?
I’ve always said I want to work with [Martin] Scorsese, if he does a film with women. I’d love to work with Kathryn Bigelow. I’d love to work with Spike Jonze. I’d love to work with PTA [Paul Thomas Anderson]. I’ve always wanted to work with Michael Haneke. And there’s a whole slew of recent up-and-coming directors—there’s so many, and I’m always open to the discovery of recent people. And I find it really invigorating when you go, Here’s someone that’s so experienced and has been working and working, but they’ve now really hit their stride.” I worked with Karyn Kusama on Destroyer, and she’s gone on to Yellowjackets and so many massive things now. She was at a point where she was frustrated and not getting the things made that she wanted and wasn’t having the opportunities.
Do you think about defying expectations from role to role?
No. Should I?
No. Perhaps you do it naturally—you’ve led the kind of career where people don’t know what to expect.
I have been crazy in life, so whatever happens, it comes out in many different ways. I feel things intensely. I read a lot. I’m raising a family. I’m a wife, I’m a sister. I’ve got all these friends. I’m moving through the journey of life.
It can be really challenging, especially if you’re very present and emotional and in it. And then there’s an enormous amount of sheer joy. That was one of the greatest pieces of advice I was ever given once: Don’t think ahead to something bad happening. Stay in the moment when it’s good, because you need to nourish during that time. You will have the fortitude to ride out when it’s not. If you’re already not allowing in the nourishment of the joy and the good times, that’s the wrong way to live.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. For fashion and beauty details, go to VF.com/credits.
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