INTERROGATION: 'I'm just full of sh*t'

Do you feel trapped in your 'America's sweetheart' image? Meg Ryan: I've done so many different kinds of things for so long, but romantic comedies make money and they are the films people see - and that's great. But it's not all I do. I guess I'll always be known as America's sweetheart. It could be a lot worse.

How do you cry on cue?

MR: I wish I had these answers. I immediately start to cry if I laugh hard - I don't know if there's some connection to humour.

Have you ever used a pick-up line from one of your films?

MR: Like 'Take me to bed or lose me forever' from Top Gun? I've gotta try it. Maybe that's where I'm going wrong.

Do you have weird encounters with fans?

MR: I've never had a really bad experience. The truth is, I've never felt more famous than when I was on a daytime TV soap opera, As The World Turns, between 1982 and 1984. There's something about being in people's houses every single day that lets them really feel familiar with you. In New York, I lived across town from where we were shooting and in the morning I'd take the bus. People would tell me a lot of personal stuff about themselves. It is an extraordinarily weird thing to be recognised wherever you go.

Was being in a daytime soap a good learning experience?

MR: Yeah, because I didn't know how to do anything. It was my first job after just doing TV commercials. I didn't know how to walk, say lines and deal with cameras and lights all at the same time. I was so completely confused. In one of my first scenes, I was supposed to walk down the stairs, say something to this guy and open a jar of pickles - and they did 50 takes. You can't do that on a soap opera, it costs too much money. You have to do one take and move on.

How did you cope with the interest in your divorce from Dennis Quaid and romance with Russell Crowe a few years back?

MR: Well, in the midst of that I really felt like, 'What are they all talking about?' People had some of a story and not the whole thing. I didn't lose my sense of privacy, but I was offended by the conjecture. Only I knew what the reality was.

Do you tell your friends not to believe what's written about you?

MR: No, but every time someone calls and reads me my quotes from articles I just go, 'Urggh, I'm just full of sh*t, what was I talking about?' I disagree with myself all the time when I hear what I've said. It doesn't sound like my voice coming back to me.

Did you do any training for your role as boxing manager Jackie Kallen in Against The Ropes?

MR: The boxing is so much work and I'm so tragic at it, you wouldn't believe. This really great guy called Benny The Jet trained me, but I have no upper body strength. And I can't tell my left from my right. I really liked hitting that bag though, and once I sort of understood what a combination was, I was kind of on my way.

Are you comfortable with doing sex scenes?

MR: Yeah, I don't feel ashamed about them at all. If it's exactly right for the movie and we've negotiated body parts in the beginning - like, 'You can see this, you can't see that' - then it's fine.

Do you see yourself as a sex symbol?

MR: Oh, I do, I do (laughs). No, I don't think I'm a vamp, but you know, I have my moments. I never made a career out of being a sex symbol, but I can see the door is wide open for that. But it can turn on you just as quickly.

Do you think women really can have it all - love, family and a career?

MR: Well, I think this is a generation of women who are being experimented on. I think 50 years from now, when they look back on this generation, they'll just go, 'What were they thinking?'

Are you a romantic?

MR: I've never really thought of myself as romantic, but it kind of turns out I am. I appreciate a romantic gesture, a chivalrous gesture. It's great and very uncomfortable at the same time when you receive them, because it's so rare.

Are you happy in your life at the moment?

MR: Yes. Fantastic. It's my life, it's beautiful, I feel utterly blessed.

What has your son Jack taught you?

MR: He's 11 now and I'm trying really hard not to talk about him. He's not famous. All of a sudden he's becoming aware of his parents' fame, and I really want to protect him.

So, it's safe to say Jack won't be entering showbiz?

MR: I don't think so. I hope not.

How do you feel about ageing in Hollywood?

MR: What are the options? It is what it is. I've been asked that question since I was 30.

Against The Ropes is in cinemas now

MEG'S REALITY CHECK

Is America's sweetheart away with the fairies?

Do you practise your smile?

No, of course not. Have you ever heard of anyone working on a smile?

What's your biggest fear?

My biggest fear was when I was a kid and I had to make a speech. I felt pure fear. I never wanted to stand in front of anyone and talk again.

How much is a Starbucks Frappuccino?

Oh, they're tasty. Don't they cost around $3 and some change? It's been a while since I had one. (Correct)

What are you reading at the moment?

The Gospel According To Jesus. It's such a beautiful book. It's not a gospel according to anybody else, it's just about what Jesus says. It's pared down to a kind of exploration of the man, and the divine spirit. It's beautifully written. I really recommend it.

Copyright 2004 MGN LTD
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