Nancy Meyers Week
Its Nancy Meyers Weekat Vulture.
Because itsThe Holidayseason, andIts Complicated.Somethings Gotta Give.
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Sorry, the election I almost had a heart attack.
I want to do this when its convenient for you and I have no idea when your deadline is.
So heres my cell.
Weve published her words in full below, just as we did withDiane Keatons andCameron Diazs previously delightful conversations.
When [my manager] called me, I went, Fuck me!
I said, Shit!
I did not call her!
I literally was so freaked out.
Listen, do you know what I might do, is call you on a hard line.
Sure!So I dont drop out.
[Russo calls from another line.]
What was your first impression of Nancy Meyers?
What do you remember about the first time you guys met?I really dont love working.
My first thing was, What the fuck, you want me to read for [a part]?
Can you just read this with me?
Because I really dont want to come back.
Not because of her.
Its just that, working for me is like, Oh God, I cant work again.
So she went, You want me to read it right now?
I said, Yeah, just read it with me.
She called in her assistant and we read it together, which was fun.
This is how incredibly thorough she is.
I actually said to my agent, Hold on, she wants me to read for this part?
She mustve seen me in other movies!
Then when I went in there and talked to her, shes great.
Shes an easy laugh.
So we read and it was fun in the room.
Because Im a reluctant actor a little bit, I think she was like, Who is this crackpot?
Not that I wouldnt, of course shes amazing.
But [my daughter] said, Mom, you have to come out of retirement.
I want to live in a Nancy Meyers movie.
I said, Okay.
I dont know if she called me the next day.
Honestly, I dont remember.
She was probably reading a lot of different people, knowing her.
I love that.I think it speaks to her oh my God, shes a perfectionist!
Now, look, I have to say that I am that way too, in my own home.
There is no fricking question.
I will stand there ad nauseam to go, That pillow color is just slightly off.
This is gray, but that one has more green.
So I got her.
I was like, Yeah, I get that.
When you walked onto one of her sets, you would see her messing around.
This here, this little pencil thing should go in back and this little tchotchke should go in front.
I thought, Wow!
Thats crazy, she is involved in everything!
I mean, even wardrobe.
Shes like that with everything!
Including my hair and makeup.
No, it shouldnt be so much.
It should be this.
I dont want anything, take off the lashes.
I dont have lashes, Nancy.
Well, it looks like you have lashes.
I had never experienced that before.
But you know, it was nothing that was annoying.
It was like, you got why her films look the way they do.
Her eyes go around like a scan, she doesnt miss anything.
Shes got a bullshit meter.
But I mean, you did a lot of fucking takes.
You did a lot of takes.
But I never minded that.
Because half the time you get three takes and youre out, so that was okay.
Anyway, do you have a second question or did I answer all ten?
I have heard about the takes a lot.
How did she create camaraderie and chemistry among the cast?The cast is great.
Look, I dont ever have a problem with a cast, ever!
Its a relaxed set.
Id worked with Robert De Niro before and I really love him.
So I thought we were fun together.
And whats her face?
Oh my God, like help me.
Anne Hathaway.Yes, yes!
I loved her, shes a sweetheart.
Shes such a good actress, too.
But shes a real sweetheart, you know?
It was a great set.
I dont have any complaints.
It was a really good set.
I love working with De Niro.
Look, I dont mind that, it was fun, kind of.
But Nancy kept saying Deeper, deeper!
Im like, Im going to fucking kill this guy!
And my hands are strong!
And she goes, No, I want to feel like youre really into it!
I was like, Jesus Christ, and De Niros like, Go deeper.
Im like, Okay.
So that was kind of a funny thing, because literally it took a lot of effort.
Im like, Jesus Christ, youve got to come and powder my face.
This is like exhausting.
This is like a day of, I dont know how many, 12 takes.
Its like I was giving a leg massage to 12 people.
It was so incredible.Oh my God, I know!
I love him every time he gets on television, he just says it like it is.
Youre waiting for him to say, Put a hit on him.
Youre just waiting for those words.
I really, really love working with him.
Hes one of my faves.
Hes so complicated and interesting.
And talk about deep.
Theres so much going on in there thats kind of mysterious.
If its Robert De Niro, you get out of fucking bed and you do it, right?
And Nancy Meyers, you just cant say no.
So as much as I moan and groan and complain, I had a really nice time.
Whats the coziest part of being on a Nancy Meyer set?The whole thing.
You walk onto it, youre cozy.
You instantly want to go to sleep.
Oh, theres a sofa and a little throw at the end of it.
I just want to get in there and go to sleep.
So thats not helpful when youre trying to stay up 12 hours.
I would just say the whole damn thing is cozy.
Who has a cozy kitchen?
I dont do cozy kitchens.
Whats the best direction that she gave you?I had to play somebody to the point and serious.
A woman who had a job to do and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
But she had some humor, so there were humorous moments in it.
[Nancy] would have very specific ideas, and of course I cant remember them exactly.
But she was good at building my relationship with De Niro.
How she wanted to see it at first and then how it ended up, which was very sweet.
She has a real sense of romance, you know?
God, I feel bad saying that.
I said, You think I know my name?
Ive had people come up to me and say Hi, [character name].
And Id be like, What is he talking about?
Well, you know inTin Cup.
Im like, Okay … Lorna is one I can name, forLethal Weapon.
I have no idea what my name was inThe Intern.
Your name was Fiona.[Laughs.]
A line of dialogue?
I have no idea!
I barely remember the lines when I have to deliver them.
Never mind remember it, seriously.
Youre definitely my most fun of all these interviews so far.Ive got the worst memory!
I had a bad memory at 22.
I dont remember a line.
What I do is I remember overall, the dialogue was great.
Do you have a line?
What was the best thing that you ate on set?
Whether it was onscreen or via catering?Again!
I cant remember what I had for dinner last night.
Probably I ate what I had in my trailer because Im a food snob.
So I dont think I did eat did I eat in that movie?
I didnt eat in that movie.
In terms of the food, Im sure it was delicious.
Look, lunchtime, I just fell asleep.
All I wanted to do was sleep.
I never eat at lunchtime.
I really envy your relationship to sleep.Oh my God!
Its unfortunate, but you know, some people just, their constitution is they need sleep.
Thats the thing I hate about this particular [job], is getting up so early.
If I were a guy, Id just go in and that would be the end of it.
Id just go in and sit in the [makeup] chair for two minutes.
Its just like, damn!
So honestly, Im so tired that I do just sleep.
I have no memory of eating.
How would you characterize Nancys sense of style?Shes got really good taste.
The only thing Ive ever seen her in is [the brand] The Row, thats it.
I dont think Ive seen her in anything else.
Because I know she wanted me in [The Row].
So I checked her out and I thought, Wow!
Thats what she wears.
Thats her thing: super pulled together.
Not colorful, loud, flamboyant.
Its like really grays, navys, blacks, white.
Shes great, and really knows how to dress.
A little more contemporary than her rooms are.
I think just super, super simple, clean.
What is the most Nancy Meyers memory that you have?
Whether its on set or off set or something related to the movie or not.
It was a real childlike moment for me.
I really saw her as how can I say it?
It was fun in her office that day.
I really enjoyed her in the office.
She wasnt on a set, she didnt have a zillion people to look after.
It was just the two of us.
I had a good time.
How would you characterize your friendship with her after working together?
Have you seen each other over the years?No.
Her life is so busy.
The thing about this business, its really like the circus.
You go, you have this amazing time, and then you move on to the next event.
Thats kind of the way the business is.
Shes off with her kids and her family and writing.
If I remember she was like, Eh, I dont know.
I might do it again.
Has she done it again?
I thought,Well, thats cool.
Its a woman whos worked so hard for so long and done it so well.
Brought so many people amazing films, and weve all enjoyed them.
I totally got it, because I get it for myself.
After a while, its like, this business can just grind you down.
Not to be complaining, Im thankful for it and its great.
But theres 12- to 14-hour days.
Ive got a daughter, so that was, especially when she was younger, it was tough.
I think Nancy wants to really spend more time with her family.
Shes on that set from beginning to end.
She could not possibly have a life when shes doing that movie.
She puts everything into it!
Whats your favorite Nancy Meyers movie?
It can be your own, or not.I have never seen mine.
And whats his face?
Trump, you know.
I really love that movie.
I think its really great.
I just love that movie, love it!
What is it,Holidaysomething?
The Holiday.Look, theyre all great!
You never watchedThe Intern?No, I never watch my movies.
If I watched a movie of mine, Id never act again.
No, I never have seen one.
I did see one, because Ron Howard made me go.
Oh my God, it was torture!
Made me go in and sit there through a fricking movie [Ransom].
People say, Well, dont you want to see what you did?
I know what I did.
I dont really need to see it.
And you dont know what theyre going to throw you.
Its a tennis match.
You have no idea what theyre going to bring to the table.
Sometimes you go home at night, you go, Oh fuck, that was the wrong way.
Why didnt I do this?
I havent even seen my husband [Dan Gilroy]s movies.
I think thats kind of depressing for him.
I keep saying, If you cut my scenes out, Ill look.
I probably need to go to therapy.
I hate transcribing my interviews for that reason.So imagine now having to look at yourself.
Is that how I act?
Its like looking at a different human.
So thats the answer there.
Look man, I can say I did a Nancy Meyers film.
Well thank you so much for your time.
This was delightful.Youre welcome and thank you so much.
Its Rachelle, right?
Its Rachel, but if you want to call me Rachelle, that would be great.Thats so cute.
Ill call you whatever.
