An Interview with Joan Allen

With roles in films as wide ranging as Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm," "Pleasantville," and the two latest "Bourne" films, Joan Allen has made a career of playing icy sharp characters.

The thrice-Oscar-nominated actress can currently be seen along side Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange in the film "Bonneville." In my interview with her, Joan discussed her midwestern upbringing, starring in the upcoming remake of "Death Race 2000," and whom she fantasizes about working with.

JS: The first thing that stood out to me about "Bonneville" was its setting. Starting out in Idaho and going into Utah seems different than your typical Hollywood setting. I could almost see a studio executive saying "couldn't we put them in New York or something?" Did that have anything to do with you taking the role? JA: Well, I was interested in the idea of doing a road film. Actually Jessica (Lange) was cast first, then Kathy (Bates) then I called Jessica after they'd given the script to me and talked to her about it.

JS: It was interesting how your character was the more pious of the three leads, and being Mormon is something else that isn't often explored in film. Can you talk about those aspects of your character? JA: Yeah. I was very intrigued by that actually, because it was a religion that I really knew, and still don't know, a tremendous amount about, but I knew going in very little about it. I grew up in the Midwest and I did have a Mormon friend in high school for a couple years and I remember going to a couple events with her at her church, and they couldn't drink Coke and they couldn't have caffeine. She was trying to describe these undergarments that her mother wore that she never took off. But I knew there was a lot to learn, and because religion was so much the center of my character, I wanted to research, so I spent time with a couple different families and I went to church with one family and went to church on a Wednesday night and went to her home with her children and had Sunday dinner. It was an interesting immersion.

JS: The movie is about you three leads having a reawakening, can you talk about your character's development in that area? JA: My character is the most sheltered, I think, and the least worldly. She has her whole life that's been centered around her religious beliefs and she has a happy life and is very content, but with that comes very specific ideas about right and wrong and what you should do and what you shouldn't, and throughout the course of the film she comes to understand that things aren't just black and white. It broadens her .But I don't think at the end of the film she becomes a wild woman or anything. JS: She makes small changes. JA: Exactly.

JS: Being a road movie the film has a certain scope, but it's a smaller film. Between the things I've seen you in, like the Bourne movies, or "Face/Off," and stuff like this, you have a good mix of smaller, more quiet films. JA: Well, you always kind of take what comes along, but I'll turn down sometimes something that seems too similar. If it's character territory that I've explored before I'm not really interested in it. I love having the variety, and some of it is by chance, and some of it is by my saying yes or no to other things. JS: Is there anything that you turned down where later on you thought "I should have done that"? JA: Um...yeah. JS: {laughs} JA: I don't think of it a lot, but there is one. JS: Would you like to be specific? JA: This movie "Pieces of April." Patricia Clarkson (ended up with the role). It was offered to me first, and I know the writer/director Peter Hedges and he's wonderful. But it just wasn't the right time, and I needed a break and I passed, and now I wish I had done it. But I'm very happy for Patricia, because I think it was wonderful for her. JS: And she's a wonderful actor as well. JA: She is wonderful, and she's very deserving.

JS: A lot of this movie seemed to be done on location. Can you tell me about the differences between being more set based or sedentary compared to being on location? JA: Yeah, it was kind of fun because we were moving around. It was centered in Salt Lake City the majority of the film, and some of the early stuff. Before we hit the Salt Flats, some of the in between things from all of the different places they ended up landing was maybe an hour outside of Salt Lake. I drove myself to work. I had a rental car and I'd get the directions and get myself to work. It was fun. I love to drive, and I grew up in the Midwest, but now that I live in New York I don't get to drive very often. So when I get the chance I relish it. (Sometimes) it was like a 4 or 5 hour drive. So we had to be vagabonds a little bit. We had our overnight bags.

JS: You've mentioned your Midwestern upbringing. Has that sensibility helped or hindered you in your career? JA: I feel in general it's helped me so much. I don't know. I've been told it has. Being more down to earth and grounded. I love my work, but I don't let it make me crazy. And I live a low-key life, and that small town experience growing up, part of that has stayed with me my whole life. JS: You're not necessarily in the jet-set life, then. It seems like so much of the Hollywood life is that crazy all the time stuff, and people buy into their hype. It doesn't seem like you would be prone to fall victim to something like that. JA: No. I really don't. I don't think I'm all that. I have a very low-key life. I have a 14-year-old daughter and my dogs running around here. JS: So you won't be seen in any paparazzi pictures with Britney Spears or anything? JA: Probably not (laughs). I do publicity, and I'm happy to do it for films I work on, and once in awhile I get invited to premieres and there will be some my daughter wants to go to, so I say "Okay, I'll put on the mascara and I'll go," but I go for her. It's fun to do.

JS: With it being Oscar season, as someone who's been nominated a few times, but just haven't gotten it yet, do you want to find that role, that, if you forgive the term, that Oscar bait role, that will get you there? JA: I don't really think in those terms. I'm very happy that I've been nominated three times. I'm grateful, but if I don't get an Oscar by the time I bite the dust it'll be okay. It's not one of those things…if you're on your deathbed and saying "if you could have one thing…" it wouldn't be an Oscar.

JS: Talking about the wild life vs. the more low-key, I noticed coming up on your schedule is "Death Race" of all things. JA: Yes! JS: Can you tell me how that came about? JA: That's completed filming, and that was really fun. Again, it's great as an actor to have variety, and this was such a departure. I was thrilled to be a part of it, because he does all of the "Resident Evil" films, you know, Paul Anderson is the director, and it was so fun. Jason Statham is the star, and I play this evil warden of a men's penitentiary who created this death race, and if they win 5 races they get their freedom. She's manipulative, and it was really fun to do. I guess it's coming out in the summer. And I'm working on this film called "Hachiko" with Richard Gere, which is basically about a dog, an Akita. It's a really sweet, lovely story about an event that really happened in Tokyo in the 20s. It's an Americanization of the same story. The dogs are amazing. They're very cool.

JS: You're mentioning all of these names of people you're working with. Is there anyone that you are targeting to work with or just want to work with? JA: Well, actors always have those, and I have several. I was thrilled to work with Jessica and Kathy on this. Um…you know, I'd love to work with Johnny Depp…(laughs)…you know, I'd love to work with him. I'd love to work with Steve Carell. I'm hopeful I'll get to do more comedy. That's one thing on my wish list. And I just LOVE Steve Carell. So those are two. I'm sure if I thought about it the list would be pretty extensive. There are so many great people working. JS: That is interesting, because most of your roles are more serious, so seeing you in a comedy would be a bit of a departure. And actually being in an action picture also. JA: YEAH! I love it! I'm working with Jason Statham, and now I'm working with Richard Gere. I'm really lucky working with some great people. JS: How are they? I'd imagine they have different personalities, but how are they to work with? JA: They're great. Both. Very hard working, very serious, very disciplined, and really spontaneous and good to work off of. I love them both.