I’m surprised. We took it to the Toronto Film Festival and had many question and answer sessions with audiences elsewhere.
European men are not afraid to come up to me. American men, half of them look at me and stay clear across the room and the other half come over and say I should have blonde hair.
Always women come to me and say they are pleased with the character. I thought it would be different. They treat her as a heroine of sorts.
- Why do you think that is the case?
I think the women who come to me are mothers, wives and career women who cater to everybody’s wishes and desires but their own. When they see a woman on the screen who says ‘This is my time and this is what I need’ and don’t apologise for it, they relate to it.
- What drives you career-wise?
It has changed since I became a mother. It is storytelling. My grandfather was the best storyteller ever. He had big whiskers and moustache and I would love watching his whiskers move as he told me stories.
He was really animated and would hold me and tell stories. I loved it. It ignited my imagination. I also grew up in a structured and conservative household and I wondered how other people lived and thought and their ideas and philosophies. That’s what drives me, telling stories.
- What was the best thing about working on Up in the Air?
The absolute pleasure of working with George Clooney. They broke the mold when they made him. He’s a keeper.
- Do you like air travel?
I get asked that a lot and I used to say I hate it and how tough it is travelling with my young son who is teething. But, now I think about how I can use the frequent flyer points from travelling so much to buy my Dad tickets.
My Dad hadn’t been on flights for 30 years. I love travelling. I like getting there and then exploring, but flying definitely beats the horse and buggy.
Up In The Air is released on DVD 24th May.
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