The Actress on Things That Despair Can Drive You To, Working Together with Her Husband, and Laser Treatments

MET IN THE LOBBY Rene Russo

The actress on things that despair can drive you to, working together with her husband, and laser treatments.

24 25 MET IN THE LOBBY

ou are here for the So: Nina, a woman of my age, at the role: I am a business woman Zurich Film Festival. 60 years old, holding on by her and I am practical and you heard Is this your first time fingernails, has to compete him (editor’s note: Jake Gyllenhaal in the city? against young women and men at as Nightcrawler) say, you are the YYes, it’s my first time in Zurich. her place of work, plus she is los- lowest-rated station, your two I’ve been to Lucerne – about ing her health insurance. Where years are almost over, and you 20 years ago. It was so beautiful is she going to go? I saw some- don’t have health insurance. It’s and I thought that I would have thing heartbreaking in that. I like a negotiation and Nina had to make it back to Switzerland. knew that Nina was tough and been negotiating before. There It’s one of the most beautiful mean outside and in, and people was a lot going on, on the inside. places I have ever been to and ever would judge her morally. Of She needed this guy and she said seen. You’re used to it, but it is course, she crosses more bound- ok, and didn’t look back until he absolutely spectacular. aries. I really wanted that to come didn’t bring the goods. And when from somewhere. he didn’t bring the goods, she just Your new film “Nightcrawler” exploded on him, but he thought brings you to Zurich. In movies, differently. the audience knows you as a chic, clever and smart lady, or a In desperation Do you think it is because we ex- vulnerable mother. Now you are pect men to be that way, but we a news shark. What did you think and being afraid, find it surprising when women when you read the script? we do things are? I thought this was so different that we wouldn’t Look, I find in general that men and I didn’t know how I was don’t like women who are less going to manage it. I have never normally do. sensitive, less in line with their played such a role before. The idea of what is feminine. And if way that I found her was more they are – without wanting to put through desperation than by it too strongly – in control, I find being a shark. Because when I I hoped that people could see that that some men don’t deal well thought about being just a shark, I was coming from a different with that. So if you are at all I couldn’t find that place in my- place. And what’s interesting: demanding (like a man would self. The time when I crossed some people do and some people be, which would be ok), it might boundaries to get where I needed don’t. Men don’t see that vulner- just be too much for a man. I don’t to go – that always had to do with ability as much as women do. know if it’s even in their DNA, the fact that I was desperate, or I wonder if it’s because women, in and they can’t cope. I don’t mean that I was afraid. In desperation some ways, have a little bit more that insultingly. There’s a fine and being afraid I think we do of a struggle. line; women can be bitches and things that we wouldn’t normally men can be a…holes – I mean, let’s do. The exploration of that is The scene in the restaurant is face it! Maybe they are threatened what was exciting to me. It’s an particularly interesting. a little bit by women like that. But interesting question. It really It’s funny; one journalist said I I do notice that a lot of men are took me a while to figure out what gave in too easily there. But he telling me that I as Nina was would make me do things I nor- was young, and he was male – it’s strong and kind of bitchy. That is mally wouldn’t. a different generation. I looked interesting.

26 Will we be seeing you more in didn’t put any restrictions on me hard news, I guess. In the USA, this kind of role? in terms of the role. He allowed me you have NBC, which is quite I just take one role at a time. And just to find it. The only thing is liberal, and you have Fox News, once I’ve been doing a role, I don’t that I was a little bit worried be- which is not very balanced. You want to do it again. I would love to cause it took me some time to find just have to listen to everybody, do comedy, more comedy. But it’s out how I thought she was. everybody has a different view. very rare to find good roles. I am a news junky but not local He is also a scriptwriter. Did you news. The thing I really enjoy is: I You have been married for suggest changing the script? get in bed, I have a bowl of yoghurt 22 years. How did you find I didn’t in this film. At first I said, or cereal, and I turn on the news. working with your husband? “I think Nina needs a little work”, You know, it was great; Danny and then I realised I couldn’t find But do you take time off? (editor’s note: Dan Gilroy, her her. I wasn’t able to find her right No, I don’t, not from the news, husband, the director of “Night- off. But sometimes he gives me because it’s such an interesting crawler”) is so easy-going that his scripts while he’s writing time that we’re living in, and a there wasn’t any friction; we them, and I give him a suggestion scary time too; it really is fright- talked about the film and the role from an actress’s point of view. ening. But I don’t take time off beforehand. That can be helpful to a writer. from the news.

Did you set some rules on how Are you a news person? What about travelling privately, you should work together? I don’t watch local news; it scares besides film tours? We didn’t, because Danny is really me. It gives me bad dreams before Actually, I don’t. When you have a open to collaboration and he I go to sleep. I’m a news junky, but teenage daughter, and when you’re

27 RUBRIK

Men don’t like women who are less in line with their idea of what is feminine.

28 MET IN THE LOBBY

trying to get them through, from Cutting and pulling and all that is Are you enjoying your stay at the fifteen, to get them into college, not what I really want to do. But I Dolder Grand? into their twenties, it’s a lot of support it wholeheartedly. If it’s Honestly, the room is so beauti- work. And especially senior year in what a woman wants to do to feel ful. I looked out the window and high school. There wasn’t a lot of better about herself, then go for it. it’s truly one of the most beautiful time to travel, to be honest. I love views I’ve ever had. The hotel is my in-laws so much, so instead of Do you go swimming, have mas- just spectacular. I’m sure it’s one travelling, we’re going to visit them sages, facials or anything? of the nicest hotels. What could on the East Coast. We haven’t been Heat isn’t good for me. I just get be better than this? on a real big vacation for so long. dehydrated and weak. But I love Coming here, looking at this view, facials and I love massages. I did I realise we need to do it, get out get a tour of the spa here. What a there a little bit more often. beautiful spa! I loved the medita- tion walk. And how do you recover? I work out. I don’t do it for a long time; I can only stay on my bike for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes Rene Russo I’m so bored I want to stop. That’s the best thing for me, I think. And The American actress Rene Russo starred in “The Thomas Crown Affair”, then a nice warm shower. I went “Lethal Weapon”, “Outbreak”, “Get Shorty”, “Bounty” and the “Thor” films into your workout room here at among others, together with Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, John Travolta and the hotel and got on your bike. Pierce Brosnan. Now she is playing a news-hungry TV producer interested in violent crime in the thriller “Nightcrawler”. Rene Russo has been married I might even do it again. to screenwriter Dan Gilroy since 1992 and has one daughter.

But you look marvellous, how do you stay in shape? You know, people ask, “What are your beauty secrets?” There are a few. One is that smoking is bad for your skin, and too much sun is not good for your skin. Those are obvi- ous ones that age you literally over- night. And I just eat reasonably; I don’t eat perfectly. I exercise moderately, and what I love to do is laser beauty treatment. I find it’s really good for stimulating