Rachel McAdams offers playful statements about her new journalistic thriller State of Play, her upcoming cross-dressing in Sherlock Holmes, plus why she isn’t atwitter over Tweeting …
So, you finally got to turn the tables on us nosey journalists while researching your role as a news blogger …
“That was pretty fun, actually. I was shadowing journalists a little bit. We were introduced to some people at The Washington Post, and it was funny because they were tricky. They would turn the questions around, and I would have to keep saying “No, this isn’t about me — this is about you.” So it was funny. That’s their job, and they’re doing it 24-7.”
How do you feel about us newshounds now?
“Some people, especially in Washington, talk about not being able to reveal their sources and making some really difficult decisions sometimes, when you know people’s reputations or their lives are on the line. And they’re dealing with the law and they’re dealing with politicians, and I think it can get kind of heavy-duty …[My character] realizes that it’s hard to be objective and be a great reporter. I think she realizes that things aren’t so straightforward and that it’s hard to have a sexy story and tell the truth. I think she just comes to realize that things aren’t so cut and dry, and that it’s kind of a tough gig — especially when you get out from behind the computer!”
And your personal relationship with the media these days is like …
“It’s sort of a catch-22. You have to bring awareness to things that you’re doing, and that’s the way that world works. But you also want your privacy. It’s hard to balance those two things and walk that line.”
Sharing the screen with three Oscar winners — Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren and Ben Affleck. Intimidating or what?
“I was a little nervous to begin with. My first meeting was with both Russell and Helen at the same time. I admit I was a little shaky, a little nervous and my hands were even shaking when I shook Russell’s hand … We really hit it off, so it kind of developed naturally. We had a bit of a disagreement our first meeting, which was true to our characters, so it was kind of perfect. We both had opposing viewpoints and were very stubborn and wouldn’t relent … I can’t remember who said what, but we were having an argument about something [our characters] were going to have an argument about.”
Unlike your character, you refuse to immerse yourself in the blogosphere!
“I don’t have a television, and I’m really bad at e-mail. I am not a Tweeter. I’ve been completely educated about this today. I heard about Twitter for the first time, and it’s all I’ve heard about ever since. I’m really ignorant. I don’t subscribe to newspapers … I listen to CBC and NPR, and I find it’s something you can multi-task to. You know eat your breakfast, drive and get your news at the same time.”
Yet, you have your own plot of online real estate?!!
“I do actually write a little blog with two of my friends, which is called GreenIsSexy. So I get a lot of practice. We have a tip that changes every day, and we spotlight people and places, so that’s sort of where I get some practice. It’s GreenIsSexy.org. Actually, if you go to greenissexy.com, it’s a different story. Ours is .org — emphasis on org.”
And what inspired this eco-endeavor?
“We just thought this is something with a low footprint that we could all do from whatever city we were in. And that is one of the greatest things about the Internet: You can become part of this community, and you can find people who really care about the things that you care about so quickly and so efficiently in bringing people and information together. So it was kind of born from there.”
We were about to track down a fusion-fueled Delorean and head to the future to finally see you in The Time Traveler’s Wife, which is coming out in August — at last. What was the hold-up?
“Eric [Bana] was the hold up! He had to shave his head for a different role — for Star Trek, I think — and so we were waiting on his hair. We did an additional scene in the meadow, so we were also waiting on the meadow to look the way it did, waiting on the seasons. Basically, we were waiting on nature and Eric’s hair.”
The game’s afoot on Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes flick — what’s your report from 221 Baker Street?
“I didn’t realize how big it really was until I stepped on the sets, and they were just massive. And it’s in true Guy Ritchie fashion, too: It’s lots of fighting and explosions. From what I’ve seen, obviously, Robert Downey Jr. is an amazing actor and so is Jude Law — and they make a wonderful duo. Everybody has their preconceived notions about Watson in particular. Everyone’s very much like, “Watson’s supposed to be like this …” and I just think Jude is a perfect Watson, oddly enough. They’re really perfect together. That’s kind of the love story, actually. I play, supposedly, Sherlock’s love interest, but it’s really Watson!”
And if that’s not enough elementary androgyny, we also hear you do a little cross-dressing? Confirm or deny.
“I get the best of both worlds because Irene goes undercover, and she wears men’s clothes, but she also wears these beautiful, really outlandish bustles and she wears hot pink all the time. She’s not afraid to stand out in a crowd.”
