Ewan McGregor

[Nelle]

@Bant
Ok, er wird definitiv gut und interessant.
Und OMG, ich liebe deine Signatur!

Eine CD werde ich mir auf keinen Fall kaufen. Habe ich noch nie, bei keiner Popstars-Staffel. Im Radio ist es ok, aber das war's dann auch.

[Lady-Bant-Eerin]

@ Nelle
Das klang nur so skeptisch, deshalb das Nachfragen.
Danke, deine Sig sieht aber auch nicht schlecht aus. Wie auf einander abgestimmt.

Eine CD hab ich mir auch noch nie gekauft, ich bin aber am Überlegen wegen dem Preis, da könnte mal ja mal was Legales machen.

[Nelle]

@Bant

Es war allerdings in keiner Weise skeptische gemeint.

Meinst du eigentlich die Singles der beiden Bands? Überlegst du, ob du beide kaufst, oder "unterstützt" du nur eine der beiden?
Ich finde beide nicht berauschend, aber wenn, dann würde ich "Losing my religion" kaufen, weil der Song einfach besser ist - trotz schlechtem Cover.

[Lady-Bant-Eerin]

@ Nelle
Wobei, ich bei Tim Burton Filmen immer skeptisch war, aber nach ein paar Filmen fand ich ihn immer besser. Mittlerweile gehört er zu meinem absoluten Liebingsregisseuren.

Ja ich meine die Singels. Also wenn ich mir eine kaufen würde, wäre es die der Jung, weil ich die alle super finde. Das Lied ist zwar nicht so der Renner, besonders im Winter, aber die Mädels find ich nicht so toll. Meine beiden Favs sind ja auch nicht drin. Bei den Jungs sind genau die drin, die ich drin haben wollte.

[Nelle]

CINEMANÍA, EL CINE HECHO REVISTA
Year 7, No. 84, sep 2003
Translation by MEB116

Ewan McGregor is a star. Doubtless.

Behind were the days of sweet anonymities offered by independents and art movies.

Since long time ago I hadn’t witnessed so much agitation for an actor, reporters driving crazy to get at least few minutes with him, panic at false rumor about McGregor wouldn’t show up- generated by the long wait and delays-, and television crews trying to invade the little space what is leaved us, people who are dedicated to printing press.

Peyton Reed, Down with Love director, has described the effect what McGregor has on men and women, “he is the typical guy who you can not stop to looking at him while speaks, of those guys who walk across the parking and you can notice all the glances over him, the Kool's essence, how don’t consider him as the perfect candidate to play Catcher Block?”.

There is people who own it and people who don’t, it is that simple, and Ewan … own it. And moreover, he isn’t shy to show it, because this 32 years old Scottish actor since his beginnings has done seem the cinematographic male nude as the most natural thing in the world. He hasn’t been afraid of lose the composure, because his characters are distinguished to be the least conventional. Thus, McGregor is of those actors who has branded the contemporaneous cinematography, who contributes to the evolution of the movie media and who always is searching for interesting projects, and well …. , we forgive him his role in star wars.

At this moment he has just finished Big Fish in Alabama, after this he decided go to a little and lonely road trip by motorcycle across the USA’s towns. He went to Cannes after to promote his new erotic film Young Adam, in which he affirm by himself, a lot of his body will be show; and from there to Australia to fulfill with Episode III. But, for the present he becomes relaxed and sips Starbucks coffee at which he declares himself an addict.

Did you have to watch all Doris Day and Rock Hudson’s movies to study your part?
Actually, that are the kind of movies what always saw when I was a child and I loved it, obviously that’s why it was so attractive participate in this film.

Do you believe beginning with DWL the James Bond’s character will be offered to you? Would you take it? Are you ready for?
All the world has done that question. Yes, I would like to do it but I would worry about be ready till the time comes. It’s something similar to Star Wars when I took the decision to participate in a huge project.
The scariest thing was to have a huge fame among the fans of Star Wars and become myself in just Obi Wan Kenobi, but fortunately it didn’t happen because fans are more interested in the movie by itself than in every actor who play the characters.
The only thing which I would doubt to film James Bond would be because every movie remains around 7 months of filming, thus Pierce Brosnan, or whoever be James Bond for the present, is obligated by contract to travel to all countries where the movie will be showed to promote it personally. Then imagine how much time you have to spend and honestly I prefer to film 3 or 4 different movies by year.

Would you like the life’s style of Catcher Block?
Honestly don’t, the most important thing for me is my wife and my daughters. Thus, since two years ago I don’t touch any drink, neither go out to parties nor bars. I became abstemious.

Why?
Because it was going out from my hands, in certain moment it become excessive, and when I wanted to stop I couldn’t, I mean, I couldn’t just drink only one Guinness; inclusive in work hours I would like go and drink. I realized that I was out of control and I didn’t want continue like that, then I decided quit completely.

Was it hard?
Just at beginning, now not at all, well it wasn’t “double A” thing!!!. Just I realized that the things I enjoy more are my work and being with my family, and there aren’t place for the alcohol. Things has become much more controllable since then.
(note: "double A" means Anonymous Alcoholics in Mexico, it's an institution to help alcoholic people, i don't know if this expresion is a kind of adaptation done by the reporter)

(From his T-shirt sticks out in his arm a huge tattoo)
What does say your tattoo?
It’s a heart with a knife and a Scottish insignia, besides the names of my three loves: Eve, Clara and Esther. I just did it.

The good thing is I didn’t have it when I film Down with Love because it would have been a problem with those all scenes without shirt I had. For my last movie (Big Fish), they delayed at least 30 minutes in make up it daily.

What do you feel about being in the place number 9 (of 100) of the sexiest actor, according to the inquiry done in Great Britain by internet?
It wasn’t bad, was it?. I’m glad because it’s something chosen by the people.

What do you feel about have the sex symbol status?
I don’t care, I live without that, I don’t pay attention at all.

Have you already become accustomed to Hollywood?
Actually yes, when I made Down with Love in Los Angeles I had the opportunity for intrude in, and it was better than I expected, I thought that I would find more bullshit, but it wasn’t like that, I met good people, I’m not saying that there aren’t dummies, but I didn’t meet any, I repeat, I don’t like being in parties or premieres, I was focused just in my work.

Did you meet Renée?
Yes, actually I met her seven years ago in the MTV Movie Awards. I was to deliver an award with Cameron because we was together in A Life Less Ordinary, and Renée was for Jerry Maguire. The fact is that after in the party we was the only ones who were out of place in the corners. I felt she is the most sweet and shy woman.

How did you do the Zip Martin’s accent?
In general I saw the movies of Doris and Rock but mainly in Pillow Talk where he did an horrible south accent. I did the same, I mean, it didn’t have to sound authentic or from a specific region.

Maybe I’m not good to imitate accents but it wasn’t a crucial thing do it so authentic because it was a parody.

For you, Which one is the perfect balance between the sexes?
Well, something like we live now where the women have more options, where they can have equality with the men at work and at the same time to look for a healthy relationship.
I’m glad to educate my daughters like that, I’m glad to know that they don’t have to married the first man they saw, they will be able to take care by they self and search for the protection of a man just if they would like.

Does that mean now you iron?
Not at all, but to tell you the truth my wife either, (laughs) we have somebody who come every week and do it.

What kind of Daddy are you?
With my first daughter I wanted to be the best father, I wished to have attributes beyond the reach of an human, but I realized I was out of the reality. From Clara I learned to be a better father with Esther, the youngest one, and to accept some things like the truth is that in the first years of life the babies need more from their mother than their father, because at beginning I felt very excluded. Also I learned that clichés are true, for some things the father is more effective like to discipline and to scold, it’s true they pay more attention to me than my wife.

Did you keep any suit of Catcher Block?No, at least not for me. I got some to auction for charity.

Would you wear it?
No, they are so much Catcher Block. It’s like if I wore a t-shirt of Star Wars or a cap which said Obi Wan.

[Lady-Bant-Eerin]

Das Interview ist echt gut. Finde es ja wahnsinn das er schon seit ein paar ahren keinen Alk mehr anrühert, hätte ich ncht von ihm gedacht.

Mal wieder ein Bild, und zwar von der YA Premiere in New York. Also Ewan sieht ja wirklich gut aus, aber das was Tilda da an hat, ist doch etwas eigenartig.

[Nelle]

@Bant
Und wenn das mit dem Rauchen wirklich stimmt, dann bin ich echt beeindruckt.

Ewan sieht auf dem Bild aber auch aus, als würde er gerade aus dem Bett kommen. Jedenfalls erinnert mich sein Hemd an einen Schlafanzug.

[Lady-Bant-Eerin]

@ Nelle
Das mit dem Rauchen kann ich mir allerdings nicht wirklich vorstellen. Gelbe Zähne hat er nämlich immer noch. Nein, mal im Ernst, bei den ganzen Leuten die im Showgeschäft rauchen ist das bestimmt ziemlich schwer, zumal die Leute in Filmen auch gern rauchen.

Ewan sieht doch richtig niedlich aus, aber wirklich wie gerade aus dem Bett gestiegen, das find ich wahrscheinlich auch so toll.

[margie]

@Bant halb so wild ich verpeile sowas auch oft und schön das ich helfen konnte.

[winterblue]

@ Nelle: oh nein, ich habe heute deine cd bekommen. also, ich meine oh ja!, aber jetzt habe ich ein schlechtes gewissen, weil ich dein päckchen immer noch nicht abgeschickt habe. montag, okay? irgendwie waren die letzten tage etwas stressig. jedenfalls habe ich mich ganz riesig darüber gefreut und hör schon nichts anderes mehr! danke!

[Nelle]

@blue
Ich habe dir doch geschrieben, dass du dich nicht beeilen brauchst. Ich musste eh zur Post, also habe ich die CD gleich mitgenommen.
Schön, dass dir die Songs gefallen. Ich persönlich mag von den Robert Downey Jr.-Songs "Snakes" (welchen er selbst geschrieben hat) und "River" am liebsten.



Ich mag das linke Bild. Und die Zigarette hat er bestimmt nicht selbst geraucht.

[winterblue]

@blue
Ich habe dir doch geschrieben, dass du dich nicht beeilen brauchst. Ich musste eh zur Post, also habe ich die CD gleich mitgenommen.
Schön, dass dir die Songs gefallen. Ich persönlich mag von den Robert Downey Jr.-Songs "Snakes" (welchen er selbst geschrieben hat) und "River" am liebsten.

*gg* ja, ich weiß, hab trotzdem ein schlechtes gewissen.

mir gefallen diese beiden songs auch am besten, vor allem eben "river", weil mir das original schon so gut gefällt. das "snakes" eine eigenkomposition ist hatte ich nicht gewusst - der mann hat definitiv sehr viel talent.

die vanity fair bilder sind total schön, besonders das linke. orientiert sich die ital. vanity fair eigentlich nach der amerikanischen? (also waren diese bilder auch schon mal in der us ausgabe?)

[Nelle]

@blue
Ich habe keine Ahnung... bis jetzt habe ich die ital. Ausgabe noch nie gesehen. Ich bin mir allerdings ziemlich sicher, dass diese Bilder nicht in anderen Ausgaben waren.
Btw, VF ist hauptsächlich ein englisches Magazin, oder nicht?

[Lady-Bant-Eerin]

@ Nelle
Die Zigarette hat er bestimmt selbst geraucht. Genau, raucht er in YA nicht auch? VF Bilder sind auch zu 99% super, die müssen echt gute Photographen haben, oder genug Geld.

Wie fandest denn das was da am Freitag bei Popstars abging?

Die Sings von Robert Downey Jr. sind wirklich alle super, der Junge hat eine wunderschöne Stimme, schade das er nichts aus seinem Talent macht.

[Nelle]

@Bant
VF hat sehr gute Fotografen, wenn nicht sogar einige der Besten.
Das ist auch einer der Gründe, warum ich die Zeitschrift so mag - es wäre nur besser, wenn sie hier nicht so teuer wäre...

Das bei Popstars fand ich bescheuert. Ich dachte beim letzten Mal, dass sie nur so tun, damit die Einschaltquoten steigen. Ich hätte nicht damit gerechnet, dass sie wirklich 2 "alte" Teilnehmer hinzunehmen. Ich mag Anne und Fabrizio, aber 1. ist es den Bandmitgliedern gegenüber nicht gerade fair und 2. blickt bei dem Durcheinander bald keiner mehr durch. Wenn wenigstens feststehen würde, wer bleibt und wer geht. Aber nein, sie gehen auf Tour, nehmen das Album auf und dann wird's entschieden. Unter dem Druck kann doch nichts Gutes rauskommen. Da merke ich mal wieder, dass ich Castingshows eigentlich nicht mag.

Robert Downey Jr. war vor einigen Monaten dabei ein Album aufzunehmen - alles selbst geschrieben. Doch dann kam mal wieder ein Rückfall. Danach hat er glaube ich einen neuen Film gedreht und das Album wohl erst einmal ruhen lassen.

Here's To Love

In Down With Love, Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor camp it up like stars of a Doris Day/Rock Hudson matinee. Jan Masters catches up with the dazzling duo as they smooch across the dance floor as they smooch across the dance floor to discuss naked moments and secret loves.
Sinatra is singing Fly Me to the Moon in that silky-smoky voice. The volume's way up. McGregor, sharp-suited and groomed to Cary Grant perfection, cradles Renee Zellweger, all prachily pretty and pale, in his arms.
In the big-build-up-let's-go-for-it orchestral break, he twirls and unfurls her till they're only touching fingertips. Candy-pink Chanel chiffon flutters as he spins her back again. Frank croons to a crescendo. They smooch check to cheek with slow, swaying, end-of-party easiness, then both look straight to camera. Her eyes do that glittery, can't-believe-how-wonderful-life-is Renee Zellweger thing. His do that can't-believe-what-a-naughty-boy-I-am Ewan McGregor thing. Script annotation must surely read, 'Dissolve'.
Except....I'm not describing the final frames of their latest film, Down With Love, an affectionate Technicolor homage to the old-style Doris Day/Rock Hudson rom-coms such as Pillow Talk. In fact, it's a scene from the ELLE cover shoot in New York, and we've got Renee and Ewan together to see what makes each of them tick - and both of them click.
'Oh my Lord in heaven, we're having so much fun!' enthuses Renee in her lilting, liquid-velvet Southern Belle voice - the one that makes Ewan want to 'simply drift off'.
Then the CD, which is the soundtrack to the movie, reaches their duo, Here's To Love, a number that wraps the film as the credits roll. 'You've got the lips to wet my whistle, Cupid just launched a guided missle...'
'It was out idea to record it,' admits Ewan, 'even though the film's not a musical. Doris Day often used to record title songs. And as I'd been in Moulin Rouge and Renee had done Chicago, we thought the opportunity was irresistable. But we had to work quite hard to persuade the powers that be.'
'Yeah, we began to wonder if we were crap or something,' admits Renee. 'But oh my God, recording it was great.'
'They couldn't get us out of the studio.'
'We had a joyful time on set too, laughing constantly. We were like schoolkids.'
Ewan first met Renee six years ago, just after she won audiences over in Jerry Maguire. He was already a star, after getting dangerously down and dirty in Shallow Grave and delivering heroin cheek in Trainspotting.
'We met at the rehearsals for the MTV Awards,' recalls Ewan. 'It was the year A Life Less Ordinary came out. I was there with Cameron Diaz to present a prize for the best screen kiss and I bumped into Renee backstage. We were both skulking in the shadows.'
'Yeah, kind of mousin' in the corners.'
'Well, to be honest, I was hiding from Will Smith's bouncers. You see, I'd just been quoted as saying I wouldn't taint my soul with shite like Independence Day, and the director should be fucking ashamed of himself. And when I asked who I was going to be giving the prize to, they said, "Will Smith." (Renee collapses into giggles.) 'So all afternoon I was cacking it because he was surrounded by the biggest guys you've ever seen, and I imagined getting my head kicked in. But Will was very gracious. I had a big fucking gob on me then.'
Big fucking gob or not, Renee still viewed him as 'the best actor of his generation', an assessment recently corroborated by a Channel 4 poll that put the 32 year old in the top 10 of the 100 greatest film stars of all time.(he came in at nine)
'I always said there was nothing that man couldn't do,' confirms Renee(now 34). And he proved her right, strutting his glam-rock stuff through Velvet Goldmine, coming over all shy and sensitive in Little Voice, getting out his light sabre(zzzt-zzzt)for Star Wars, his big guns in the all-action Black Hawk Down, and a certain part of his anatomy whereever and whenever artistic integrity demanded it.
'I don't know why people get so carried away if I'm naked,' he protests. 'People should get out more. Not worry if I get it out more.'
Meanwhile, a rather more demure Renee just kept hoping she'd work with him one fine day. 'Every project that came up, I was like, "Ooh, now what about Ewan. Let's see what Ewan's doing..." Finally, we got it together.'
And together they found temselves in an idealised New York City(you know the one - it's where you can always hail an immaculate yellow cab). Ewan is the man's man/ladies' man, Catcher Block, with his snazzy bachelor pad. Renee's character is writer Barbara Novak, who floats about on a negligee clouds in an apartment with glass walls and a panaromic view of the city. Yet it was all shot on four Hollywood sound stages and in the back lots of Universal.
'I found it alluring to make a movie that was a throwback to old-style film-making,' says Renee. 'I'd drive down the hill to work, slip into elegant Oleg Cassini and Balenciaga-inspired clothes (with maching bags, gloves and shoes) and spend the day surrouned by friends, thinking, "Oh boy, what a lucky job." Honestly, I feel gluttonous I've gotten so much.'
Cue sigh. Fade to black.

HOLLYWOOD, EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER
Scene: soiree at Catcher Block's 'apartment' at the Hollywood Center Studious (complete with live beatnick band and more waiters that you can shake a cocktail stick at). Filming has been full-on all day, and tonight there's a little after-work shindig going down.
Thankful to be on the guest list, I nibble an olive and take my Manhattan over to, well, a vast, immaculately painted, twinkling backdrop of Manhattan. I stand on a make-believe balcony and make-believe I do this kind of thing all the time.
There's Ewan, looking dangerously dashing - from his slicked-back hair to his snakeskin shoes. Then Renee makes a fashion-show entrance in a black and yellow full-length gown with fistail train, looking like a swishly little lace-clad mermaid(all the guys in the room take a one-way trip to Gooeyville)
Since Ewan and Renee first met, she has proved herself to be Miss Versatility: mesmerically loopy as Nurse Betty, and positively perky as girl-on-the-run in gross-out comedy Me, Myself & Irene, which starred Jim Carrey, who she fell for in a major way after filming in 2000. They dated for just under a year, although she denies rumours they were ever engaged.
Then, of course, there have been two Oscar nods for her quintessential English, vino-quaffing Ms Jones and her Roxie music in Chicago (which won her a Golden Globe).
'Those last roles changed my life, yet I never plan ahead,' she tells me in a breathy, earnest whisper when I grab for a quick over-cocktails conversation. 'The universe makes suggestions, and I simply try to listen. Just do things I'm passionate about. Apart from that, I don't have any philosophies. I've given them up. After philosophy number 25, you say, hey wait, maybe that's enough with the philosophies, given that they've all been wrong. Now, I'm not looking to fill slots. And I don't have a list of requirement for happiness.'
'But you're a romantic, right?'
'Well, the press seems to think I have a big roster of celebrity boyfriends.' She's referring to Clooney, who appeared to be her on-off love interest for the past couple of years, although she always maintains he was 'just a great friend'. Ditto Matthew Perry. 'Little do they know I'm often just sitting on the couch with my dogs, watching TV. Having said that, I must confess I'm a hopeless, hopeless romantic sucker. I'm a bit like Bridget in that I'm a believer. I believe in love. I saw it in my parents [her Swiss father and Norwegian mother, who emigrated to Texas]. They are best friends, totally in love with each other and share everything.
'But my happiness isn't a contingent upon romance. It's about embracing what's good when it shows up. My girlfriend has a mantra - "Just eat your ice cream when it's on your plate". And I've certainly had plenty of dessert these past couple of yours.' then she's whisked away to ensure she spreads enchantment evenly around the room. Jeez, the girl is as sweet as cinnamon-sprinkled apple pire - the only actress I know who can gush for Texas without leaving you queasy.
Later, I ask Ewan how his dessert menu is looking.
'I've got to be honest, true happiness is not any of this,' he replies, nonchalantly sipping his cocktail. 'It's being at home with my wife, Eve, and my children Clara Mathilde [six] and Esther Rose [allmost two].
'Just lately, I was watching the children playing - it was the first time we let Esther into the garden on ehr own to play with her big sister, and it was the happiest moment I've ever known. I'd never had that kind of emotional experience before. And now everything has become simple because of it. Don't get me wrong - it's not pipe and slippers itme...although I have bought a garden shed - it's just that I've learnt what true happiness is,' he reflects.
'Plus, I also get to make movies every day, which is what I've always wanted to do, so that makes me pretty happy, too. But it only works because my wife travels the world with me, at the expense of her own career [she's a production designer]. She's beautiful, strong and straightforward, and an incredible mother. I remember being attracted to her when we were working on Kavanagh QC. She was dressing the set and was so in charge - I've always found that kind of sexy. Nobody was giving her any shit, and I think that's so cool in a woman.'
Then he goes off to mingle and do a little retroactive grooving to the band.

LONDON AFTER A WEEK AFTER THE NEW YORK COVER SHOOT
I catch up with Ewan and Renee during their global crisscrossings to locations new. Renee is in the UK, preparing for her reprise in Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason and Ewan is just about to head Down Under for Star Wars III.
I've just seen Young Adam, Ewan's other big film this year, and I can't wait to award him a gold star. Very different from the color-saturated exuberance of Down With Love, it's dark, disturbingly erotic (especially the crazed, custard-throwing sex sesh) and claustrophobically intense. I love it.
'Fucking great. I liked it, too. Phenomenal script,' he agrees. Set on the canals of Glasgow, the screenplay was written and directed by David MacKenzie and based on the novel by Alexander Trocchi, a 50s anti-hero and unrepentant junkie. 'I knew I wanted to play the lead and Tilda Swinton, Emily Mortimer and Peter Mullan were all up for it, too. Yet we really had to struggle to get the funding. That experience changed me. I almost felt let down by the British film industry.
'In the past, I've been very vocal in my disdain for the studio system in Hollywood, but I've realised it's just part of the business. I no longer hold Hollywood solely responsible for cinema's problems. And I don't shout my mouth off so much - or at least when I do, it's about things that are important or that I know more about.'
'So you're not going to be rude about Star Wars III?' (He hasn't always taken the party line on this one.)
'Absolutely not.' Then with that faux-innocent smile, he adds, 'Let's just say, two down, one to go.'
'And then what? Perhaps a musical on Broadway?'
'People ask me if I'd do a stage musical of Moulin Rouge, but I wouldn't revisit anything. Still, the idea of singing on stage in a play? Well, I wouldn't rule it out.'
'You've certainly got the moves. Didn't you used to do Scottish country dancing?'
'Aye, the old skip-change.'
'To the Eurovision hit Making Your Mind Up, I understand.'
For a second he looks amazed that this nugget of information has gone public. 'Yes I did...to impress a girl called Carol, who I was desperate in love with.'
'Trouble is now, when I hear the name Ewan McGregor, I can't dismiss the image of a kilt flapping up and down to the strains of Making Your Mind Up.'
'Oh, I wish you would. Please try.'
'I also can't forget what Danny Boyle [director of Trainspotting] said. That there's something very naughty about Ewan McGregor.'
'Well my publicist does say that I'm the naughtiest person she's met, and that's because dirty, rude things always make me laugh. And silly games. Like she and I do this thing where before I go on a chat show like Jay Leno, she gives me a stupid phrase that I have to slip in, no matter what.'
'So what was the last one?'
'Colostomy. No, wait, that was the one before. It was Colossal Squid.'
'How the hell did you get that in?'
'I said, "The dialogue for Down With Love was written in such a specific way that unless you really hit it right, you could have been left with a colossal squid of a movie.'"
And as we both have a wee chuckle, I volunteer the next chat-show silly phrase. 'How about shimmering in cleavage enhancer?'
'You're on. Next interview I'll get it in, and when I do, I'm going to turn and wink to camera... and you'll know it's just for ELLE.'
Oh Danny, how right you were.
Later that day, I'm telling Renee what a laugh I had with Ewan. 'That's why I love that guy,' she giggles, 'You see what I mean, right? He's hilarious. That's why working with him is so easy - we had a mutual work ethic that included having fun.'
Renee is now taking 19 to the dozen because she's running from meeting to meeting. 'Oh , dear God, I'm a whirling dervish!' she cries, 'This year has definitely been the year of no-sitting.'
And no wonder. She's just shot Cold Mountain(out on 25 December), Anthony Minghella's civil war drama, based on Charlie Frazier's starkly drawn novel. She stars with Nicole Kidman and Jude Law and worked (and lugge dlogs and mended fences) for weeks in a blowy, snowy Transylvania. 'We certainly didn't need our Manalos and Jimmy Choos,' she laughs.
And now she's all signed up for Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason(her pay cheque is rumoured to top 14 million pounds). Which means bring on the banquet...
'I hate the way the press is only interested in the weight issure,' she says, with that quizzical, squinting frown. 'It superficialises the experience, which is so disappointing because I'm doing it because I want to *be* the girl. I need to have an authentic experience and all that entails. It's a journey and it's not one that lasts an hour and a half of screen time. It lasts nearly a year, and I don't want a phoney year. Because acting is a job and, sometimes, it's a job that requires a little more attention. Like a little Italian attention, a little French attention, a little pancake and pasta attention.
'In fact, playing Bridget again is going to be one of my hardest challenges in a long time because, creatively, I don't like to repeat myself. But now Bridget has a different story to tell, the character has become new to me.
'In her own way, Bridget's trying her best to define herself for herself and not conform to other people's definitions. It's upsetting that these days, so many people feel pressured to be something they're not, especially when you have so many periodicals making fun of people based on their appearance - their hair or their shoes. What does that say to kids? That it's OK to do that? How sad!'
I dare to wonder if anything has changed on the romantic front. I'd heard she's dating limelight-shunning rocker Jack White from The White Stripes, who composed some of the music for Cold Mountain( and got Kate Moss to pole dance in his Sofia Coppola-directed video for I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself)
Renee remains cutely tight-lipped (but nods with a radiant yup-it's-true expression). But she is willing to elaborate on what she looks for in a man. Prepare for a soliloquy delivered in an I-mean-this-so-much hushed whisper. 'I'm inspired by a good heart. A pure heart. I like someone who is sound enough in their belief system that they don't need to lie or conjure up a person they thing you might need them to be. I'm inspired by someone wh ohas something to give. Someone who has passion. And I'm attracted to kindness. I love a guy who laughs. Who is able to care about other people's situations and not just take at the expense of others.
'I don't care about hair or faces. I don't care about clumsiness or snotty noses or bad clothes. I don't care if a guy stumbles or falls or says something dumb. What I care about is that he acknowledges that, as you go through life, you leave a trail behind you, and you have to be cognisant of what the trail looks like, and do your best to make sure it's not destructive. This is what's attractive to me.' And with that, she bids me in farewell and dashes to her next appointment.
Good Lord in heaven, this girl sure knows how to make an entrance...and one helluva exit. And as she disappears, dervish-like, I think of Down With Love and can't get that show-stopping, end-of-movie number out of my head. Their song. That big-badn, big-finish, belt-it-out sound when they dance in th emovie like they danced in our shoot - shimmying, swirling and swaying - Ewan, like a latter-day matinee idol with attitude, whisking a floaty, flirty Renee round the flor - and doing Sinatra real proud.

'I don't care about hair or faces. I don't care about clumsiness or snotty noses or bad clothes. I don't care if a guy stumbles or falls or says something dumb. What I care about is that he acknowledges that, as you go through life, you leave a trail behind you, and you have to be cognisant of what the trail looks like, and do your best to make sure it's not destructive. This is what's attractive to me.'

Das hat sie schön gesagt.