|
Kerry
Washington is a chameleon on camera.
When you see her you first say ‘I know
I’ve seen here somewhere ‘ and she gives
you a ‘familiar’ feeling. But you can’t
quite put your finger on it. That is
what is so powerful about this up and
coming actress. With her new role as the
sexy vixen Nikki in ‘I Think I Love My
Wife’, Washington plays the would-be
home wrecker seeking attention from an
old flames best friend Richard Cooper
(Chris Rock). As the would-be finesses
her way into the willful eyes of a bored
husband also seeking attention an
insecure Nikki comes to light.
How does
it feel to play a home wrecker?
Kerry
Washington: (Laughs) it’s an interesting change. I think it s a good change. I
think after playing the wife in Ray and
the wife who was cheated on in The Last
King of Scotland there was a danger of
being type cast. It’s just another great
opportunity to kind of change the way
that I’m seen in my work which is always
important to me.
Did you
choose the dresses? How much input did
you have?
Kerry
Washington: I actually… the wardrobe and hair and make are always really important
to me. But it was also Chris and Louie
have been working on this script for
over 5 years and he was really clear on
what he wanted the character to look
like. Sometimes it was hard for me
because I don’t dress that way. It was s
risk for me as an actor it was a
different kind of person than I ever
played really.
Did Chris
know where he wanted you to go?
Kerry
Washington: Yes. It was a really nice balance I think the challenge with this
character is I think Nikki and very well
become a caricature on the screen. I
really wanted the opportunity to bring
the depth to her that I really think she
deserved. I think we all know Nikki but
what is the psychological justification?
What is the emotional world behind that
kind of behavior? So that to me was the
challenge to take her from just being a
Jessica Rabbit to a flawed emotional
type of reality.
Is there
any scene of the film that is your
favorite?
Kerry
Washington: You know, my favorite scene in the whole film is one that I’m not
actually in. I think the most beautiful
moment in the film when Gina… is so
beautiful in the film; and the moment
when he comes in from the club and she
is sitting on the stairs and says ‘fix
it’, it is such well of emotion in that
line. I think it’s such a really
important moment in the film because I
think you do get caught in Nikki’ fun
and excitement but all of a sudden in
that moment you really realize what’s at
stake for him.
What are
you up to next?
Kerry
Washington: I’m starting to develop and produce things. That’s really exciting for
me. Unlike being a pianist or a
violinist you have this instrument
separate from you that you can kind of
master. I am the instrument of my
expression so I am constantly changing
physically and psychologically dream
roles are constantly changing because
what I bring to my craft is always
evolving so there is so much that I want
to do. But the most important thing to
me is the ability to keep shifting it.
I’ve had so many people come up to me
saying I had no idea that the same
person in Ray was the same person in
Last King of Scotland. While that may be
frustrating to my publicist it is a
complement. To me that is the ultimate
compliment as an actor.
|
