15 Questions With: Diane Lane
- Where Are They Now? 'The Outsiders'
Diane Lane is that rarest of things: a child actress (she was 13 in her debut film, 'A Little Romance,') who's aged gracefully and flourished in showbiz. Married since 2004 to Josh Brolin, she's raising a blended family (her daughter Eleanor, 15, with ex-hubby Christopher Lambert; his son and daughter Trevor, 20, and Eden, 15) and juggling work and home life. Moviefone chatted with Lane about her upcoming flick, 'Rodanthe' (her third with Richard Gere), why this may be her last film ... and the movie she made that we may never see. -- Angie Argabrite
Eric Charbonneau, WireImage
1. Do you and Richard Gere have a level of comfort now that you've worked with each other so often?
Absolutely. I mean, in some ways -- how can I say? -- this was our reward for 'Unfaithful' and how grueling that was, emotionally, as a job, and also the fact that this is a more inspirational story rather than a cautionary tale. So having left one, and going on to another with eight years in between ... was a good call.
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2. You had to cry a lot in 'Rodanthe'. Do you have a special trick for crying?
I have to cry and kiss in every movie I do, I think. And I know I dance with Richard in every movie I do with him. I'm starting to see a few patterns here ... It depends on the day. I think it's best to not have too jolly of a good time anywhere near that day when I know I'm gonna have to visit that place where it's quote unquote easy to cry. You know, anybody who's in a good mood has to stay far away from me. Other than that, I'm fine. I can create my own black cloud with no help [laughs] ... Some scenes are certainly harder than others, and they need a little more help than others in terms of the intensity.
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3. Are there any other of your past co-stars that you'd like to work with again?
No, in fact this film is the last film, and by that I could mean it in any way -- like it's the last one I did, and it's the last one I'm gonna do for awhile, and it's the last one I have in the can ... and then we'll see. I mean, basically the job I want to do next has already been done, by Anjelica Huston in 'The Grifters.' I am ... gunning for something that's not so sympathetic. I need to be a bitch, and I need to be in a comedy. I've decided. No more Miss Nice Guy.
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4. Are you officially taking some time off ... ?
I can't do anything official. My agents won't let me [laughter]. As soon as you say that you're taking some time off, you sort of attract work. I don't know what that's about, so I better not say anything. Between you and me, I don't have anything else coming out, and I'm just gonna be taking my kids to driving school and mak[ing] sure they don't cause any trainwrecks with their texting.
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Cheree Ray, FilmMagic.com
5. You star with one of your 'Rumble Fish' co-stars, Mickey Rourke, in 'Killshot.'
We filmed that movie so long ago that if it comes out, I will show up and see it, because I have my doubts at this point. I guess it'll come out. I'm sure Miramax will throw it out there on the tail end of some other person's campaign. I haven't heard a word. We did reshoots in January of '07. We were working with Anthony Minghella and Sidney Pollack, and they're both no longer with us. So it's been a long journey. But I'll give you this: I look younger in the film, and that's always a perk.
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6. How do you and your husband, Josh Brolin, balance work and family?
In our household, we have three movies coming out in six weeks. He's got 'Milk.' He's got 'W,' and then we've got my pairing with Richard Gere. [So] we see each other in the kitchen sometimes [laughter]. It's a hectic season right now, but ... what can I say? We drive the kids to school. We take turns or whatever we need to do, but we're keeping it together. We're doing really well. And I'm excited to see all of his projects. I can't wait for the premieres and, you know, celebrating him.
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Amy Sancetta, AP
7. Both of Josh's upcoming movies are controversial. Would you shy away from that or would you embrace it?
Sometimes a job offer feels like a dare ... if you don't do it you know you chickened out, so if I were made an offer to do something [with] that much built-in heat because of just the very topic, I [don't know] how I'd react. I might decide that it's too much heavy lifting; I wanna be home with my teenagers as they learn how to drive and navigate boys and everything else. I can't get this time back with our family. They'll be off to college in a few minutes from now, basically. [Josh and I] are at different points in our career, too. I'm enjoying not working, and he's enjoying a lot of big-time things in his career, so that's cool.
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8. Do you and Josh help each other decide which roles to take?
Absolutely not. If anything, we try to stay as objective as possible and say "Oh, look! My husband's in a movie coming out!" Or "Gee, my wife's in that!" [Laughter] We don't even talk about this stuff. He'll show me trailers or he'll show me if he gets a hold of something. He's much ... he's less shy than I am.
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Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic.com
9. Are there any roles you've turned down that you regret turning down?
You can't do all the opportunities that come ... You pick your battles [laughter] and you pick your prospects. No, I don't think there's any one specific one that sticks out in my mind that got away from me, although there have been some that earned accolades for other actresses ... they were cast more appropriately than I would have been in the role, and sometimes I need to let people know that, like, "She'd be better. You should hire her!" There was an opportunity for me to be in 'The English Patient' but I wanted the other role, and when I found out that it wasn't the other role that I was up for, then I told them how they should cast it, and they did. And she was amazing and she's, like, my favorite actress anyway ... I can't name [her]. It's better if I don't. It just haunts me forever if I do.
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Reader Comments (68)
Don Juan at 10:36AM on Sep 23rd 2008
4. Are you officially taking some time off ... ?
... be taking my kids to driving school and mak[ing] sure they don't cause any trainwrecks with their texting.
WAS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY? When 25 people just died because of it?
vinnieplum at 10:36AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Diane Lane is a wonderful actress. I fell in lov with her in "A Little Romance," and have enjoyed everything she has done since. She is the "girl next door" that I always wished was the girl who lived next door. I'm grateful for all her work.
Lovetorun at 10:38AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Charming and classy!
lesbokilla at 7:20AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Your youngest daughter is even finer than you used to be i hope shes not a homosexual like most girls her age are these days
Drey at 10:38AM on Sep 23rd 2008
My Friends and I love Diane Lane! I wish it wasnt true. She will be greatly missed.
Very sad news. =(
Rollando at 1:15PM on Sep 23rd 2008
We shall see. She is such a talented actress I do not see how she can retire now. It is in her blood. I just bet perhaps in a year or two, she'll be itching to get back to work.
holyoke45 at 10:39AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Who cares !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Retire !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
\
MsTsosChicken at 10:39AM on Sep 23rd 2008
What a lovely women and a lovely actress, I think she may take some needed time off and then we will see her again in something!!!!!!! I just loved her in "Must Love Dogs" with John Cusack and I would love to see her do another romantic comedy like that where she is not perfect, when they show a strong charactors flaws in a movie it humanizes it for all of us. She is the perfect actress to pull off that type of roll....I so hope to see more of her on the big screen!!!!!
v at 10:40AM on Sep 23rd 2008
I absolutely adore Diane Lane.. Any movie she is in, I have to see... A very beautiful lady with much class!!!
vicki at 10:40AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Diane Lane is nothing but a CLASS ACT... Love her movies... Wish her the best in whatever she chooses to do...
agsimon25 at 10:40AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Don't you just love it when a successful actress with a cushy job threatens to quit? We should all be so lucky to have that option! They never keep their promise. Remember how Julia Roberts and Gwenyth Paltrow said they'd never work again after they had kids? We still can't get rid of them. No one is irreplaceable, so don't even go there.
UGERS at 10:40AM on Sep 23rd 2008
One of the last Class act's left in America today. Also they have been problems
with her and the husband when the Cops where called for domestic abuse, ( Josh
was using his hands to much) 2 years ago, but the charges where dropped from Diane.
I wish them both the best and like I said she is a class act.
JR at 10:41AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Great actress! Beautiful family! As far as Brolin... Have we forgotten that he is abusive?
She's shy and timid because of fear she may do the wrong thing and be whacked for it.
I wonder if his dad beats Barbars? NOT...
Nancy Mc. at 10:42AM on Sep 23rd 2008
I absolutely think that Under the Tuscan Sun is one of her best movies ever. She is a class act .
Rhea at 10:42AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Please don't retire!! You're my favorite actress!!!
Paula at 10:42AM on Sep 23rd 2008
I just LOVE Diane Lane! That girl has so much class and grace, she is my favorite actress of all time!
shlepper2 at 10:43AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Diane Lane is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I am a little older than she and only wish in my wildest dreams that I could look as young and well preserved as she is. I only wish the best for her and her family.
Tracy at 10:43AM on Sep 23rd 2008
Lesbokilla, What a piece of work you are..... People like you should take a good hard look in the mirror. It must be awful to go through life feeling such hate and contempt for others. I am not a religious person but what a waste of a human being you are!
Libby at 10:43AM on Sep 23rd 2008
After watching under the tuscon sun, knew my upcoming divorce was just the begginning of a great journey, not to mention must love dogs, what a class act, ireplaceable, and will allways be the best.
Luv and wishes xo
fredda mitchell at 10:44AM on Sep 23rd 2008
How come "A walk on the moon' is never mentioned? Diane was wonderful in that film. Fredda