Miss Wonder
of Hollywood
In „A time
to Kill“ Sandra Bullock is playing her most pretentious role so far – and she
is proud of it: “To act in this Film was the smartest decision in my career.” While
speaking with CINEMA she was rhapsodizing for her Co-star Matthew McConaughey and told what it means to be the most popular
actress in the world.
CINEMA
People are going into cinema to
see Sandra Bullock. In “A time to kill” however, you are playing a supporting
role.
SANDRA BULLOCK
When I have the chance to work with a director as wonderful as Joel
Schumacher, it doesn’t matter for me if
I will be seen in either one or every scene of the movie. Leading roles
aren’t always the best roles anyway. Joel was so enthusiastic about the story,
that I simply had to act in it. In my opinion it was the smartest decision in
my career.
CINEMA
In “A Time to Kill” you play a young women with liberal political views.
Are there any autobiographic references?
SANDRA BULLOCK
Oh, that depends on my daily form (laughs). Sometimes I’m feeling like a combative leftie,
at other days I stand for more conservative positions. That depends on the
issue. But in the case of “A time to kill” you are right. I fully identify myself with Ellen Roark. Her convictions come very close to my own.
CINEMA
Does this apply to capital punishment too?
SANDRA BULLOCK
I don’t believe in capital punishment. It doesn’t make much sense to me
to kill a Person that killed another one. That has nothing to do with justice.
Completely apart from the fact that wheather you are
sentenced to excution or not depends on the question
if you have the money to pay a good lawyer.
CINEMA
When all articles, which has been written about you, are telling the
truth then you must be the most courteous and kindest human being in the
world...
SANDRA BULLOCK
Isn’t this awful...? (laughs)
CINEMA
Are there no dark sides in the life of Sandra Bullock?
SANDRA BULLOCK
Oh yes, even a lot. Of course, the
reason why I’m seen so positive by my colleagues and by journalists is that
they don’t experience me as a private person rather than in a professional
Environment. I’m trying hard to show everybody the same respect. Nothing vexes
me more than the arrogance of people who
are thinking they are something special.
CINEMA
You grow up in Germany and in the USA, your parents were travelling a
lot. Is your tolerance the result of this multicultural education?
SANDRA BULLOCK
Without even a doubt. As a child I hated this life, but retrospectively
I’m thinking: It couldn’t happen nothing better to me than that. When I was 12
years old, my parents moved from Germany to America. At this time, in the
beginning of the puberty, it is hard to accept that you are different.
Everybody of us knows the feeling to be refused or to be treated unfair. As a
child I have experienced this in an extra painful way. From that I learned to
show respect to myself and everybody else.
CINEMA
Which of your attributes are typical american
and which are typical european?
SANDRA BULLOCK
My eating habits are very american (laughs).
On the other hand, the joy to make new experiences and the willingness to walk
into situations which are strange for me, are probably more european.
People who lived their whole life at one place are usually very afraid, when
it’s a matter to get involved in something unknown
CINEMA
Does success actually corrupt the personality?
SANDRA BULLOCK
No, not necessarily. It is even true, that people around you are changing
faster than yourself. But the success takes many freedoms which you considered
as natural before. When I’m shopping or when I’m arranged for diner, it
instantly turns into a media event. And when I’m talking to the cashier at the
supermarket a little moment to long then I’m married with him before I will
have left the Shop (laughs). Isn’t this curious?
CINEMA
And how you deal with this?
SANDRA BULLOCK
I withdraw as much as possible. I’m downright notorious for that. I
simply take the freedom to spend as much time as possible to with things that are amusing me: climbing and salsa dancing for example.
Most of my friends I still know from my highschool
time or from my time as a waitress in
CINEMA
At the shooting to “The Thing Called Love” you met River Phoenix. Have
you had the feeling at this time, that he was playing with his life and that he
was going to die young?
SANDRA BULLOCK
I know many people who are living dangerous. And you never know how it
will end. When I would have interpreted the signs in the right way, I would
have probably done something. But who knows what’s right... River was an Angel,
a gifted actor. But I think, he was not able to deal with the way how brutal
life can be. The pressure that burdened him, became too big at some point.
CINEMA
You don’t have much problems to deal with this pressure. How is the
going with Matthew McConaughey?
SANDRA BULLOCK
Matthew is wonderful, I simply told him: “Stay with me and do what I say
than nothing can happen to you” (laughs) Though I probably learned more from
him than reverse. His way to deal with things and to live his live is
impressive.
CINEMA
What has fascinated you most at him?
SANDRA BULLOCK
His character. I haven’t met much people which have became
dear to my hearth like Matthew. He helped me to find back to myself. Matthew is
an outstanding human being, he is giving me support and strength.
CINEMA
That sounds like this could be more than merely a friendship...
SANDRA BULLOCK
Oh, you are meaning I’m in love. (laughs) No,
no. That’s just the great with it... Why am I blushing now? (laughs)
It is easy to act like you are in love when you are standing in front of a camera.
Moreover, the feeling of closeness and intimacy can be much bigger if you don’t
exceed this frontier. I really believe that there’s a lot of love in the
relationship between Matthew and me. Probably because is was clear from the
beginning that we will meet someday.
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