August 2, 1999

by Veronica Mixon

Bridget Fonda seemed destine to act although she'll tell you that her first love is painting and her love of animals.

But, with films like 'Single White Female,' ''Point of No Return' and 'Bodies, Rest and Motion,' Bridget established her own path. She is the type of actress that can take a small role and make it memorable. For instance, who can forget her as the junkie who taunts Robert DeNiro in 'Jackie Brown,' the conniving wife in 'A Simple Plan,' the flirty debutante in 'Doc Hollywood' and the naive journalist in 'Godfather Part III.'

In her latest film, 'Lake Placid,' Fonda reminds us of her comic ability and her natural vulnerable girl appeal. She spoke with me about the film, her life and acting.

THE INTERVIEW

Bridget Fonda

I understand David Kelley offered you 'Ally McBeal'?
How does everybody know this stuff? Nobody was supposed to find out.

Any regrets?
No, I just never wanted to do a television series. I like feature films. Yes, who knows what will happen next year? I could be kicking myself upside the head saying, 'what was I thinking.' I love the character, I love the part and I love his writing obviously. But, I have never regretted turning it down. I didn't get how I could be in it. Or what I could do with it. So, it might not have been a big hit if I was in it. I told my agent all along 'don't bother with a series.'

Why aren't you interested in television?
I like to ruminate over something for a very long time. My favorite part of making a movie is the preparation. So, it's the idea that you have some preparation for a character and the rest of the time you're doing it. Every day of every week, you're getting new pages and you're changing it at the last second. I'm not spontaneous in that way.

Was David Kelley on the set?
It's a strange thing. His presence is felt by virtue of the fact that everyday you're doing his writing and think about his intent. You want to please him because he's such a good writer. You wind up respecting the words and thinking 'am I getting it right? But, he was not there and overseeing it. He let it go. They always make little changes in the beginning to smooth it out but he's not particularly - he's really good about letting us go and doing our thing.

Your character is so hilarious.
I know. I loved her because she's defensive. She's been having a bad time. I thought she's a bitch because she's so afraid of not being good enough. Here she is, out of her element. It's really sad. Her self-esteem is so low; the only place she feels safe is in a cubicle with a microscope. And, then she sees it's so wonderful to be in the middle of something instead of reading about somebody else doing it. And, that to me really summed up why she is so afraid, in the beginning, of extending herself and falling on her face. 'Cause I understand that - people, they delay their life because they are afraid to stand up and be counted and nobody wants it and they fail. It's a horrible thought.

Have you ever been in that position?
Yes! Ever time I start a film. Well, every time you're playing something new - hopefully. I try to play a different character and you're in front of new people. You can feel it, if they're with you or not. So, I perpetually take that risk - probably because somewhere inside I am afraid I could get like that - pull up. So I want to break it.

What really scares you?
I'm afraid of heights. I don't know whether its vertigo or what. But, when I'm high up, I feel like gravity is pulling me over.

Have you ever done a movie where you're really high up?
Oh, it seems like every film!

What was the worst?
It was 'It Could Happen to You' with the hot air balloon. I said, "That's great! We're going up in a balloon!" I was freaking out. But, I personally, I think that if you have something you're afraid of - not that I'd go sky diving - but for a film, I'll try to make myself do it. With bravado saying, "If I die doing it, it was for my art."

	Bridget Fonda

Are you afraid of water?
I love the water. The house that I grew up in was tiny but it had this huge pool because it was built in the '30s and it was the pool house of the house next door. We had this tiny little hippie house and this fantastic pool. So, from the time I could remember, I've been in the water. Plus my father bought a boat after he made 'Easy Rider' and after my parents split up. He lived on it and I would go and visit him. But, lakes are different. Lakes are creepy. You can't see the bottom and there's something that's going to swim up against your leg. And, you know that some sort of reed that's going to tantalize your ankle and you're thinking water moccasins.

Did anything happen?
Oh, always. I never saw a snake but there were beavers and things.

Do you have a special memory of your grandfather?
Blowing bubbles. When I think of him, I think of painting. But, blowing bubbles and going swimming at his house and visiting the chickens. He had chickens.

As a little kid, did you realize he was Hollywood royalty?
He was just this very tall, quiet man who I really liked because I was not a boisterous kid. I appreciated someone who was quiet and moved with a certain amount of elegance and grace - but with a sense of conservation. I really admired him for that. I visited him on the set of "Red Pony" and I remember not putting it together. I never put it together. I didn't care. I want to go see the animals.

Were you on the set of 'Easy Rider?'
I was there - the commune scene. My brother was in it. He cried all through a scene. I was mixing mud or something and making adobes or playing with goats.

When did you decide to begin acting?
I didn't know it until I was in a high school play. I was in plays in grade school but I have terrible stage fright. I never thought of it. I love painting - just get me back to painting and drawing. And, arts and crafts, embroidery, paper-mache - that was my thing. I loved wood shop and making things. But, when it came to acting - I'd always volunteer to paint sets. Then, finally, I was in 'Harvey.' It was a small, nothing part. My father and grandfather had been it. I was terrible but in rehearsals, I felt that feeling - I guess it's the feeling. They say once you hit the sweet spot of golf, you're hooked for life - trying to do it again. There's a connection that rings through you. Now, I've never felt that with golf but I've felt that in acting.

Do you like horror movies?
I love horror movies. I've loved them from the time I was a little kid. Growing up, we had a little projector - I think it was Super 8 - we had a screen that pull down over the fireplace. You know one of those '60s moments. We also use to have slide shows. We had the '50s serial thing, 'Shazzam!' But, the favorite was 'The Giant Behemoth.' Which was a creature that came from the deep and terrified a city - which they all did. A Harry Hauser rip-off. All of this, I did not know. We'd watch and then, there is this one very specific thing for a kid - a doll floating in the water - the devastation of it all! I loved that. My next horror film memory, I was about 8 and my brother was 6. We were all in my mom's bed watching 'The Haunted.' Too this day, it's one of my favorites.

Is 'Monkey Bones' scary?
No, it's not. It's the movie that I'm working on now with Brendan Fraser. It's half live action and half animation. It's Henry Selleck. Whoopie Goldberg plays death. And, Paul Reubens, who I just worked with on 'South of Heaven, West of Hell,' a western.

That's the Dwight Yoakum film?
Yes. He plays it so straight - he and Michael Jetter. And, it's hysterical. His eyes turn to lusty slits and his hat rides real low.

What's the movie about?
It's sort of a gothic western and it's hard to describe. Billy Bob Thornton is in small role.

Didn't Dwight Yoakum direct it?
Yes.

Are you dating Dwight Yoakum?
Yes.