February 22nd, 2001
For David Arquette, getting into character to play an Elvis knockoff in 3,000 Miles to Graceland was exactly what made him excited about the movie in the first place. The hardest part of Graceland was getting used to Courteney Cox -- his co-star both in the film and in their real life marriage -- being just a little too romantic with Kurt Russell on screen. Arquette, best known for his Scream personality and soon to be released See Spot Run, was more than eager to relate to PlanetHollywood.com just how intensely his passion as an actor has been heightened by his huge affection for his wife...
PLANET HOLLYWOOD: Those were some
pretty racy scenes with Courteney in Graceland. How hard is it for you to watch
a movie when she's doing love scenes like that, especially when the man in her
life at that moment is Kurt Russell, and not you?
DAVID ARQUETTE:
Yeah! To me that's more offensive than just about anything. I found those loves
scenes far more offensive than the gunplay, personally!
PH: Did you stay off of the set on
those days, when she was doing those scenes?
DA:
Definitely. I'd go to Hooters. No, I'm kidding!
PH: How did you react to that news item
that you and Courteney were separating?
DA:
As far Courteney and I go, that's just downright lies. I don't know where people
get off doing that, and I think it's just creepy and gross. Our marriage
couldn't be better. We're gonna be together forever, so they can say whatever
they want. It doesn't affect me. I
think even though we're sorta in the spotlight, or a celebrity couple or
whatever, I just don't think certain things are people's business. I mean, it's
what I feel like in my personal life too, with people who aren't celebrities.
Certain things I think are private, and between a couple.
You know, I hate rumors and I hate gossip, and it's just
not...it's not nice. There's an element of our world right now that people are
just obsessed with, like coming down on other people, or being nasty. I choose
to live my life in more of a straightforward, honest, and you know,
compassionate way. Rather than being a nasty, and a mean person.
PH: What was it like becoming an Elvis
for the movie?
DA:
I could totally get into it. That was one of the main reasons I did it! I love
Elvis, I just think he's incredible. And that whole flair, I mean it's starting
to happen now, people are dressing a little funkier and going there. Different
styles are sort of more accepted now. I mean, if people were just walking around
in big platform shoes and one piece bejeweled outfits, that would be great for
me. I'd just get a kick out of it.
PH: Well, you could start that trend...
DA:
Oh, I've tried! And I've got the stars to prove it.
PH: What dId you think about the body
count in Graceland?
DA:
Well, I think the whole movie was sort of like a video game -- and hopefully
harmless, the way I see video games. It's not something you want to bring your
kids to, because it's for people seventeen and older. There's a lot of gunplay.
And I got injured during the filming of it, so it's not
like My Dog Skip or some movie like that. But it's what it is, it's a video
game. It's mindless entertainment. I
don't know, that's not my favorite kind of stuff, but it is some people's. I
think it really comes down to the parents, and how they raise their kids. You
know, to know right from wrong and know reality, and what's just a movie or a
video game.
PH: How did you get hurt?
DA:
During the casino scene. They put squids on this metal wall, and it exploded.
And a piece of the metal went into my leg...
PH: Ouch! What's your recipe for
acting?
DA:
Well, I always try to approach acting from as realistic a point of view as I
can, and just sort of create a world, you know. Unless it's a complete farce,
then just have fun with it, and make it enjoyable. You know, doing comedies, you
can kind of stretch reality, but you still try to maintain a realistic approach.
PH: You've done a film with Tim Blake
Nelson that is anything but a comedy. Could you talk about The Grey Zone?
DA:
Yeah, The Grey Zone is something I'm really proud of. You know, I like doing big
movies and having fun, and doing sort of just entertainment-based films, but my
true passion is real acting. The Grey Zone takes place towards the end of the
Second World War. It's sort of inside the crematoriums, which they haven't
really shown before. It's very disturbing, but it's important. I'm glad I was
given the opportunity to act, and really do some dramatic work.
PH: Do you have trouble watching
yourself in a movie?
DA:
Yeah. I feel pretty stupid, and I go 'Ugh, that was moronic!' It's hard to watch
my stuff. I love doing it, but sometimes it's nerve-racking to watch yourself,
and be critical.
PH: What don't you like about yourself
in movies?
DA:
Oh gosh, a lot of stuff. Just the way I look, and some things I say or do.
Sometimes when you do commercial movies, they're not as realistic as real life.
They're kinda fluffed up, so it's a drag sometimes. A lot of those films are
made for an escape, for people to be able to laugh or be excited by a movie,
like 3,000 Miles To Graceland. And nobody gets hurt in a movie hopefully, unless
society is screwed up.
PH: Have you gotten used to being a
celebrity, and people just coming up and talking to you?
DA:
Yeah, I love people. I mean, I love nice people. When people are creeps I don't
really care for them, but if someone comes up and they're nice, that makes my
day. I enjoy entertaining people, and I enjoy that whole part of it.
I sort of don't subscribe to the point of view of putting
celebrities on any sort of pedestal. I think we're really fortunate to be able
to do this for a living, and that's a gift in itself. With it comes people
knowing you, or being comfortable coming up to you. So I really enjoy that, I
don't mind it at all.
PH: Do you feel you've changed as an
actor since you married another actor?
DA:
Oh, everything about my life is better since I married Courteney. She elevates
my experience in so many different ways. I'll forever have a fire inside me of
being able to portray love or sorrow, just because she elevates my emotions so
much. She just gives so much to me, and it definitely helps. It
is a hard business though, because like now I'm away. And when I was in
Bulgaria, I had to be away for a couple of months and that was incredibly
difficult, the long distance thing. But you just have to learn ways to deal with
it, and just really connect and be able to communicate with each other and be
honest and faithful, and all that good stuff...
-- Interview by PlanetHollywood.com
Special Correspondent Prairie Miller --
©2001 Absolutely Arquette