m tomei

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From The Vault //A

Times Square Classic Interview//

Marisa Tomei Interviewed By: Brad Balfour Original date of publishing: November 14, 2007


Born on December 4, 1964, Tomei eliminated her heavy Brooklyn accent but never forgot her roots. Her breakthrough came in 1992 when she co-starred in "My Cousin Vinny," as Joe Pesci's loud-mouthed but sweet New York girlfriend--a performance that won her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. From there she went on to her first starring role, in "Untamed Heart." Fortunately for Tomei, a solid performance as a troubled single mother in Nick Cassavetes' "Unhook the Stars" earned her a Screen Actors Guild Best Supporting Actress nom. Then after some strong work in "Welcome to Sarajevo" and in "Slums of Beverly Hills," she proved her first Best Supporting Actress Oscar win was no fluke--she received her second nod for her performance in the critically acclaimed dark drama, "In the Bedroom." In a film loaded up with some of the finest New York theater actors, Marisa Tomei made sure she stood out in Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, which was Lumet's last feature film before he died in 2011. Brad Balfour discusses this performance with the Brooklyn Native. TimesSquare (TS): Was that you in the

He's so easy to be around. I think he plays that

opening scene--with all the sex--because I

character so well--the younger brother of

know a lot of actors use body doubles.

someone who never really found his own way and means well, but only buys into this thing. In

Marisa Tomei (MT): No, no no, that was me. I practice [laughs].

his relationship to my character, he just adores her and thinks she's so great, and his brother

TS: You've been friends with Ethan [Hawke]

pre-approved her. To play the scenes with him

[who plays Andy's brother Hank] for a long

were very easy, because he's Ethan Hawke

time. How was it to do that love scene with

and he's adoring me, so what could be wrong?

him [Gina is having an affair with Hank so

TS: How was the rehearsals?

there is a sex scene with each actor]? MT: The rehearsal period was great. But it was MT: We go back, but we didn't really know each other that well. We never played in anything together, so it was like the moment was overdue actually. So I was looking forward to

a little tough for me, because I was doing 'Wild Hogs' at the same time, if you can believe it, and I had to go back and forth like three times during the two week period.

that. It was really draining, and I never really felt like


I got in the groove. That's why it was great that

I happened to be at CAA [the talent agency,]

Sidney [Lumet] had such a clear vision in the

and we were doing some sort of reading. My

first place, because I felt like I was completely

agent pulled me aside and said, "I just have

at sea. I wasn't counting on that happening.

something to tell you." And I thought I was in

The timing just shifted so I was going there and

trouble.

putting on a cowboy hat and acting like a silly

somebody says that.

I

always

get

that

feeling

when

girl in this huge comedy. But he told me, "Sidney Lumet just called and Then when I got over there, I was getting into

he wants you to do his film." I was just over the

this gritty world. Ultimately, I just had to go on

moon, and so soso excited. It was just one of

instinct and she's kind of aimless, so it worked

those, "Thank You God!" moments. I didn't play

for me.

hard to get at all.

TS: How was it working with everyone to

TS: So did you develop some kind of back

develop your character?

story for her?

MT: Sidney had a vision of how he wanted my

MT: I don't think she knew everything that was

character to be, and he had some pretty

going on. I don't think she could have thought

detailed history he had written out before we

that through. I think she might have thought

started shooting.

something was odd or funky. But I adjusted the back story to what Sidney was talking about.

I always thought she was kind of a dingbat, and I still think she's really aimless. She feels anger

TS:Was there anything in the script that

and is disgusted with the man in her life. I don't

made you nervous?

think she's getting enough of what she wants at that moment. I don't even think it's a positive kind of anger, but that was definitely something that Sidney crafted from how he was seeing her and how he wanted her to play in the mix of the bleakness of the men.

MT: No, I felt like I was fulfilling my goal. I always wanted to be a trophy wife. Such a funny life to peep into [laughs]. "Oh, really, trophy wife?" It's a detriment to her own life's path that she's


not

really

self-reflective

or

latched

onto

guys, with rehearsals?

something that has a lot of meaning to her. But it was also interesting to have someone who relates only on a visceral level and needs a lot of physical comfort and affection and attention-someone who is just comfortable in her own skin, and she's just not leading with her head. I liked that.

MT: He just kind of sets the table. He likes us to be together. We didn't do things like go to dinner, but we had the rehearsal time. We had two weeks in a room together, and we got to hang out. A lot of work gets done that way. It's nice that he brought that aspect of theater stuff into his filmmaking.

TS: The movie seems to be about characters who are past their prime. Where do you see all the characters five years before?

We felt kind of at ease with that because we were

used

to

rehearsal

rooms,

we

like

rehearsal rooms...I don't smoke, but I would go MT: I think that Phil's character was coasting

out with them when they would smoke because

along easier, making more money--more denial

I

going on. I think that the denial was in full

conversation happens. The bonding [laughs].

know

that's

when

most

of

the

best

swing. Our lives felt better every day, five years before.

TS: What intrigued you about Sidney's direction?

TS: If you could write the ending to your character's life story, perhaps a few months into the future, what would you write?

MT: I think his passion is the most dominant thing. His intelligence, his wisdom, his natural inspiration, is all wrapped up in this very

MT: I don't know. I think if Phil was alive, she

passionate man who loves what he does.

would end up back with him. I don't think she has a lot of fortitude or discipline or strength of character. She'll probably leech onto some other guy.

He loves the characters; he's intrigued with every character. I really felt like he put himself into my character's shoes. It's really rare for a male director or any director to think about

TS: Do you enjoy having that challenge of

"What's inside her?" He was just taking on my

getting into a character that you might not

character.

like? He loves actors, he's known for that. But he MT: Yeah, actually, I prefer her rather than the

takes it to that level where he puts himself in

saccharine things that have come my way.

every character. He writes the history, and

That's usually the big challenge, to play those

takes care of the character.

cutie pies that repulse me. TS: Do you have a favorite Sidney Lumet TS: How does Sidney work in terms of you

film?


MT: This one! (laughs) But if I had to chose, I'll go with "Dog Day Afternoon."


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