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."