The play is one of the very few pieces of great dramatic and comic writing that I have read in a long, long time. I was drawn to it because of the power of the writing, which gives me the actor a chance to explore many facets of myself.

I had just finished playing Lillian Hellman in New York in a play called "Cake Walk," and "Collected Stories" was offered to me. I turned it down because I didn't want to play one older stateswoman writer after another. And I needed to get some distance from Lillian Hellman before I played Ruth Steiner.

© 1999 Craig Schwartz Photography

I'm glad I did wait. I did the play two years ago at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles and I'm glad I had the opportunity to play her onstage. Making a film of a work you've played for six weeks [onstage] gives you intimate knowledge of the character. By the time you go in front of the camera you've worked out the behavior and life of a character. That was a great advantage. Making films you don't get too much opportunity to rehearse and develop a character.  [ Next Page ]

 
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