Interviewed By: Entertainment Tonight OnlineThe talented star of "Ally McBeal" has taken the primetime audience by storm - but now this actress is in Rome for a big new movie role! Find out more about it - and just why she's soaking wet on the set - right here.
Hear what Calista Flockhart loves best about shooting 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' in Rome!
Entertainment Tonight: Shooting in Rome. Isn't this such a gorgeous location?
Calista Flockhart: Yeah.
ET: And, is there anything, since you've been here, I know you've been here for awhile, that you miss from home?
Calista: Oh, I miss my dog actually. I miss my dog a lot. I guess I miss my dog and my friends.
ET: Is there anything since you've been here that you really love about the country? The food or the people?
Calista: Well the pasta I have to admit is dangerously good. I think I've gained about five pounds since I've been here! I took a drive through the country and the mountains are beautiful and the trees are beautiful. And I loved Rome. The chaotic, frenetic mess that it is awfully romantic.
ET: So for the people that don't know about Shakespeare and maybe will go and see [A Midsummer Night's Dream] for the first time, can you tell us about your character and what she's like?
Calista: Yeah, Helena. She's young, she's obsessed. She's in a situation unfortunately, where her love is unrequited. But by the end, she conquers all, and she gets her man with a little help from some fairies.
ET: Was it fun doing those scenes? We've been told, were you in the mud scene.
Calista: Yes I was. The mud scene was unusual. It was fun. It was cold. And it didn't taste very good. But we had a good time fighting in the mud.
ET: And how is it for you, learning Shakespeare. Is it more difficult than a normal script?
Calista: I don't find it more difficult. I think it is kind of a misconception. I think that it is intimidating and I think yes, you're dealing with a whole new language. But once you know it, it becomes close to who you are. It doesn't seem that that's the hard part. I think there's always challenge in every role. Well, I would say the language is an added small challenge.
ET: We just saw you coming down the hill with a bike.
Calista: Now that is a challenge. The bike is a challenge. I've had bike problems since I've been here. It's just a big heavy bike from 1812, and it's a twice my weight so I'm battling it all the time.
ET: Do you have to actually ride it?
Calista: I tried. But I fell off. So Helena is not very good at riding bikes--in this movie anyway.
ET: In this scene we just saw, they were spraying water on you. What was that about?
Calista: Helena was caught in the rain in the previous scene.
ET: Your hair--is it extensions or is it real?
Calista: Yeah, it's all real, its all mine. It lives in Carol's basement. But, no, I'm teasing. They sew extensions in. Half of its real, and half, I get a little help from Carol. Who is a genius by the way.
ET: What is it about Demetrius that attracts Helena to him? And why doesn't he love her back?
Calista: I mean because he's a fool! I mean what's there not to love? I have no idea why he doesn't like me back. And love is like that. I don't think you really understand why you love somebody. I mean I don't really know the specific reasons, she just does. She just loves him.
Calista talks about the parallels between "Ally McBeal" and her new movie.
ET: ET draws parallels to you and "Ally McBeal" because your colleague whom you work with has unrequited love as well. Can you draw parallels to that?
Calista: Well, I guess you could. I mean, if you search for parallels I guess you can find them. But I don't think David Kelley, the writer, was thinking about Shakespeare. And I know Shakespeare wasn't aware (laughs) of "Ally McBeal!" But I think that's a universal thing, and it's in everything almost. Unrequited love is such a universal situation that we all go through at one point. Some of us more than others.
ET: Has there ever been instances where that's happened to you in real life?
Calista: Never! Oh, never! I've always been loved completely and fully! No, I'm kidding. I'm being hugely sarcastic. No, of course I've had crushes on people and they didn't care.
ET: Now, this is the mystical play with all the fairies and the love potions and I understand that in Ally McBeal, she lives in a fantasy world as well. Do you draw any parallels to that as well?
Calista: No, I haven't thought of "Ally McBeal" since I've been here, to be honest with you. I've really pushed it out of my head. I've worked so intensely on that show for so long, as we all did, and I've really tried to give myself a break from it. So no, I haven't thought about it, and compared it to this at all.
ET: Now, I see that they're getting ready for a wedding. Does it make you think about marriage?
Calista: No, I haven't thought about it at all.
ET: And is there someone special in your life at the moment? Is he over here and you're showing him around Rome?
Calista: Can't answer that one.
ET: Your boss as you said, is David Kelley. And now you're in a film with his wife, MICHELLE PFIEFFER. Do you feel extra pressure that that circle is going on?
Calista: No, if anything I don't feel particularly anything about it except that I'm lucky and that it's fortuitous. No, I don't feel any extra pressure about that. If I felt anything, I felt more support. I feel very lucky to be involved in a project with Michelle Pfieffer.
ET: Now lots of people have said that you look like her.
Calista: Yeah, I guess people have said that. I don't particularly see it, but I'm flattered nevertheless. To look like Michelle Pfeiffer is quite nice.
ET: Well, thank you for your time!
