Is
it easy for you to do comedy?
It’s something I love doing, but I don’t know that I find
it easy. I really, really enjoy it, and if I had the opportunity I would
do more, I just think there is something really wonderful about making
people laugh. It’s just great to be able to change someone’s
state of mind or mood, or bring unity to a room since laughter has this
unique capacity to bring people together.
What
do you like about working with comedians?
Working with comics is wonderful because they just know they don’t
have to stick to the script. I do think there are some very talented
actors out there who may not get the opportunity to do that, yet if
allowed to be, could be really, really funny. Some people like the comfort
of sticking to the script but I like to go off it sometimes as, certainly
in comedy, you just never know by doing that, what is going to turn
up.
As
in using a plunger as a weapon?
Yes! The director said, “I don’t think we should use the
plunger,” and I was like, “the plunger is really funny,
it’s totally gross, really inappropriate and it’s funny!”
Then I added that the more he fought me, the more nasty stuff I would
add in there, like the toilet brush too!
You
were also a producer on this, how does producing compare with acting?
As an executive producer you have a little more say, you can go in there
and really have an opinion without worrying that someone is going to
think you are taking over the set. You are able to have a creative point
of view and can participate in a way that can be really helpful. I just
think it gives you a certain amount of freedom and makes you feel more
part of a team. You also tend to look at the picture on a more overall
level as opposed to just through the eyes of an actor.
Was
it Drew Barrymore that inspired you to produce?
My producer involvement on Code Name was very different to
Drew’s on Charlie’s Angels. Drew was on Charlie’s
Angels from the very early stages, but by the time I came on board
with this, the project had been green lit, there was a director on board
etc. so my input was related more to my character and the fight sequences.
I am far more involved in the Charlie Chan project, which I
have been working on forever, from the very embryonic stages. It actually
seemed funny to come on board with a project as Exec Producer, that
flew by so quickly, when on something like Charlie Chan, I
have been working on it for some six years and it’s still in the
works!
Did
you enjoy the action element of this role?
Absolutely, I love doing it, but I think production loved me doing it
more! I was like, “I don’t think we need to do that much
fighting,” and production were like, “no, let’s have
more fighting.” When we then came to test the film, there was
just an energy radiating from the audience when the action started so
they were obviously right.
You
are from Queens, NYC. Do you think being from Queens helped you play
this tough character?
I grew up in areas surrounded by all sorts of people, it was very diverse
and people in New York are all very direct. They don’t beat around
the bush. They are not impolite, just to the point. My character, Gina,
is very spicy and sassy and I enjoyed playing her, with that quality
of directness.
Is
Lucy Liu sassy and direct in real life?
I have retained a little of that, yes. It is obviously more extreme
in the movie. I don’t think if I disagreed with someone I would
start doing the windmills on them! At least not the first or second
time, maybe the third time, if they weren’t listening to me, I’d
get the windmills out!
I hear it was very cold the night you and Nicollette
shot your bubble bath scene?
It was freezing, but we did shoot it at about three in the morning!
We were doing nights and here we were in our lingerie in a kiddie pool,
surrounded by bubbles. It was so cold the bubbles kept disappearing
so we were like, “more bubbles, more bubbles!” It was super
cold and I got to the point where I just stood up and said, “Cut,
you’ve got enough romping in the pool now, for the fantasy moment.”
Also, funnily enough, when most of the crew would have otherwise been
saying, “I’m off to bed,” suddenly everyone was there
for that shot, it was like a dance party!
