Ali Larter: A New Destination

Hot-looking actress Ali Larter showed up at our interview with a new attitude (she's changing career direction), new blonde bob and wearing a slinky black dress for a more sophisticated glamour look. Larter first garnered teen attention in Varsity Blues then became an even bigger draw as the eccentric new ager Clear Rivers in Final Destination and as one of the frightened guests in the House on Haunted Hill.

Now, Larter returns to the screen again as Rivers in Final Destination 2, opening in theaters this week. We found Ali to be candid about her move to New York, interest in theater and decision to do more independent films. She has no regrets about her horror movie choices and still finds the films to be fun escapism.

TeenHollywood: Why did you come back for this sequel?

Ali: With the first one I don't think any of us expected it to be such a big hit. Three years have passed since we did the first one. They talked to the fans and asked what they enjoyed about seeing it and worked all those things into the sequel just making it sharper and tighter. I was totally flattered that they asked me to come back. This movie is for the fans of the first one. I'm the only one that comes back alive (laughs).

TeenHollywood: Did you see a difference when you read the script between the first "Destination" and this one?

Ali: The first one I don't think was meant to be as funny. I don't think it was meant to be about these gory set-ups as much. It was more about being a supernatural thriller. This one capitalizes on the fact that everyone loves sitting on the edge of their seat and not knowing how people are going to die, and then laughing at it. They are bringing it back ten fold.

TeenHollywood: This may be trivial but your hair changes from movie to movie. You were a brunette.

Ali: Clear sees the light, baby! (laughs) I don't know. When we shot the ending (Destination one) remember she was going to Paris and I guess she lightened up her hair.

TeenHollywood: She's in the loony bin, but she has a great do.

Ali: But I had five people come up to me today and be like 'you look so bad at the beginning of this movie' but I loved that stuff. Like I want the dark circles. I didn't wash my hair for three days.

TeenHollywood: In Terminator Two, Linda Hamilton is in a mental hospital and they have to come get her, drag her out. Was that any inspiration for your character at all?

Ali: A little bit. The writers did talk about that, so that was something that definitely they kind of patterned it after.

TeenHollywood: Have you ever cheated death yourself?

Ali: I was almost in a horrible car accident with my mother. We were on the (freeway) and there were some floods and we were hydroplaning. It was terrifying. I was driving and I just remember finally getting the car to a controlled stop, then hysterically crying and thinking that I could take someone else's life. To this day, I will not drive my nephew. I don't drive anybody.

TeenHollywood: Do you like horror movies?

Ali: This kind of movie I would want to see with all my friends. I like to go to the movies by myself, like I love 'The Hours.' But sometimes when your brain is ready to explode with too much going on, this is a release. It's just going and not thinking for two hours. You just go on this ride and you laugh and you have fun and I think there's such a place for movies like that in this world. If you're an intelligent individual and you go to see these movies, or at least if you have half a brain, you're not going to go and reenact these things. I hope people don't take this movie too seriously and you just go in and have fun.

TeenHollywood: What is your movie-going experience like?

Ali: I usually go by myself, bring my sour patch kids and a diet Pepsi and I just love going into a cold dark theater and I go like three times a week.

TeenHollywood: You also did House on Haunted Hill. Are you ready to make a leap from horror films?

Ali: Yeah. A couple of years ago I did the (play) 'Vagina Monologues' in New York City and it was just the most extraordinary experience of my life; being able to have these monologues from real women. People would come up to me and talk about things that had happened in their life and really open up and it had such a powerful impact. When I finished this movie I went from Vancouver to New York in a plane with my dog and checked into a hotel. I got an apartment and sent for my things. It was just time for me to take my career in a different direction. I like the movies I've been in for fun. It's escapism. After experiencing New York and being there during September 11th, I have a desire to take things in my life to a different level.

TeenHollywood: So you would do more theater?

Ali: Absolutely. With theater it's a whole new world. I'm not in a rush at all. I'm kind of sitting back and going, okay, I really want to understand the language. I'm reading a lot of Odettes and Williams, and you know, Ibsen so I have a better understanding. If I do something it will be an off off Broadway play.

TeenHollywood: Did your friends and agents support your decision?

Ali: Yeah they are. I signed up for two independents. I wanna work with young writers and young directors who have strong creative visions and just get back to the basics. I want it to be about the work, about human emotion and the characters.

TeenHollywood: Is it frightening to be at a new stage in your career?

Ali: It's terrifying. I'm absolutely petrified, I mean, I moved myself to New York City and I could be throwing away all these things I've been given. I've been given such wonderful opportunities in Hollywood but when it comes down to at the end of the day I need more out of my life and I need to push myself harder. But at least I'm going to put myself out there in this world and if I fail, I'm going to fail terrifically. I'm going down good.

TeenHollywood: What scares you in your life?

Ali: I think the big fear that I have is like if anything happens to my family of course and not enjoying my life. Everyone has so many bonuses in their life and it's just so easy to concentrate on the negative and to get overwhelmed. So (the fear) is to do that, which is such a waste.

TeenHollywood: What, in your life, is an anti-drug or natural high for you?

Ali: I think the biggest thing is laughing with my friends. I find that when I have a lot going on I start to get stressed out and everything becomes really tense and serious, and just to—keep everything in perspective, you know. Laugh with your friends, dance at two in the morning to Madonna, like just enjoy and have fun, you know.

TeenHollywood: So what have you done since this movie? An independent film?

Ali: Yeah, I'm starting a movie in a week in a half based on a Bernard Malamud novel called 'The Tenants.' He wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning book called 'The Fixer.' He also wrote 'The Natural'. It's this great book that's out of print. I found it at a rare book store and the screenplay is really close to it. It's three characters, and it takes place in 1971. It's about human emotion. It's about race and religion, being black and Jewish in New York City and it's making me ask myself questions that I never have before and that's just where I want to go..