Brittany Murphy Goes "Uptown"
The first thing you might notice about Brittany are her enormous brown eyes! Those peepers are huge! Then there's the fact that she's tiny...super petite. When we sat down for a "spill all", the actress looked totally business-like in a little black suit with white flower in her lapel. Brittany's singing voice is excellent and she has long wanted to play 1960's rock legend Janis Joplin. She feels that the spirit of the late singer guides the project. We had just heard that Renee Zellweger was signed to play the part in a film...
TeenHollywood: Are you upset that you don't get to play Janis Joplin?
Brittany: It's not something that's been filmed yet. Yes, [Renee was signed] but so was I four years ago. The music rights belong to Laura Joplin and I still believe that Janis is the executive producer and the casting director. Her presence is so strong within this project, and it always has been and she will dictate when, if, with whom and how her story should be told. I think that's why it's been such an unusual story in terms of setting up the production. Basically, it's something that I would love to be a part of, and I do not count that out, but if Janis doesn't chose me, then I will be the first person with tickets and would love to be a part of the film because I love her.
TeenHollywood: You have a great voice. Are you planning on ever recording a CD?
Brittany: In November, I'm going to start recording an album and finally, dedicate a block of time to that because acting and music to me are the chicken or the egg. I wasn't trained in either formally, and so, I'm really so excited to make an album.
TeenHollywood: Dakota Fanning is your co-star in Uptown Girls. Are you used to being around people her age (9)?
Brittany: Oh yes. Actually, my little cousin Katy is very much like my niece. She calls me Brittany. When I'm not with her, she calls me Aunt Brittany. Katy played young Molly in the flashback. That was Caitlin Murphy. She's coming to the Teen Choice Awards with Dakota [Fanning] and I tonight, and they made friends at the set. [Note: this interview was done the day of the awards and the two did show up on the red (blue) carpet together].
TeenHollywood: Was it very different for you working with so young a co-star? Were they any challenges?
Brittany: Yeah, keeping up. I mean, I'm being sarcastic. Dakota is nine years old and one must respect that she is nine, and she is extraordinary at being nine, but she loves life. She loves childhood, she is such a kindred, free spirit, ball of sunshine, energetic joy and she also has a very old soul and is extremely wise, and is so bright, sharp and intelligent. You can talk with her about anything in the world and she utilizes all of her wisdom and all of the beautiful morals that her family has taught her in her acting. That's what makes her such an extraordinarily talented actress because she is such an open, caring, giving, aware person, and she's just one of the greatest, most balanced humans that I've ever met in my entire life, and grounded. So, yes, she's nine, but she's my friend. She's my kindred soul sister and I love her.
TeenHollywood: At what age were you grounded like that? Or are you grounded?
Brittany: I feel grounded every day. I feel like my circumstances change, my surroundings do a lot, yeah, and my hair color and my clothes and the cast of characters that come in and out of my life, but other than that, there's just a basic core of me and that has not changed. It has just grown. That artful chaos which [her character] Molly embodies, I embody as well. A lot of Molly's idiosyncrasies are similar to mine. It's all a heightened reality, and she is a character that's larger than life. I couldn't keep up with that schedule!
TeenHollywood: Do you and Dakota keep in touch?
Brittany: Dakota is much better at it than I am. On the last day of filming, she called everyone and congratulated everyone. Dakota is very responsible with letters and thank you notes. Due to schedule, the last time that we saw each other, since yesterday, was in October. It was right before Halloween. One of the most dearest and heart warming presents that I've ever received in my life was from Dakota which was a nineteen twenties tea set. I would like to be able to spend a lot more time with the people that I love and unfortunately, due to working schedules, that doesn't get to happen enough, and I'm working on changing that.
TeenHollywood: What is the message of this film?
Brittany: The message of this film is being truthful to yourself. Crummy things are going to happen but you can find information and grow in the least likely of all places and learn from the least likely of all sources. Really be brave, be bold, be true to yourself and believe in yourself. All of that other stuff can get you down or you can use it as fuel for your fire. That's what Molly decides to do and she finds herself, and I love that. I think that it's really a story about metamorphosis .
TeenHollywood: You seem like a very open person. Has that gotten you in trouble?
Brittany: [Laughs] I'm very social. I'm really an overly friendly person. I always have been. I love people. So, if something is going on, I want to tell people about my experience, I want to know everything about them and yet, you [the media, reporters] are writing down what I'm saying and this isn't normal. So, basically, I didn't realize that. But, there are great upsides [to fame]. I took my first vacation to Australia with my ex-boyfriend and there were paparazzi there. We realized it the third day and well, we forgot a camera and we were able to have pictures of the whole vacation. My whole life is being documented and I love it. It's for my grandkids. Winona Ryder told me that they [the media] will always be there during your worst times and your best times. I signed up for this job and I get that it's part of it. Just spell my name right and be accurate.
TeenHollywood: You have a very cute pig in the film. What was it like working with it?
Brittany: Actually, the pig was portrayed by Softie and Springer, two pigs who were raised in New Jersey on a farm. They're from Jersey too [like me]. One was more for the comedy and the other was more for the drama. One was for petting. I've always wanted a pig. So, in a way, I was able to live vicariously through Molly by having a pig. It was kind of cool but I realize that I don't have the means. I would want to have a really large plot of property then have a pot belly.
TeenHollywood: Is it hard to get over a breakup when your ex [Ashton Kutcher] is on the cover of every magazine?
Brittany: This is an easy one. No. The answer is no. Not for me, not in this case. The important thing is to learn from a break-up, learn what went wrong and not allow that to happen again, and not give someone your power. Definitely keep your own power in any relationship of any kind. I'm going to tie it into this film. That is a really big message for Molly Gunn [her character]. Her relationship with Neal, she gives and gives and gives of herself until she doesn't have anything left to give. I have to trust my instincts, believe in myself and be true to myself to actually be able to give the way I want to give in life and be the balanced person that I'd like to be. Self-preservation is quite important.
TeenHollywood: Your character has a musician boyfriend in the film. Have you ever had a musician boyfriend? (gossip says that Brittany may have been involved with Eminem while shooting their film).
Brittany: Yes, two. I've had four and a half boyfriends in my life. So, I've had one and a half musician boyfriends, but they were really multi-taskers, both of them.
TeenHollywood: Who rates only a half?
Brittany: I'm not talking about my past. [Laughs]
TeenHollywood: What was your favorite outfit in the film, and how did you run in high heels?
Brittany: Actually, my legs have formed muscles that are more comfortable in heels now. Not from this picture, but from years of working in heels. I've always worn heels. It's actually comfortable but the clothes are amazing. I like the dress in the opening sequence, the fan dress and some other dresses as well.
TeenHollywood: If you could change anything about yourself, what would you change?
Brittany: Everybody has little things. I've always wanted to be really tall for a day. That's kind of a very superficial thing. I'm 5' 3", but I'd love to be 5'9" and tower over everybody. I think it would be fun. I'd love to be a man for a day too, just to see what it's like. Also, I wouldn't be as tardy. I'm tardy sometimes and I would like to be more orderly and timely.
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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.
