Evan and Her "Dad": Evan Rachel Wood and James Woods

Their last names are similar but talented, edgy young actress Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen, Upside of Anger) and celebrated actor James Woods aren't related... they only play a very strange, racist dad and his manipulative teen daughter in the dark comedy Pretty Persuasion which was the darling of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. Not since Heathers in the 1980's has there been a film so adept at mining the dark depths of twisted teen manipulation. Evan's character Kimberly takes revenge and plotting to a whole new level. [Warning: Pretty Persuasion is now unrated but will probably be rated "R"].

The duo looked rather dad and daughterly for our interview. James, in black suit and Evan, who turns 18 soon, in black blouse, jeans and green Converse sneakers. Her necklace, reminiscent of some we've seen on the cast of The Lord of the Rings, was a carved green "horn" from New Zealand. Evan's hair is still long, streaked blonde and her make-up is perfect. Check out what this odd, funny and friendly duo had to say about their new, darkly funny film.

James: Where's Evan? Oh there she is. I didn't recognize her with her normal hair on. She had this ridiculous wig on for the movie.

TeenHollywood: Evan, did you have to fight for this role or were you offered it?

Evan: No, I went in to see Marcos [Siega, the director] and we really hit it off. I was originally supposed to play another part [Brittany, played now by Elizabeth Harnois]. A year and a half later, Marcos came to me and this was before "Thirteen" or anything and said 'What would you think about playing Kimberly?' [the villain and lead part]. And I was like 'OK', and then 'what did I just agree to?' But I am so glad that I did. It was awesome and it was amazing that Marcos had that much faith in me. I completely fell in love with the script so it was great. [Talented teen actress Jena Malone was originally supposed to play Kimberly].

TeenHollywood: Had you seen Heathers and Mean Girls? Heathers is a classic from the '80's.

Evan: Yeah, yeah, I had seen Heathers and it definitely has the same type of humor in it. I think it's completely different but it's that weird, dark thing.

TeenHollywood: James did you have fun or what with this role? This dad is sooo outrageous.

James: I was sent this script and I said to the agent, 'the answer is yes!' Are you kidding? This is hilarious and so right on target. It's so not politically correct. Then I heard Evan was going to be in it and that was great. I was hoping she'd be a little nice at least and she turned out to be this absolute dream and the most talented actor I've worked with in a decade. Honestly, I think she's one of the greatest actors ever. You can't imagine how talented she is.[At this point, Evan is blushing].

TeenHollywood: Evan, you've done a lot of quirky, wonderful movies. Are you ready to lighten up more and just do a mainstream teen comedy?

Evan: I pretty much said to my agent, 'don't get me any teen comedy' but they still send me everything, trust me (laugh). I still have to read a lot of bad scripts. But I crave anything good and I've done lighter material. People just notice the darker stuff more. I'll really do anything as long as I like the people doing it and I like the script and that it could be fun and different.

TeenHollywood: What was your take on your character and your backstory?

Evan: I didn't want her to be how everybody expects that character to be – just stupid and mean and that's it. Usually, you don't get anything else and you don't really see why she's doing it, where she's coming from and even if she has a soul. I just wanted to make her a real person even if she was doing all these horrible things, I wanted you to know why she was doing these things and if any of this could have been prevented. Just for you to feel for her by the end.

TeenHollywood: James you are in your underwear and a ratty robe through much of the movie. I guess we don't have to ask if you wanted to keep your wardrobe?

James: [laughs] That was actually my own idea. When I decided I wanted to do this movie, I said who do you have playing my wife that I'm cheating on cause I'm bored with her? They said 'Jaime King' and I said, 'let me get this straight. Fat b**tard in a thong getting bored with Jaime King' and I said 'this is the movie for me!'

TeenHollywood: [after we stop laughing] Uh, Evan, did you and Elisabeth work on your relationship together off camera or did you just rely on the director?

Evan: All of us, me, Elisabeth and Adi [Schnall who plays the third "friend" in the high school trio] had so much fun playing these characters and working off each other. It was just insane. It just kind of happened off camera.

James: It was a real happy set because of that. The three of them were hilariously funny and the rest of us really got in on that. It was all day long. All we did was laugh. It was so much fun.

TeenHollywood: Did you girls go to Universal Studios together?

Evan: We did one day. We wanted to go to Six Flags but Marcos was worried about us riding the roller coasters and bungee jumping before the movie was over. He said 'what about if I get tickets for Universal Studio?' so we said 'fine'. Then we had a big karaoke wrap party and I saw Elisabeth the last time I was in New York and we went to a karaoke place. So we still hang out.

TeenHollywood: This movie was made in 20 days? Does that help a film when you're under that kind of pressure to do it so swiftly?

James: I've been on movies that the money that has been spent, it's mind boggling. The first thing you think of is you can feed a nation with the money you're wasting on this movie. I mean one thing I learned from Clint Eastwood working on his sets – just get people who do the job, get it done and get on with it. Independent films, you don't have a choice. That's why independent films are always better than studio films when they're good. You don't have a choice, you just have to do it. I've been on movies with 15 motor homes and everybody is complaining they don't have their satellite dish and I'm thinking, you know, maybe you should concentrate on the scene instead of worrying about your stupid satellite dish and your motor home.

TeenHollywood: Good point. Evan, what did you think of the character of the teacher who is after his female students? [played by Ron Livingston]. How was it working with that character?

Evan: Interesting. We had a lot of discussions whether we were going to make him innocent or guilty. We never really knew how far to go with that and what to do. But I think it's pretty perfect. Yeah, you don't know when the line is drawn or when he's crossing or it or not crossing it. That was the weird thing. It's when you don't know whether you can say anything [report the teacher] because nobody has really gone over the line but he's making you feel uncomfortable but you can't say anything because they haven't actually done anything. Is it sexual harassment? I know I'm uncomfortable but if I say anything...I think he got that weird vibe done perfectly. And Ron is also one of the funniest men alive. Having to stare him down and do those scenes without cracking up [was hard]. I think I had to look through him and past him like he wasn't there.

James: There are really some deep considerations in this movie way beyond the comedy, you start thinking about it. Some lives could really be ruined here or the guy could really be guilty or it's right on the edge.

TeenHollywood: Are you really a black belt in Tar Kwon Do?

Evan: Yeah, I am.

TeenHollywood: Have you felt you want to use it on the paparazzi yet?

Evan: No, no. I mean I live in [the non-trendy San Fernando Valley area of L.A.] so there's not a lot of paparazzi around. I don't go around trying to eat in peace at The Ivy (laugh). So I think I'm OK.

TeenHollywood: So, just don't go to trendy restaurants?

Evan: Yeah. Why do you think you're being hounded at The Ivy?

James: [to Evan]. I have a question. What guy your age is going to be able to handle you? I mean honestly (laugh). She's talented, she's beautiful, she gets it all, she's funny, it's going to be really tough for a guy. He's got a challenge.

Evan: [blushing again] It's been hard for some (laugh). But I haven't done too bad.

TeenHollywood: This film deals with high school life and a lot of teens can certainly identify with some of the characters but it's pretty rough too. Who do you think should see it?

Evan: I don't think young kids should be going to see it. Even some teenagers but I'd much rather have them watching our movie than some of the other things. I think they should take this stuff a little more seriously and I think they should go and that's why I like the fact that the movie has a certain amount of gray at the end so that yeah, teenagers go to see it and they're laughing at it – ha ha, this is so funny – and then something terrible happens and you realize Oh, there are real consequences for what was going on and that was actually really bad... so I think it would be great to have that moment or realization of 'OK, I laughed at that but that was actually not funny'.

TeenHollywood: Were there some things you were uncomfortable with in terms of your character?

Evan: I didn't want to change anything, definitely not.

TeenHollywood: Were most of your lines from the script or did you get to go off and play it a bunch of different ways?

James: I would say there were a few times, I might have jumped off the page a little bit from time to time (laugh). Yeah I would say so.

Evan: [rolls her eyes] What about the dog in my lap and feeding it Chinese food?

James: Oh yeah. There's a lot of stuff. The costuming was my idea. I just thought if I'm going to do this scene, I'm going to do it in a speedo.

TeenHollywood: This kind of edgy movie that centers on teens is almost always turned into the typical cutesy Hollywood teen film. I assume you are really glad that didn't happen here? I understand the director turned down a lot of studios who wanted to take all the edgy stuff out.

Evan: Exactly. Marcos was so good about that. Not only did he not want his name on it but he was like this is not the movie I promised these actors and this isn't the movie they signed up to make and I can't do that to them.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.