Full Article Text
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MOVIES
Actress Thandie Newton says -half seriously -that
she doesn't really know Will Smith, even though
they both star in "The Pursuit of Happyness," the
true story of a semi-homeless man who becomes a
millionaire stockbroker that opens Friday.
"To work opposite Will in this way, I knew
it was special, even though part of me was
pretty bummed out," says Newton about
the drama that showcases a new side to the
famously likable megastar. Smith's perfor
mance as Chris Gardner is sober, subtle and
was reportedly a labor of love. Newton co
stars as Linda, the wife who abandons Gard
ner -and their child, played by Smith's
real-life son, Jaden Smith -when times are
tough. Newton and Smith's scenes together
are not the easiest things to watch.
"How come I get to work with Will and
we shout at each other every day?" Newton
says, smiling. "I arrive on set and everyone
is like, 'Oh, this is going to be so sad .... ' "
It was that intensity that leads her feel she
doesn't know her co-star as well as those
who worked with him in action comedies or
romantic comedies .
.. At the end of the day, when we've been
horrible to each other, it was very hard to
then just be sweet and nice, because we had
to channel so much s-to do it. We never
got to know each other as who we are. He
is Chris Gardner as far as I'm concerned .
Will's a completely lovely guy, but I didn't
get to know that. I sacrificed that in
order to give him what he need-
ed. I really felt my job was to give
Wlli and give the story what
it needed. It had to be pretty
rough.
"That's my gift to it and to
him, although I wish 1 could
have been in 'Hitch!'"
Elegant and funny, the 34-
year-old Newton is on a roll,
th~ to "Happyness" and co
starring in last year's Best Picture win-
ner, "Crash" (in which she had one of the
most memorable scenes, when her charac
rer was saved from a buming cal' wreck by
a cop played by Matt Dillon). She docs have
a lighter side (highlighted in two upcoming
comedies. induding one with E:ddie M ur
pby). and the British-born Newton is poised
and poHle-except when given a bad cup of
tea, as she receive' mid-interview,
"Ooob, that is vile!" she laughs good
naturedly . "Such awful tea'"
Newton was worried people might have
the same violent reaction to Linda in "Hap
pyness," a mother who leaves behind her
son with a man who ha~ no source of in
come. She was (ietelIDine d to create "cracks where people can feel compassion, as op
posed to judgment."
Capturing the worn-down look of a
woman working double shifts and facing a
husband who can't feed himself, much less
his family; was made easier by the fact that
Newton is a mother herself (her daughters
are now 6 and 2 years old).
While making the movie, "I was al
ready very, very thin, because I'd
been nursing my child for 15
months. And when 1 nurse, I lose
weight, which is just me,". says
Newton. "It was good to be
looking kind of strung-out. No
makeup, except for dark shad
ows under my eyes. 1 didn't do
anything with my hair. And I had
a mean mouth."
The result is that the glamorous
star of "Mission: Impossible II" and
"The Truth About Charlie" truly looks like
a woman beaten down by life. Newton
who came to attention in serious fare in
cluding "Jefferson in Paris" and "Be
loved" -was leery of doing press for the
film, worried that everyone would see
her character as "the bad guy." Yet the
chance to work with Smith -even if they
didn't get to bond -was simply too good to
pass up.
"Whatever he touches does turn to
gold," says Newton. "So to be around
him when he's stripping down that 'Will
ness' we all know and love and expect and
showing every dimension of this man, was
wonderful." •
'"' :;;
D
E
1:;
Q) o
,:,
'" u
C
:J
Vl •
MOVIES
Actress Thandie Newton says -half seriously -that
she doesn't really know Will Smith, even though
they both star in "The Pursuit of Happyness," the
true story of a semi-homeless man who becomes a
millionaire stockbroker that opens Friday.
"To work opposite Will in this way, I knew
it was special, even though part of me was
pretty bummed out," says Newton about
the drama that showcases a new side to the
famously likable megastar. Smith's perfor
mance as Chris Gardner is sober, subtle and
was reportedly a labor of love. Newton co
stars as Linda, the wife who abandons Gard
ner -and their child, played by Smith's
real-life son, Jaden Smith -when times are
tough. Newton and Smith's scenes together
are not the easiest things to watch.
"How come I get to work with Will and
we shout at each other every day?" Newton
says, smiling. "I arrive on set and everyone
is like, 'Oh, this is going to be so sad .... ' "
It was that intensity that leads her feel she
doesn't know her co-star as well as those
who worked with him in action comedies or
romantic comedies .
.. At the end of the day, when we've been
horrible to each other, it was very hard to
then just be sweet and nice, because we had
to channel so much s-to do it. We never
got to know each other as who we are. He
is Chris Gardner as far as I'm concerned .
Will's a completely lovely guy, but I didn't
get to know that. I sacrificed that in
order to give him what he need-
ed. I really felt my job was to give
Wlli and give the story what
it needed. It had to be pretty
rough.
"That's my gift to it and to
him, although I wish 1 could
have been in 'Hitch!'"
Elegant and funny, the 34-
year-old Newton is on a roll,
th~ to "Happyness" and co
starring in last year's Best Picture win-
ner, "Crash" (in which she had one of the
most memorable scenes, when her charac
rer was saved from a buming cal' wreck by
a cop played by Matt Dillon). She docs have
a lighter side (highlighted in two upcoming
comedies. induding one with E:ddie M ur
pby). and the British-born Newton is poised
and poHle-except when given a bad cup of
tea, as she receive' mid-interview,
"Ooob, that is vile!" she laughs good
naturedly . "Such awful tea'"
Newton was worried people might have
the same violent reaction to Linda in "Hap
pyness," a mother who leaves behind her
son with a man who ha~ no source of in
come. She was (ietelIDine d to create "cracks where people can feel compassion, as op
posed to judgment."
Capturing the worn-down look of a
woman working double shifts and facing a
husband who can't feed himself, much less
his family; was made easier by the fact that
Newton is a mother herself (her daughters
are now 6 and 2 years old).
While making the movie, "I was al
ready very, very thin, because I'd
been nursing my child for 15
months. And when 1 nurse, I lose
weight, which is just me,". says
Newton. "It was good to be
looking kind of strung-out. No
makeup, except for dark shad
ows under my eyes. 1 didn't do
anything with my hair. And I had
a mean mouth."
The result is that the glamorous
star of "Mission: Impossible II" and
"The Truth About Charlie" truly looks like
a woman beaten down by life. Newton
who came to attention in serious fare in
cluding "Jefferson in Paris" and "Be
loved" -was leery of doing press for the
film, worried that everyone would see
her character as "the bad guy." Yet the
chance to work with Smith -even if they
didn't get to bond -was simply too good to
pass up.
"Whatever he touches does turn to
gold," says Newton. "So to be around
him when he's stripping down that 'Will
ness' we all know and love and expect and
showing every dimension of this man, was
wonderful." •