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Rose McGowen
Interview - Movie: Ready to Rumble
by Chauncé Hayden
Rose McGowan, 24, is considered by many to be one of Hollywood's most outspoken
and untamed talents. Yeah she's stunning to look at. But what I like most
about her is that if you ask a straight question she'll give you a straight
answer. She doesn't pull punches and she doesn't take herself too seriously
either. And if you rub her the wrong way she'll let you know. That's the appeal
to McGowan who for the past year has been engaged to rock star Marilyn Manson.
Immortalized for her head-turning completely backless dress at the MTV Music Awards 2 years ago (some things are hard to forget) McGowan has been busy proving that she's much more then just another wild Hollywood newcomer with more attitude then talent.
Recently, the 5'1", 98 pound actress has shown what she's made of as Neve Campbell's bitchy pal in "Scream" and the prom queen who asphyxiates one of her perfect friends with candy in "Jawbreaker."
One of six children and raised in the "Children of God" cult in Italy, McGowan spent her childhood traveling throughout Europe. However, she returned to the U.S. in order to attend high school. But it was a chance trip to Los Angeles that resulted in her being cast in the film "The Doom Generation." Her performance in the dark and stylish road movie earned her a nomination for "Best Newcomer" at the 1996 Independent Spirit Awards. Other films include "Going All the Way," Louis & Clark & George," "Nowhere," and the short film "Seed."
This week McGowan once again shines on the silver screen in "Get Ready to Rumble" with David Arquette.
Chauncé Hayden: Before we get started is there anything that you don't
want to talk about?
Rose
McGowan: Well I'll let you know if something comes up. 
Let's start off with "Ready To Rumble." Was it strange playing David Arquette's love interest after playing his sister in "Scream?"
I have to say that it was very strange playing his love interest after playing his sister.
Why? Was Courtney Cox (Arquette's wife) on the set making sure the romance ended when the day ended?
She was there but Courtney is great! It's not like it's a movie about a relationship or anything. It's not like we had any sex scenes or anything like that. I mean it's a PG13 film.
"Ready To Rumble" is about pro wrestling is it not?
Well it's more about two guys who are delusional. They think they're Knights of the Round Table and Jimmy "The King" is their favorite wrestler and they're going to go and restore him to his rightful throne. That's the basic premise. It's just a really funny film. It's good old slap stick humor.
Do you prefer doing comedy over being crushed to death by a garage door?
Well I'm an actress so I can do all sorts of things.
But
isn't there one genre that you prefer over the other?
I think I prefer to do drama only because I'm a little bored with doing comedy right now. I mean comedy is light and fluffy and that's why I do it. But it's like eating candy. If you eat too much of it after a while you want a steak.
I'm assuming you get offered a lot of parts. What goes into the decision process when you finally decide on what film you're going to do?
Does it suck or does it not suck? Sometimes it's really as easy as that. I mean I haven't been acting that long and it's strange because I've become pretty well known very quickly. But I haven't worked long enough to have the long list of credits behind me. Do you know what I mean? So I kind of get judged on higher expectations than I really should at this point. I can't really fulfill the expectations people have of me. But don't worry everyone, I'll get there! I promise!
An actress having fame without the credentials to support it has got to be a weird dynamic to live with.
It's
a very weird dynamic. I can't think of any other industry that... (Pause)
If I said if I was a dentist people would be saying things like, "Oh
yeah? Who's teeth have you filled? Have you done root canals?" So when
you say, "I say that I'm an actor... but?" I'm immediately put on
the defense with people. I find that with many interviewers and even just
people on the street. Even though I do get a lot of great feedback from people
I still get people who like to put me on the ropes right away. "Oh yeah,
well you haven't done enough dramas!" Hey, I'm 24 years old for God sakes!
Give me some time. Do you know what I'm saying? Just cut me some slack everybody.
I'm trying! 
Do you still have to audition or do you just get parts based on your name?
It depends. "Ready to Rumble" was offered to me. Some things are and some things aren't. It's like that with really almost anybody. I mean there are things that I certainly have to fight hard for and things that aren't such a fight.
Is there any part that you fought for recently but didn't get?
No. Well? No, to be honest.
You don't sound sure of yourself.
Well maybe I just didn't want to do it that much. You go on certain auditions and you meet people but... I mean it's not that often that you try for something that you really, really love. I mean there was one part in particular that I really loved and I was very close to being cast in, but looking back and seeing how the entire movie turned out, I'm perfectly fine with not doing it. I mean I always feel that I'm going to wind up doing exactly what I'm suppose to be doing anyway. That's just how the universe works.
So you believe in fate I take it.
I've had a strong viewing of it thus far. So in the face of that, yeah.
I
read where you're quoted as saying, "If I was back in the Salem witch
hunting days I would of been burned at the steak." So are you saying
that you're a witch?
(Laughs) I think that was just my sense of humor that day! I'm a spiritual person but it's not like I'm a practicing witch or anything. God knows! But I think I've always been the odd ball or the person that everything is blamed on in school.
But
you were always innocent of course. 
Right! I never actually did anything! I was just always the outcast or the black sheep. So that's really what I meant by that.
So what's this about you hating fish?
I hate fish! I will always hate fish! I hate them as we speak! That's all I have to say about fish.
No chance of seeing you at a Sushi bar anytime soon?
Actually,
I have the misfortune of having friends who like sushi damit! So I have to
go. But when I'm there I get those little green beans that they give you for
free with salt on them as an appetizer. I have 3 bowls of them and that's
my dinner. It's really tragic. I'll go to Matsu Hisa which is like the most
expensive Sushi restaurant in LA and I'll only eat free beans. How lovely.
Did you go to the Academy Awards this year?
Hell no! I don't go to things that I'm not really involved in. Although, I like eating Dorito's watching it at home in sweat pants. It's fun to pick on people or root for people like anybody else.
Do you care if you ever win an Academy Award? Is that a dream?
I will! I will! Mark my words. I absolutely will.
Is your ultimate dream to stand in front all of your peers and read down a mile long list of everyone you ever worked with?
No, my dream is to have a role that would be so substantial that it earned me an Oscar. That's really my dream.
You don't need me to tell you that's not an easy dream to fulfill considering the competition in Hollywood these days among women actors.
I
guess it's always been that way. A guy who's known to about 2 people in Hollywood
would get offered 
something
where I'll have to audition for it. And it's just based on the fact that he's
a guy. That happens a lot. And you just have to know that. It's very frustrating
and stupid but I'm not going to sit here and go off about it because it's
kind of cliche. But yes, as a women you do have to work harder in Hollywood.
There's a lot less roles to choose from. If you're a white male there's going
to be a lot more work because there's a lot more parts to chose from. There
just are. Generally there's one or two girls in a movie. So just by the ratio
of what roles are out there it's kind of tough from that aspect. But again
I believe we end up doing exactly what we're supposed to be doing in life.
I mean I don't think I'll be auditioning against Brad Pitt for the same role
anytime soon.
Never say never.
Maybe! Now that would be kind of funny!
Award
show fashions have become almost bigger then the awards show themselves. Not
surprisingly, it was your backless dress at the 1998 MTV Video Awards that
seemed to start the show more skin craze.
Yeah,
that was really funny! But then again I have a really sick sense of humor.
I think things like
that are really funny. I love pulling off pranks. That was my idea of a red
carpet prank.
The picture of you walking down the red carpet with your bare ass showing still shows up in magazines.
Yeah I know! I'll be sitting at home and not feeling particularly brash or ballsy and I'll see a picture of me in that dress in a magazine and I'll go, "Oh God, what was I thinking!" But most of the time I think it's pretty funny.
At this years Grammy's Jennifer Lopez tried to out do you by showing more skin then has ever been seen at a awards show. What did you think of her fashion choice?
I thought it was a really pretty dress. That's a different situation. I think she looked great.
I read a quote where you said, "If you were ever with a girl sexually, Jennifer Lopez is the one you would pick." Is that true?
Oh God did I say that! Well, I guess I did. Actually, I don't like her taste in men. So now I probably wouldn't want her sexually.
So you're not a big fan of Puff Daddy?
Gross! Disgusting!
Why do you dislike Puffy so much?
I'm just a big fan of intelligence. That's my main thing. If someone doesn't have intelligence and humor then I'm not going to get along with you. And Puffy apparently doesn't have either. Who knows? I don't really care. But I do think Jennifer Lopez is very beautiful.
How would you define your taste in women?
I like women who look like women. I read an interview with Jennifer [Lopez] where she said "I'm 5'6" and people say that I'm a full figured women." To me that's just a woman. I just basically think she's pretty hot! Us girls with curves have to stick together. Listen to me, I'm like a size 0 (laughs)!
Yeah, what do you know about curves?
Hey,
I got the T and the A! What are you going to do! I have what you call "Production
Value!" I
have little stick legs but the front and the back sticks out so what are you
going to do?
At this point in your career what do you have more of, friends or enemies?
You know what, there's a really great line in the new Oasis album, where [Noel Gallagher] says something about being more distant from his family but all his enemies know his name. I thought that was a little bit apropo. But I'm pretty savvy at this point and I can pretty much spot a rat anywhere. Are there lots of rats out there to be found? Yes, but I try not to let them into my life. I'm what you would call the guard dog at the gate keeping all the assholes out.
That leads me to my next question. Corey Feldman seems to have a major problem with you and your significant other Marilyn Manson. It wasn't that long ago that both you and Feldman had it out on the Howard Stern Show.
To be honest that was so tragic because I had flown in and hadn't slept all night and all of a sudden I'm blind sided by Corey Feldman. And I was basically just trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about.
You looked stunned by his anger toward's you both.
The whole thing was surreal. I mean I was so tired I was practically hallucinating. I just didn't feel I was on my toes that day. I mean I was just sitting there on the Howard Stern Show listening to this guy yell and scream about us and the whole time I'm thinking, "What is he talking about?" And to be honest Chauncé, I still don't know what he was talking about.
How do you feel about Corey Feldman today?
I would say he's not a real big figure in my life.
Okay,
here's the million dollar question. You've been wearing Marilyn Manson's engagement
ring for a year. 
When
are the two of you going to tie the knot?
We're working on it. I'm a bit bad on being organized. I have a hard time planning things. For instance I was supposed to have an emergency root canal one year ago and I just had it 2 weeks ago. That gives you an idea of my planning skills. I hate committing to any sort of date. But once I get over that everything will be fine.
Last question. If you could write your own epitaph what would it say?
Oh
dear....(long pause) That's too hard for a girl who hasn't gotten to eat her
take out yet! By the way, that's not the epitaph I want!
Starchives -
Rose McGowen Interview - Jawbreaker Interview by Chauncé Hayden
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