Q: I am sure you have been asked this so many times today. Everyone says it's easy to put on weight but it is difficult to take it off. What is your solution?
A: I don't have one. I just don't have one. I just don't have one. Because this was a characterisation. This was a journey that involved a creative challenge. Do you know? It was not a life challenge. I don't have proper answers for you. I can tell you that the first lap around the track, after being completely inactive, killed me. That first lap around the track it did nearly killed me. And I did have to watch what I ate for awhile and be careful about it. That was more about returning to feeling healthy, more than anything.

Q: Do you not feel different as a person when you were bigger?
A: Not psychologically. No. I felt great.

Q: You know what they say about big people are more sensual, sometimes?
A: Sensual. Oh that's true. Right. Right. I've heard about that. The passionate thing. Right. Well I definitely felt voluptuousness. That's for sure. And used that to my advantage wherever possible. That was nice.

Q: What kind of bra were you wearing?
A: I had a good push up bra and we stuck some thingies in there on occasion when it was necessary to maintain a consistent look. Just like trimming your hair, I suppose. Because my weight fluctuated by about five pounds occasionally depending on the rigidity of the schedule. But no. I didn't want that, at all. It seemed like that would be a real disappointment to me, as an actress. I would feel like I had not accomplished what I really, really wanted to in terms of this characterisation being as legitimate as possible.

Q: I am trying to think about any other actress who's put on weight for a part. It's something male actors like Robert DeNiro would do.
A: Toni Colette did, for "Muriel's Wedding"!I met her at the IFP awards a few years ago. And she was a itty bitty and (I) couldn't believe it. I think it's not a thing that women tend to shy away from, making that sort of choice. I don't think that kind of opportunity is available to women. Unfortunately. Come to think of it, I don't think it's available to anyone. Frankly. This was a real gift. As a creative opportunity. Such a richly, beautifully written character. And an incredible story.

Q: Was it difficult to learn an English accent?
A: Was it hard, did you say? I wouldn't say `hard'. It was a process, you know. It was exciting. It was fun. It was something I always wanted to see if I could do. And here was this great opportunity, with this really, really neat lady, who became a dear, dear friend of mine. So, it was more about that...

Q: Did you enjoy your life as a Brit?
A: Yeah. I was a lonely Brit. I bet most Brits had more friends than I did. You know I had a great group of people to go to work with all the time, that's for sure. There was not a lot of time off to be social. But I loved it. I loved my neighbourhood. I went to Mario's Pizza all the time.

Q: Where did you stay?
A: I lived in Kensington. Right across the street from the palace. So every morning, if I was lucky enough to sleep that late, I would hear the horses go by. Look out. It was a great life. It was an incredible experience.

Q: I am kind of surprised that they didn't recognise you at the publishing company you were working at, in cognito, for a couple of weeks? Nobody ever suspected you of being somebody else?
A: Well. There were a couple of sideways glances that I got. And a couple of them were going "You look just like..." But that doesn't make any sense, if you think about it, an American actress working at the desk. And we had a really good back(up) story. I was Bridget Cavendish the sister of Jonathan Cavendish, who was friends with the publishing office. And that this was a situation of nepotism. Or this girl because of that connection, was going going to get a work experience job, for a couple of weeks...

Q: So when you were working in London, you were in a relationship at the time of course, but did you feel single when you lived there and (lead) a single life?
A: No. I didn't have any life at all, beyond the job. It was about the job, do you know? I went there for a specific purpose. And there was so much work to do. So much work that I wanted to do. Do you know? Things I needed to learn about and experience.

Q: Like what?
A: Well, I wanted to know what this character's social references were; and what her cultural references were. I wanted to observe idiosyncrasies and watch how people interact. How they communicate. What daily life is like. Television. I wanted to watch TV.

Q: Did you watch Blind Date and shop at Marks & Spencers?
A: Yes. I shopped at Marks & Spencers. And I bought all of my organic produce at Sainsbury's. And it was amazing. Amazing tomatoes. Organic tomatoes, at Sainsbury's. Really amazing. I made my spinach salad to go with my pizza. And garlic bread. And syrup. Everyday. Loved it. That sort of stuff. And I also wanted to know specifically about this character. And what her daily responsibilities would be like. What her job was like. What her life was like.

Q: Did you learn anything that you could use later on?
A: I now know how to work a Xerox machine. And the metric system.

Q: When you said you lost weight. What's your best tip for people who want to loose a few pounds?
A: Well it was very hard for me to give up the fish and chips because I loved it. And saying, "Oh wait no, if I really, really want to feel a bit better and get back to me, (I) can't have that pizza today." Do you know, that sort of thing.

Q: What did you eat when you were on the diet?
A: I went away for a couple of weeks. And I ate fruit and whey, and I ate salads at lunch, and I ate fish at night. Because I was in a tropical place and the fish was really good, and the fruit was really good, and the salad were really good. So it wasn't like this horrible regimen. And it was a kind of outdoorsie, athletic, get-a-way, so I was very busy all the time. Running around, and hiking, and doing my yoga, and swimming, and things like that. So it was wonderful. It was amazing to see (the) `getting back to you'. When you return to your life-style, you kind of physically reflect your life choices, don't you? And that's what I wanted to do in terms of this character. I wanted her physicality to reflect her life-style. And she drinks. And she smokes. And she doesn't necessarily go-get on the treadmill everyday. (I wanted) to see that because that's what I saw in my mind when I read the book.

Q: What kind of exercise do you like?
A: I like fun exercise. But I need physical exertion; of the sweating kind. The kind where I can stamp out any anxieties or thoughts that don't have a place in my head. I depend on it. It's been part of my life since I was a child. And that's kind of my escape. Do you know? I go for a run. That's my alone time. That's my thinking time. That's where I get it out. Any frustrations, or whatever. It's great.

Q: How many times have you been?
A: It was between fifteen and twenty. And it fluctuated again depending on the rigidity of the schedule.

Q: Bridget has a very clear plan about what she wants her ideal man to be like. What's the ideal man to you? What qualities should he have?
A: I haven't met him yet. I know where to start. But I don't have a list of specifications. I don't have a job application that I carry around.

Q: A form to fill in. A: Exactly. There are qualities; not just an ideal man. This is not just a life quest for me. In the people I admire, there are particular qualities that I admire, and don't admire, I suppose. You gravitate towards those sorts of people, and not others, I suppose. Q: You are a very independent woman. You do your own thing and stuff. Do you find that men are frightened of strong women.
A: I don't know. I don't know. I think it makes it confusing in terms of the opportunities that are available to females now. From the paving of the paths by women in the last forty years: in terms of their holding high profile positions of power, in government and the corporate world. Making contributions professionally all over the place. Visibly, making contributions, being heard. I think that it kind of redefines things for everybody across the board. Here's the ceiling in that world now for women. And here's what you can accomplish over there. And how far are you going to go? Because not only is it a choice anymore, to a degree, but it's a determinant of success. Have you accomplished something over there? Because if not, why not?

Q: Did you attract a different kind of people in your disguise as a British talking Bridget?
A: Probably. She probably scared a few of them away. It was strange. I had a completely new admiration for my parents, who were immigrants, who picked up and left and left everything familiar behind because life called for it. And settled somewhere new, where you can't express who you are properly. This is on paper anyway, the same language that we speak in English cultures and American cultures. And it's not. I felt like so crass and forward and rude, and all these things. I was using the dialect and I was implementing the idiosyncrasies, or trying to communicate properly. And I just felt like I had a hard time expressing. And I have a complete new respect, beyond just `Well, that's brave', for someone who moves cultures that way, who settle in a different culture, and adopts elements of that culture and finds a way to be happy.

Q: Having the best of many worlds. That's just what's exciting about it.

Q: Talking about a different authority; talking about different backgrounds, cultural wise. Do you go back to your two different cultures Norwegian and Swiss?
A: Well I can. Well I can. I don't have a lot of time.I didn't have any money before; to go. And now I that I can buy plane tickets I want to send my parent's home because I don't have the time to go. But I hear that there's is a lot of opportunity to travel with this film. And if this strike does happen and I haven't settled on something to go and do next - because I'm in absolutely no hurry - I'll go to Norway, to a film festival. You bet. I certainly want to go to...

Q: Have you been to Switzerland too?
A: Yes. I did. I made a real effort to go, actually, from England, a couple of Aprils ago. I wanted to see where my dad was from. Where he was born. It was amazing. Took, like, two planes and three trains, and traded trains and took another little train, up into...

Q: Where was this?
A: Clostas I don't say it right. I went to Way up in the mountains in Switerzerland. It was nice. It was gorgeous.

Q: Do you get panicky about being famous, on behalf of your family?
A: No it's just that I feel bad. Because the phone rings. Then they have these obligations suddenly. Then I don't know what to do. And it feels weird. It's a strange phenomenom. And no one should have to pay for it, in any regard, because I decided to be an actress. Do you know what I mean?

Q: Can you talk English with a Norwegian accent too?
A: No. Because I can't hear it. It would take me a minute to figure out...I can hear Swedish. Isn't that so strange? I can hear Swedish. I can hear Danish. From Finland, I can hear. I cannot hear it from Norway. I cannot hear it. I cannot hear a Norwegian accent because it just sounds my Mum.

Q: Does your Mum still have an accent?
A: Oh yes. Very strong. And you have an English accent. You have an English inflection attached to your Swedish. It's hysterical. It's true. It's true. I have a little Californian now attached to my Texan, now. I do. It's amazing that I can't hear it. Because it's just how my mum talks. So I try to emulate my mother. Like I try and tell a story. I can say ???the ellwind??? Ellwind. Oh, are you going to turn the Ellwind on? We always tease her. You know, it's fun. Poor thing. She's so sweet.

Q: Are you forced to eat traditional Swiss and Norwegian food?
A: Fish balls. Do you like fish balls?

Q: Yes. Of course.
A: You see. Me too. I have to say that (they have) really helpful eating habits in Norway. Really helpful. Lots of vegetables. And all fresh produce. I grew up in a house where we had a salad. There was no fried chicken. Oh no no. We had kippers. You know. Which is great because it was part of your window to the world.

Q: are you single at the moment, or are you in a relationship.
A: I am single. I have been for quite a while, actually. I haven't had time to notice it, actually. It doesn't make a difference at all. I haven't been able to notice.

Q: Being single and comparing (you) to Bridget, what do you do when you're alone at home. Do you eat ice cream in bed? Or the kind of things you do when nobody's watching?
A: Well, you know. You can do whatever you want. It's kind of cool. And not have to ask anybody else. Or consider anybody else. And that's nice. Sometimes. You know, just like everything, sometimes it's nice. And sometimes other things are worth the sacrifice of doing whatever you want, whenever you want.

Q: So there's no particular vice that you...
A: I'm happy. I'm perfectly and completely happy. I light the fire, every chance I get. And sit by it. And read. And just play my stereo, new albums, which are the same ones that I have listened to every single day since Christmas, I'm sure.

Q: the only slightly sad thing about Bridget, is that she is a career girl, but she is so obsessed about getting a man. And I just think, get over it. Get on with your life.
A: Well, but that is her particular list of hang-ups. The jury is the same for you, for me, for her, in terms of finding self-acceptance. And you have your list of stuff, do you know? And her list of stuff is inclusive of that. And if you look at the story in the history of her upbringing, her mother really values that. And thinks that is really important and projects that on to her. So that's part of her journey. Differentiating between what has been projected on to her in terms of expectation and what she really wants for herself.

Q: What does your mother project on to you. Do you have anything that you realise `Oh my God. I'm doing like this like my mother'?
A: No. You know, it's so sad. My mum is an angel on earth. And if there's anything about her that I emulate, I am glad of it. Truly. I am really lucky that way. I didn't have that mum who was like `Honey. Wouldn't it be nice if you'd ???sleep around'. She did tell me that I wore a little too much make-up when I was in high school. She was very right. But that's just telling the truth. That's `You're pretty how you are' is where it came from.

Q: She doesn't try to introduce you to eligible men?
A: No. She's not interested in that. I know, I'm really lucky. I don't have a voice in my head that says: `Oh, if only you...', `Wouldn't it be great if you...', `You'd be really pretty if...' There was never any of that negativity. I don't have any recollection of that. I just have the poignant statements that my father made, or that my mother gave as gifts (while we were) growing up. `Whatever you want, you can do it. Whatever you want'

Q: Not like, I (don't) like your hair?
A: No. Never. It was a miracle. Because if you saw some of the bad hair in my life, you wouldn't believe it. Seriously. Nurse Betty hair? I know how to do that. And when it wasn't working, the Cauliflower Bang, as we call it. We used to make jokes about Ayn Rand's `The Fountain Head.' Because it did look like you ran straight into a headstrong wind. Because it didn't have dimension. It was one-dimensional. It was flat and went straight out. And only when you were twenty years did you realise that, you know, it's all around the head. And that you've failed, miserably. Peacock. It goes straight to one side. But I didn't know how to make it work.

Q: Did you do any specific thing during the audition to convince them that you could do this part
A: God. I was as wary as anybody... Not `wary'. Wrong word. Hesitant. That's a better word. I was as, maybe, nervous about it as anyone was, you know? Do we have time? Because I think that there is some work that's needs to be done here in terms of learning and understanding, and transformations in terms of physicality. I don't want to do a caricature of an English person speaking. At least I'd like to try. I don't want to be the one to make the film stink. So we felt the wires out a little bit. It began with: Is it possible that I might relate to the character on a deeper level? Beyond just learning about cultural and social references. An essence!! Do you get who she is? Is there a parallel that is cross-cultural in terms of her life experiences and her challenges and her struggle? And is there a common denominator? So, is this possible? Lots of those conversations. I remember sitting with Barbara Berkley and having her say: "Yes. Okay. Maybe. This could maybe work. It is possible that she not blasphemies this character and this language. It was a process. Because I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to be the one who destroyed this character that I liked so much. And everybody else too.

Q: Do you surf the Internet?
A: The whaty?

Q: The Internet.
A: I thought you said `the inclient ???'. And like `Yes. I do" Why? Yes and No. Yes, I'm on the Internet, supposedly. And `No' I can't always get on the Internet because my computer got a virus recently. But I should soon be up and running with E-mail again.