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a spy caper?)
She was kind of arch.
And I thought I gave a very funny audition doing that, not pulling the punches of that.
Then when I got the script, it was all different and she was much more warm and fuzzy.
And Harriet was spunky but not you know how in the book, Harriet is an oddball?
Shes like Lynda Barry or Fran Lebowitz in child form.
And Rosie ODonnells Golly is also a very, very specific character in the book.
Theyre all oddballs in the book.
And this was sort of like a brighter, sunnier [version].
But when I saw the movie, I was very proud of it.
I have a real fondness for it, and it was a really magical time.
It sounds like you were a big fan of the book originally.Yes, I was.
Theres a lot about the book that just immediately gets your attention when you read it.
It almost doesnt read like a childrens book.
You know what I mean?
Its not a childs world, exactly.
But both things can exist.
And in a way, youd almost rather that.
If you really loved the book, its almost like, dont have a go at be the book.
Do your own thing.
And thats sort of what they did.
I still feel that there may be another version ofHarriet the Spythats really shot in New York.
Because its such a classic, it could be done again and again.
I remember that we stayed in this cool hotel in Toronto.
There were people I knew from another cast, maybe two other casts, in the hotel, too.
It was just a very festive, jolly time.
And I remember being very impressed by all the local Canadian actors.
And she was feeling her oats, but not in an obnoxious way.
It was like everything was taking off for her.
But she was sweet about it.
And I just remember her taking it very seriously.
She and I kind of rediscovered each other on Twitter a few years ago.
She was so sweet and bubbly in the messages, again.
Harriet the Spycame out in 1996, the same year asThe Rosie ODonnell Showdebuted.
Even though it was very different, I thought it worked.
She was just very warm and friendly.
And shes talking to Russell Crowe, and it wasnt his kind of play.
But he did say he thought I was worth the price of admission.
I wish I remembered it better.
I do remember it was very cold and I was in an evening gown.
I had contacted her to be part of some marches and stuff like that.
So we kind of stayed in touch on social media, basically.
Because no one was really in touch in real life for a while.
She alienates her friends and writes such mean things about them.Totally.
Shes sort of a little monster.
Shes still gotta work out things.
Shes assumed a sophistication and maturity that she doesnt have yet.
And thats such a New York-y thing, you know?
Bronwen was like Puck or something.
She was just like the Pied Piper, energetic.
She was the perfect person to direct that movie.
Very much her own person and very creative and authentic and full of life.
I thought all the kid performers were fantastic.
Okay, we need to talk about those tomato sandwiches.The tomato sandwiches!
With mayo?Yeah!
I mean, its hilarious.
But I was the odd kid who liked tomato sandwiches when I was little, too.
