Julia Stiles, who recently co-starred with Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile, is a student at Columbia University, and is currently in London rehearsing David Mamet's Oleanna. In her latest film, The Prince and Me (opening April 2) she plays Paige Morgan, a college student who finds fairy-tale true love with a Danish prince in disguise at the University of Wisconsin.
Recess: There have been a lot of stories about royalty merging with commoners. What makes this one special?
Stiles: Initially, what's interesting is the circumstances. Underneath that it's really just a love story about people who bond outside of their circumstances.... Their circumstances actually pull them apart. The fact that she doesn't know he's a prince means they fall in love for different reasons.
How is Paige's college experience similar to, or different, from your own?
The University of Wisconsin is a very different school than Columbia. Columbia feels like it's a bunch of kids living in New York City taking classes-- it's less of a campus environment. Whereas Eddie [co-star Luke Mably] is having to deal with a messy roommate, I had to deal with rats in my building....
Do you think your college life is different because of who you are?
I think that my college experience is different not because I'm a celebrity, but because I've already been working outside of school, and I have a career that I'm devoted to. I'm lucky that I don't have to be searching for what I want to do after I graduate.
If you could date a prince in real life, who would it be? And would you want to?
It's kind of daunting.... I just can't even imagine what we would talk about, but you never know. Who would I date? You know, I think I would date the rock star Prince, actually, because it'd be more fun. You wouldn't have to worry about people ironing your newspapers before you had your tea.
Why do you often end up in romantic comedy type roles? Is it of your own volition, or are those the scripts you're typically sent?
I see a lot of my roles as different, but I can only speak from my perspective. I think it's very easy to be pigeonholed with a repetition of what was successful.... I'm learning that things sometimes end up different than I expect; I have to keep that in mind when I'm choosing what I'm going to do in the future.
Do you feel pressure to be a role model for younger girls and women? Does this affect how you carry yourself?
I think of a role model not as a perfect person, but as someone who's honest about themselves. I don't even really choose to think of myself as a role model, but still, I don't think that means I have to change my behavior and be perfect.
Do you identify as a feminist? What do you think of feminism in Mona Lisa Smile?
I have a different definition of feminism than a lot of people. [It includes] respect for women, equality, respecting differences.... It's hard to understand why my character in Mona Lisa Smile decided not to listen to Julia Roberts, not go to school, get married.... [To play her] I had to stop thinking about abstract ideas, [and realize] that this woman was in love with her husband, and that's just as strong a feminine choice as any other.
Are there any co-stars that you'd want to work with, or anyone that you've had a crush on?
Are you kidding me? Sure... but if I say who it's embarrassing; then he knows I have a crush on him! Well, I went to see Havana Nights.... [Star Diego Luna] is so painfully handsome, I had to look away!
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