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Thats the way to true love.
While I wouldnt exactly callMichaela masterpiece, Ive always had a soft spot for it.
Its a strange, ambling little movie, shot through with Ephrons signature wit.
(At one point, a straight-faced Travolta explains that he invented waiting in line.)
Watching it in 2019 when the general cultural vibe is cynical fisting feels like doing soft drugs.
you might ask, looking around your apartment, wondering if you have accidentally died.
Does this entire movie … hinge on a tabloid kingpins love for a small dog?
Andie MacDowell is a big part of whyMichaelworks.
In one scene, she sings a Newman song about loving pie to a table full of men.
Do you remember being cast in this movie?Yes!
For one thing, I was a fan of Nora Ephron, so that was a huge bonus.
I loved the script and thought it was magical.
I thought it was so clever, and I love romantic comedies.
I was cast pretty early on I went in for the audition and sang for Nora.
I dont really consider myself a singer, but I was very brave.
I think that was what solidified the audition.
I remember her laughing at me.
So that was a good sign.
What did you sing?I think I made up a song, on the spot.
Thats really, truly how I got the job.
Id work, and then Id go home and not think about working for three months.
Id just be a mother.
I wouldnt read a script; Id just focus on my kids.
Then I knew itd be time to get a job, so Id call my agent.
Id say, Start sending me some scripts.
I was probably 36, 37.
What do you remember about meeting John Travolta?Hes a huge person.
You dont miss him; he fills up a room and takes up a lot of space.
Hes very generous and kind.
He had his own cook, and would offer to feed you, which was always a nice bonus.
Hes got a very special energy around him.
Hes not really pure.
That sounds like something hed have thrown himself into, just to do a great job.
He is that kind of actor.
What was Nora like to work with?
Meryl has said shewas intimidating.I was a little intimidated.
That sort of thing.
At that period of time, women were fighting so hard to be accepted as equal.
Theyd wear suits and act like men so that be taken seriously.
She had to let go of some of her feminine side.
I think in her real life she allowed that, but at work she was tough.
Did you get the feeling it was misunderstood?I dont know why people would criticize it.
I dont know if people felt like she needed to be picked on at that time?
That was baffling to me.
I dont see anything wrong with the movie.
I dont understand why people can be so cruel and so harsh.
I guess Id have to rewatch it with somebody whos technically more educated than I am.
But I dont understand why they tortured her that way.
It seems like a classic case of 90s sexism.
I wasnt hanging out with her enough to know if she was upset.
Im sad I cant have that conversation with her now.
Unfortunately, I lost connection with so many people because of that isolation.
I think if Id lived in New York, it wouldve been different.
What made you leave Montana?I knew my marriage [to Paul Qualley] was struggling.
And we were so isolated.
We were way out in the middle of nowhere.
And I was lonely, honestly.
I was extremely lonely, because I felt like Id lost a connection with my husband.
And I was scared.
So I did it mostly out of fear of not knowing what the future held.
I moved to North Carolina, where Id not be so isolated.
I doubt that I had an issue with that … its not something Im uncomfortable with.
Even though I love women!
Sometimes its just nice to have male attention.
I was probably ecstatic and happy to be surrounded by that energy.
I dont thinkthe dancewas in there originally.
That was really magical.
I remember John flying his plane over set it was a jet, excuse me.
Do you remember the lyrics to the pie song?I can sing the pie song.
But Im not gonna do it!
But I can do it.
Ive had people ask me to sing the pie song.
But Im not gonna sit here on the phone and sing the pie song.
But I promise you: I can.
And you indulge and sing?
[Sings]Pie, pie, me oh my.
I can do the whole thing.
Nothin tastes sweet, wet, salty and dry … Apple!
Minced and wet bottom!
Come to your place every day if youve got em.
Pie, me oh my, I love pie!
See?[Laughs.]
That was delightful.Oh, my gosh.
Thank god she didnt force me to do that.
I like to be innocent the imperfection of just getting up there and doing it.
I actually recorded it, which I remember vividly.
The first recording is the one they ended up using.
Theres something really innocent in my voice.
I kept trying to do better, and it just got worse.
The innocence and the purity was what made it work.
She wasnt supposed to be a singer; it was only a dream.
Where does that come from?Theres an innate part of me that is that.
Im very in touch with it and I know how to use it.
But humans are very complex.
I have other parts.
Its just about convincing people you’re free to do other things.
When you do one thing really well, they typecast you and recast you.
Its easy to get recast.
Its breaking out of that thats hard.
For people to see you in another way.
People are much more complex than two hours.
Do you feel like you did break out of it?Oh yeah.
Especially now.Now I play a variety of roles.
Do I feel like Ive touched every part of myself?
Id have to be working a whole lot to be able to do that.
I have a lot more inside of me that I havent exposed.
Whats stopping you?Its just hard at my age.
Most movies are made about characters in their thirties, for women.
Its easy to work in your thirties.
When you get to 60, theyre few and far between and much smaller.
Usually in the background.
To get a little lighter: Your curly hair has always been iconic, never more so than inMichael.
Its a great mask, for curly, dry hair.
I put oil on my hair all the time.
When Im not working, I get oil and protein packs.
I dont know if youre around people all the time and have to look good I dont.
I go to yoga and I hike.
I even went out the other night and was like, Im tired of having my hair down.
I put oil in it, put it in a bun, and went out.
I am the illegitimate daughter of Charlie Chaplin.
]Isnt that weird?
Why is that a thing?I dont know!
It was in a South American newspaper.
I found the clipping again the other day, on my computer.
I dont know how the hell that happened.
But I wondered if shed ever seen it.
If she looked at me and went, Oh my god, are you related to me?
I should have asked.
I would be asking questions.
The idea appeals to me, I have to say.
What questions?I would inquire as to why they feel they are an angel, and what happened.
Have you ever seen anything else supernatural?
A ghost?Okay!
My dad saw a ghost.
When he was a teenager.
And Id never believe in ghosts, except my dad is the last person whod say something like that.
I think there are some ghosts in my house.
My daughters are ecstatic about this idea.
Because Im not the kind of person whos normally too ghost-y.
But Ive seen some ghosts in my present house.
Who have you seen?A man.
Hes not that tall, really broad, and I saw him and then he just disappeared.
I know that sounds crazy.
And theres also a dog.[Laughs.]
So they made their presence known to me.
Were you scared?No, no.
Hes got really good energy.
Im convinced hes here to help me.
We were convinced there were ghosts there.
Oh, yeah.Okay, the fact that you say, Oh, yeah?
I have to ask:Will you ever come back to Twitter?[Cackles.
]I didnt delete it!
I dont know how.
I have been back and looked, I have to admit.
Ive actually liked a few things, but havent said anything.
I think for me, Im much more comfortable not participating right now.
I dont know what the future will hold, but its been a negative trap for me.
Its been very bad energy.
Now Im baffled by the whole situation.
Even though there have been positive parts of it.
Right now Im focusing on Instagram, which is a gigantic job.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
