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Kristen Wiig Says Doing An Animated Film Is The Next Best Thing To SNL

kristen-wiig
Leaving a comedy mainstay (and consistent paycheck) like Saturday Night Live might be considered a risk for some, but not for the irrepressible Kristen Wiig, who has stolen our hearts and is never giving them back. Ever since 2011, when Bridesmaids kickstarted her movie career and earned her an Oscar nom, she's been one of Hollywood's most sought-after, becoming more recognizable than her beloved characters (hello, Gilly!) who helped put her on the map. Right now, Wiig is partnering up with Steve Carrell to create our ultimate fantasy comedy dream team for Despicable Me 2, where she plays Lucy, a quirky Anti-Villain League agent who seems to be just as neurotic as Carrell's Gru. So we asked her what it was like to be in a kids movie, and her more, erm, adult plans for this year's most-anticipated comedy, Anchorman 2. (Yes! She spilled!)
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This character has very unique, graceful movements.

“When I saw the movie, she’s very physical and kind of all over the place. I certainly didn’t do all of her moves. But sometimes when you’re recording certain action lines you have to kind of like do all the moves to get into it. So it is a little bit of physicality there. Plus, they’re recording you to get little facial expressions or body movement so it kind of captures and translates into animated stuff. There wasn’t a lot of room for movement.”

Lucy’s a secret agent. Would you be a good secret agent in real life?

“No, I can’t tell a lie. I’d just be like, ‘Hi, I’m spying on you. I’m on a mission. That’s going to be me over there in the car with the binoculars. I would be really bad. And I don’t like guns, so...”

You’ve played characters who are romantically impaired. Where do you fall on the scale?

“Of being romantically impaired? Aren’t we all romantically impaired? I mean in the beginning of any relationship you always feel a little awkward and you’re nervous cause you’re meeting someone for the first time. I don’t know how I would rate myself.”

Talk about the score, since the music’s (from Pharrell) is fantastic.

“I’m one of those people that really pay attention to music in films and the first time I saw this movie, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s so different. It’s Pharrell and it’s modern. The music in the second one I think is so, so good. I think it’s just a smart choice to have him do the music. It kind of sets a different tone for the movie, it’s great. How do you not like Pharrell?”

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Ultimately, it’s a kids’ movie. Are you cool with kids?

“That would be horrible if I was promoting this movie and I said that I hated kids. No, I love kids. All of my best friends have kids and I love, love, love kids.”

Have you reached your wacky peak?

“God, I hope not. It’s a fine line. I don’t know, now that I’m not on SNL, the chance to find those crazy characters won’t come around that much. That was like a weekly thing of being able to be really fearless and find those different voices and people. Actually, doing an animated movie is kind of the next best thing cause you can be big and broad and use different voices where you can’t really do that much in a live-action movie. But I hope I can continue to find more cause I really enjoy it.”

You seem reserved in public, how do you cut loose on the stage?

“I think a lot of people assume that you are the personality that they see you as on screen. You have to kind of separate who you are from it, a little bit. I’m not really reserved in real life. Maybe in a setting like this, maybe a little more so cause I’m talking about myself and I know that you’re writing everything down that I’m saying. So it is a little strange. When I’m with my friends, I’m obviously a little more relaxed. Yeah, it’s funny. I think people just assume that you’re that person. And it goes the other way, too. Like sometimes when I do interviews, people expect me to talk in different voices and things like that, and I’m really just kind of like a normal person.”

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Concerning Anchorman 2: What is it like to come into an already established cast?

“Totally, completely flattering. Said yes before I knew. Anchorman is one of my favorite movies. I love all of those guys. I think it was my first day they were all there in their costumes, cowboy hat and vest and everything else. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m really here and that’s really them!’ I really kind of geeked out for a minute. I couldn’t believe I was there. And to be a part of it, it’s really surreal. I can’t wait to see it and have it come out.”

How crazy do you get to go in the movie?

“The movie’s pretty crazy. It’s like the first one. It’s kind of a little bit all over the place. It’s like, is it reality and what’s going on? I think if you liked the first one, you’ll like this one.”


Photo: Jim Smeal/BEImages

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