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That makes her the avatar for a frenzied tug-of-war between an evangelical anti-abortion group and pro-choice activists.
The film is also one of the funniest, most audacious American comedies ever made.
Can you believe it has been 25 years sinceCitizen Ruth?
I actually cant believe it, and Im so happy to talk about it.
Just getting together, but as Ive done before, Ill do whatever.
I walked down a street inNebraska; I sat in a bathtub inDownsizing.Hes my family.
We have remained so close.
When you look back at it, where were you in your life and career whenCitizen Ruthfirst came around?
I was at a very lucky time in my career, being afforded lots of opportunities.
I cared deeply, and still do, about human rights.
Now, reflecting back, its almost like its my daughter, like,Yes!
So you were being offered a lot of blockbusters afterJurassic Park?
Yeah, and thats a dicey choice.
Are there any that you regret turning down?
No, but definitely big hits that were good movie-star roles for females.
And a couple of them were wonderful, fun movies.
Im so grateful that youre shedding light on this movie.
I was just talking to the heads of Netflix.
I was like, Guys, where isCitizen Ruth?
How do people find it?I dont know how peopledofind it.
Is it on a streaming service?
I rented it on Apple when I rewatched it a few weeks ago.
Its interesting to hear you reflect on this.
As you mentioned, you got your first Oscar nomination in 1991 forRambling Rose.
In 1993, you had big hits inJurassic ParkandA Perfect World.
But then you didnt appear in another movie untilCitizen Ruththree years later.
It was definitely intentional to turn down several things that were possibilities.
I just didnt want to do the same thing.
And you felt like the success ofJurassic Parkhad afforded you that liberty?
I just wanted it to be equally radically different next.
What was your first interaction with him like?
First I read the script, and it was flawless.
Every line I say in the movie is in the script; its not an ad-libbed movie.
Then we had lunch together to talk about it.
It was a match made in heaven.
He was so inspiring.
It was so clear he was a great filmmaker.
I dont know how you might know it, but youcanknow it somehow.
He understood it so completely.
And then I saw his short film that he made from UCLA grad school calledThe Passion of Martin.
Did he give you a sense at the time of why he thought of you as Ruth Stoops?
I have to give credit.
They were going, Oh my God, I dont know whos going to play this part.
You should read it.
You would love this part.
Who told you that?
I wont say, but two really good friends one specifically.
I was really touched by it because its pretty radical.
So I read it, and I think Miramax had reached out.
I think he felt I was definitely someone who could be boundaryless.
But I dont know that anything would speak to me beingthischaracter, hopefully.
Right, hopefully not.
Thats why it was such an important role for me in my education as an actor.
I think that was a really lucky combination.
If there was a director who was worried about her not being likable, it wouldnt have worked.
If there was an actor who just wanted to play a vicious person, it wouldnt have worked.
Shes dumb, but shes also fried her brain from huffing paint for the last three years.
You just go through the whole journey of what her life is like.
The costume designer, the production designer, the editor we became family because we all loved Ruth together.
Shes this pound-rescue dog.
How many times did you do that?
And then Swoosie Kurtzs expressions!
It made me laugh so hard.
Ive had some of her 16-to-18-year-old friends calling me going, Oh my God, Id never seenCitizen Ruth.
Its everything!Its fun that people who had never seen it are discovering it now.
As an audience, I love it so much.
Im so entertained by it.
At what point did you realize it had developed a cult following?
I dont know that I had, honestly.
Were you disappointed it wasnt a bigger hit?
At that time, Miramax was releasing it.
They had released a film calledPriest, and theCatholic Church went crazy.
An abortion comedy was not the easiest follow-up.
So you think they got cold feet?
I dont know iftheygot cold feet, but it was very controversial.
It was written about and protested at theaters.
I dont know that we expected it to be a blockbuster lets put it that way.
It was critically beloved, and that was awesome.
Film festivals loved it, and my work was very supported.
But in terms of theatergoing audiences, we knew it was going to be tricky.
Thats why I hope it comes into the world now.
Now is the perfect time for this movie.
Oh, they definitely did not capitalize.
They did the opposite of that, for sure.
And for sure it was an intentional choice.
And you think it was about the subject matter more than anything else?
I think weve all learned a lot since then about risk-taking and promises and bullying.
And from the highest level down, it was killed.
Some movies have addressed it in recent years likeNever Rarely Sometimes AlwaysandObvious Child.
I dont think so.
Those movies are examples: In the indie art world, theyre very embraced.
But its not a topic weve seen in a mainstream movie.
Its just really interesting what people have a lot of fear around, and this is an interesting taboo.
you could tackle heroin addiction and a serial killer and sexual assault in the mainstream but not abortion.
Thats why Im particularly proud of it.
That was also a Weinstein demand that Payne eventually dropped.
Do you remember that?
What did you think of that?
Exactly, and that no one even sees her, right?
Theyre so caught up in their own horror and opinions and judgment.
She can just disappear anonymously.
That shot, I think, worked so beautifully, so it became the ending.
But again, I think bullies need to win.
They need to be right.
All of those things were in question.
Thats a concise way of breaking it down.
On a hopefully lighter note, you got to work with Tippi Hedren, who starred inMarniewith your dad.
What was she like?
It was amazing to be with Tippi and talk to her about the connection with Dad.
And Melanie Griffiths first movie was a movie calledSmilewith my dad, so we talked about Melanie.
There were all these wonderful, beautiful connections.
Shes hilarious and has such an amazing activist spirit.
I thought that was a fantastic choice of Alexanders.
She was so fun.
It was an amazing cast.
Yes, whom youd worked with inSmooth Talk, another one of your best performances.
I love that movie.
Also a first-time director, Joyce Chopra.
Mary Kay has remained like family.
It was so great to be with her again.
And of course, my favorite cameo ever was that the mom who Im screaming to inCitizen Ruthwasmy mother.
She had come to visit me and hang out.
It was going to be Mothers Day.
Just the memory of Mom and I getting to say those lines together tickles me.
