For Jen, Rumor Has It presented the opportunity to work with the legendary Shirley MacLaine, and it is evident that the two women formed a special bond during their time on set. Jen certainly valued the experience of working with someone whom she had always admired, saying, “Shirley is the definition of a firecracker. I’ve worshipped this woman - she is one of my idols, and I still can’t believe that I had this opportunity to work with her. She’s absolutely fantastic in every way.” Indeed, Shirley brought out the best in Jen, as their scenes together were the highlights of the movie.
Also noteworthy is the fact that Shirley reciprocated the praise, citing Jen’s professionalism and emotional maturity. She said of her costar, “I have maternal feelings towards her. Everything had hit, and it was just national news on a level that’s not fair to anybody. Jennifer’s emotional discipline to keep it together was really extraordinary. I don’t know how she did it. She’s remarkably levelheaded about the love she still feels in her heart after having been hurt.” As someone who has been in the business for a long time, Shirley saw Jen as having a unique ability to maintain a level head under pressure, both private and public, and confirmed what we all know to be one of Jen’s cardinal traits.
While promoting Rumor Has it, Jen interviewed Shirley for Interview magazine. Some highlights:
JA: I also kind of feel like the parts you choose sometimes reflect things that are happening in your life at the current moment.
SM: And it’s often something you need to clarify for yourself. That’s a metaphysical act to me. Of course, I don’t think there are any accidents; I don’t think there are any coincidences - I believe in synchronicity. I believe that everything happens for a reason. But everybody wants to know what’s real.
JA: Even some actors and actresses have a hard time making that distinction.
SM: I never have. I remember Ted Griffin asked me one day, “What happens when you get so involved in a character that after six o’clock in the evening you can’t let it go?” Of course, nowadays it’s never six, it’s more like midnight. But I have never had that problem - and this is not a compliment to myself. I just have never had that experience of being so wrapped up in a character that I can’t let her go. Have you?
JA: No, I can’t say that I have. With me, pretty much when they call wrap, you can cut to the smoke coming out of the back of my car. What do think is the difference between those actors - and there are a bunch we could name - who live their parts and don’t shut them down, and then people like you and me, who can walk away at the end of the day?
SM: I think they’re better than us. [Aniston laughs] A lot of people would say -
JA: We’re just phoning it in?
JA: [laughs] How do you think it’s different being a young actress nowadays in Hollywood as opposed to when you were starting out?
SM: There’s a big difference. As you said, in my beginning days we didn’t have to think about promotion like you guys have to now. Today you have to really think about what you’re doing with your life, because it will be used.
JA: Well, the studios used to control the publicity, didn’t they?
SM: They controlled the publicity. I think People magazine changed everything. And tabloid journalism. When I was starting out, we only had Confidential.
JA: I believe that some form of honesty is usually the best road taken, and you keep as much to your heart as you can.
SM: That’s why I decided that I’m just going to live my life in public. I’m going to do my metaphysical search completely in public, and my life will be an open book. There’s still a lot about me that nobody knows, and after a while you get very adept at keeping that part of your life for yourself, which you’ll learn.
JA: I am learning.
Jennifer Aniston, Shirley MacLaine, Rumor Has It
