BeatBoxBetty Interviews The Girls of Charlie's Angels

CELEBETTY INTERVIEW: THE GIRLS OF CHARLIE'S ANGELS
Written by BeatBoxBetty
November 2000

Did you think that after Hollywood took our beloved TV shows and made flops of them (does "The Avengers" ring a bell?) there just wasn't any hope for the remake of the '70s cult hit Charlie's Angels?

Admit it. Even you thought this puppy was headed straight for video right? Well, your dead wrong.

The film's producer, Drew Barrymore, made damn sure that our beloved babes were in good hands - that of music video wonder kid, McG. And the result is pure girls-kicking-some-major-booty action!

I got to ask the fine stars of "Charlie's Angels" what it was like playing such an indelible part of Americana culture. Here's what Drew and pals (Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu) had to say...

Drew, Cameron and Lucy in Charlie's Angels
Photo © Columbia Tristar

Betty: Congratulations girls, on one kick-ass movie.
All: Right on! [applaud]
Drew: Thank you so very much. What a great way to start an interview!

Betty: And can I tell you how happy I was to see the prison fatigues scene?!
Drew: The "Angels In Chains" homage?
Cameron: Oh yeah..."I'm not a yo-yo!"
Drew: Yeah. McG loved that. He made us aware of the original dialogue and that was just one of those things that we had to pay our respects to. Even though we were saying that this is the year 2000 and these are the new recruits - there were just a few little things that we had to include in the film because they were just too dear to us, ya know?

Betty: Sure. But what does being an Angel mean to you?
Cameron: For me, being an Angel meant taking hold of life, being sexy and making the most out of challenges. At the same time we've learned to accept our feminine qualities and our sexuality and not male bash --- Oddly enough all of that is why I wanted to be Angel.
Drew: Good answer! Yeah, what she said! But these women really love their jobs - and how many people can say that?

Betty: Speaking of loving your job, many celebrities complain about how hard it is to be famous...
Drew: Get over it!
Cameron: That's what she always says to me 'cuz I'm a little uptight sometimes. But it's the good with the bad... hey, it's just the good with the bad.

Drew Barrymore
Photo © Columbia Tristar

Lucy, Drew and Cameron pose for the paparazzi at the Charlie's Angels premiere.

Photo by Christina Radish

Betty: But do the fans get a bit too enthusiastic at times?
Drew: I guess since I've gotten a little older, I've gotten a bit more paranoid. And the funny thing is, sometimes my paranoia turns out to be true, and I AM being followed! And that's really creepy.
Lucy: Especially if you're a woman and you're by yourself driving. You can't really defend yourself. Unless this person's assaulted you, you can't make a formal complaint and have this person arrested. It's crazy.

Betty: But you seem like such a strong person, Lucy. And in this movie, they've got you dressed up in a dominatrix outfit - that's to die for by the way. How do you feel about playing that angle?
Lucy: Well in "Payback" I played a prostitute and when Mel Gibson pulls out...
Cameron: Pulls out? [laughs]
Lucy: Um, in all of the movies that I've been in, there's an undercurrent of absolute strength. In this movie, Alex has both strengths and weaknesses. It depends on how you see it. And you can get pigeonholed into a place that people think you can't pull that off. I hope people will keep their minds open for me.

Betty: Drew, who's your ultimate hero?
Drew: My partner Nancy Juvonen is the ultimate hero to me. She's someone who is what an absolute angel is. These ladies I'm with right now [points to Cameron and Lucy]. These beautiful women inspire me everyday. Cameron taught me how to be a better person - more well balanced. Lucy taught me how you can balance two halves and how to do it. I think there are many women - and men who inspire me.

Betty: I'm curious to know about the training involved for this movie. Cameron, you look like a total natural with this stuff...
Drew: Oh she is.

Betty: Ever done any martial arts before?
Cameron: No. I just love a physical challenge, motha fuckas! We worked out 8 hours a day, five days a week with the master Chen Yen and his team who were dedicated to making us healthy and keeping us strong. It was to replace pulling the trigger with kicks and punches.

Betty: Lucy, you came on late in the development of this picture. Did you have any worries about taking on this role?
Lucy: There was absolutely no convincing. Before the meeting I thought, "They're either gonna get me or they're not" but when I met them we immediately clicked. When I walked out of that room I knew that I met two souls that I completely gelled with. I was amazed that they "got me" - and it was really great. My only concern was how my Ally McBeal schedule was going to work out...
Cameron: Yeah, that and "Why are they touching me like that?" [all laugh].

Lucy Liu
Photo © Columbia Tristar

Cameron Diaz
Photo © Columbia Tristar

Betty: Cameron, can you tell us what you'll be thinking about when you go into the voting booth to pick our next President?
Cameron: Yes. I will be thinking about our rights as women and our environment. We want everyone to vote.
Lucy: We're not saying you have to vote for...
All: GORE!!!
Lucy: But you should just go out and vote.
Cameron: But voting for Gore is the best choice you can make at this time. People don't think that their choice makes a difference.
Drew: They also think they'll always be protected and that's not true.
Lucy: God, we could possibly be really screwed if we don't pay attention and wake up.
Cameron: But the issue is that there is a man out there [BUSH] that's going to take the rights away from women and tap into our natural resources.
Drew: But there are people out there that think "What do you crazy Hollywood girls know?" We just have to vote at this election!

Betty: Okay! I'm going! I'm going!

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