Interview: LA Times- 2009

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Source: latimes.com


Robin Tunney, 'The Mentalist'


THE SUNDAY CONVERSATION May 17, 2009
Choire Sicha


Robin Tunney costars in "The Mentalist," an extremely big hit for CBS. The season finale is on Tuesday. She has been in many movies, such as "End of Days," "Vertical Limit" and, most important, "The Craft." Fun fact: Her cousin Tom Tunney is the first openly gay alderman in Chicago.


Which kind of season finale can we expect?
You know, the tone of the show changes a bit in the finale! It's more serious. And the exchanges we have are a lot more honest. The show does have a sense of irony because it's written by an Englishman. And a lot of the times we're not saying what we mean. In this episode, there's so much at stake -- there's honest exchanges.


But there's not going to be like a musical number.
No, we're waiting for Season 3! We joke about that because [costar] Simon Baker is an amazing dancer, did you know that? Though Alicia Witt does play piano in the finale!


You've got it all.
Serial killers, music, blind redheads, everything. I think it's a really strong show.


Is it hilarious that the next-season pickup hasn't been announced yet?
You know, in Vegas, I think the odds would be pretty good. And I like myself some Vegas. I think it would be shocking if they didn't. I'm remodeling my bathroom, so if not, I'm going to be in a huge pickle. Because momma bought a $4,000 bathtub.


What, did you buy the place next door and break down a wall?
I'm not that presumptuous! I'm just doing some home improvements. I did a huge mistake of renting a palace in Malibu while it's being done. So whatever they do to my house, it's not going to be as nice as this one is now. I probably should have gotten a shack in Glendale.


Life is short; it's about having nice things now.
Believe me. I couldn't leave town because I had to check on the construction and make sure they weren't just drinking beer. It's been really beautiful. Although I'm not wearing Juicy Couture.


That's very important for your dignity.
The official uniform out here is the straw hat with some feathers on it and the Juicy Couture. I did threaten to get blond extensions.


That'd be foxy.
You can fight crime with blond extensions. There's this hedged reality on television where women are wearing Manolos and kicking down doors? It doesn't suit the character, but it suits the ego of the actor. And I think we've done really well with trying to keep it real. Jeans and flat boots! I get more sleep because of it. I commented to the line producer that I spend less time in the makeup chair than any other woman over 35.

OK!

I also think it was one of the few sort of teen films that basically was about female empowerment and revenge! And it also wasn't as narrow as getting the cool guy, you know what I mean? The fact of the matter is, the much larger audience is of those who felt high school was a pretty traumatizing experience than those who felt it was the best time of their lives. And there's some images in it I'll never forget. I had on a tight white turtleneck in my Catholic schoolgirl outfit -- and there's that too, right, pervy guys love a schoolgirl outfit -- and I was running down an alley and the bra didn't have -- well, the underwire was not powerful. And my breasts were shaking as I was running down an alley. And I thought, "They are going to slow down this film and they are going to run it in the trailer." Slow mo! Breasts going up and down.


What are you going to do with your summer?
This remodeling is the first thing I've been doing. It's funny, my main priority is the show. A smaller part in a movie, I may do that. I just wanted to be sure I haven't run myself ragged because it's a demanding schedule. And I want to keep loving my job. I'm lucky to be on a TV show that works because there's not a lot of movies being made.


Weird, right?
And a lot of them I read, I think: The dialogue isn't as good as my show, and I think, why would I want to do this? I love doing independent movies. You get to play women that aren't just the grieving wife. Those roles are just so dull! It's always been a problem when I get cast as someone straight -- an ingenue or a wife. I don't do it well! I think actors need to identify with the role they're playing. And I just can't identify with that whole at-home-while-the-husband's-out-saving-the-world.


So we'll find you some crazy, murdering lesbian artist roles.
I love that stuff! I was saying on "The Mentalist" when I first got there: Hey, I had arms training! And . . . this year, my body count is high. I said, this is amazing, I've never held a gun in a movie when the character was sober! Usually I have a bottle of pills and booze in me and that's when I get my gun. It's also been interesting to play a cop.


Hmm.
Yeah, because I grew up afraid of cops! Now still when I see one, I feel like I've done something wrong. When you see someone on the side of the road getting cuffed, my sympathies generally lie with the criminal. And now I look at the situation from the cop's point of view. It's a tough job! Being a civil servant and putting your life on the line. It's really brave. I've come around to it.



"I've been acting for so many years and done a lot of different films, and there's 17 million people who watch "The Mentalist" a week. And I'm the girl from "The Craft" still! They replay it over and over on the television. And I think people saw it at a certain point in their life, you know what I mean? And I'm very close to the director, Andrew Fleming, and Neve Campbell is a friend. And I'm wearing the worst wig ever made! And they waxed my hairline every week. So I have a disturbingly large forehead in it. I want to remake "The Craft" with my real hair."