What is it like to interview an actress immersed in promoting her new film when the Hollywood strike categorically prohibits any promotional activity? Surprisingly not that complicated. At least not when the interviewee is part of pop culture thanks to films like Out of Wave (raise your hand if someone dresses up as Cher Horowitz at a costume party) and is the Hollywood bastion of veganism. Alicia Silverstone (San Francisco, 47 years old) welcomes us via video call without a drop of makeup as she moves through the room on an improvised virtual path, not without funny confessions. “It wasn’t easy to sleep last night. The walls are made of paper and those in the next room had a great time,” he says. On September 29, he premiered “Reptiles,” in which he shares the lead role with Benicio del Toro, with whom he collaborated in 1997’s “Excess of Baggage.” Their chemistry has not deteriorated one bit, which is reflected both in the film and in the words of the director Grant Singer, who has assured that “they bring out the best in each other”, which has given rise to rumors of a possible relationship.
Benicio del Toro and Alicia Silverstone in Reptiles. Photo: DANIEL MCFADDEN/NETFLIX
What was it like reuniting with a partner on this shoot?
It was exciting to work with Benicio del Toro again because I never thought something like this would happen again. It was an incredible experience – we love working together! Although I may have to speak in the singular, right? I love working with him. We have a very interesting history as we have worked together for 26 years. It was an exciting reunion.
Have you found your love for acting again? There was a moment when he became disillusioned with the profession.
There came a point where acting became something other than what it originally was; I became famous and things got tense. But when I changed agents in my thirties, my perspective on work changed. When we got a script, he asked me if I liked it. “Let’s stop things you don’t love. “I don’t care if you don’t work for three years,” he said. It made me see things differently, it changed the way I choose what I do, and that’s where the fun and magic of acting came back.
Aren’t you tired of being questioned every time you mention that you’re vegan?
An interesting question. I think since I wrote The Kind Diet, I can just tell people that if they want to know more, they should read it. I used to spend a lot of energy convincing others and getting into arguments, but over time I measure my struggles. The funny thing is that you sit at a table surrounded by 10 people and each of them starts justifying and defending themselves as if you were a judge. But I haven’t even opened my mouth yet!
If it’s not easy to sit at a table among friends without having to explain yourself, I can’t imagine what happens when dating… Are you one of those vegans who refuse to date meat eaters?
For this reason I will not exclude a man. If you are a hunter or refuse to give up meat, it will never work, but if you are open to listening, tell me you would like to try what it is like to give up meat, or go with me me to a vegan restaurant Maybe there is room for something else. .
What’s it like to be a ’90s style icon without being a fashion victim thanks to Fuera de Onda?
I love it when fashion editors or people on the street comment on this topic. When the film came out I had no fashion sense at all. My first flirtation with trends was when I had a French boyfriend who was much older than me. By the way: the look I’m wearing in the Cryin’ video [de Aerosmith]When he jumped off the bridge, it was his. I don’t know how I got this job, but when I was eight years old, I was the girl who brought flowers to the bride at a Yves Saint Laurent show in San Francisco. I missed an opportunity there because I could have done more in that world, but it wasn’t something that interested me. I thought it was something very materialistic. My fashion sense eventually developed through attending a Christian Siriano show. He dressed me in a way that made me feel like a woman, something that had never happened to me before, and I saw the beauty in it. Watching the parade was like visiting an art exhibition. Now I understand the beauty and art of fashion, but I still have a lot of problems with the materials used and of course I am against fast fashion. Everything I wear is either second-hand or sustainable. There are so many wonderful brands making eco-friendly clothing these days that I feel like there’s no excuse for it. Although I appreciate how you feel when you wear something you love, I will never follow trends and will only wear fashion that empowers me.
Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz in Out of Wave. Photo: PARAMOUNT / EVERETT COLLECTION / CORDON PRESS
Let’s go back to Aerosmith music videos. In “Crazy,” you and Liv Tyler play two groupies, a now-controversial figure that reinforces the idea that women follow musicians because of their looks rather than their work.
But that’s always happened, right? This also happens with actors and actresses. In fact, it’s something men do all the time. If I had to say how many obscene things have been said to me… For example, when a man tells me that he has or had a poster in which I appear. But he was 12 years old! The analysis of the male gaze seems unimportant to me compared to what is happening in the world full of lies. What makes me feel safe is the truth.
How did you learn to deal with fame? If he did it, of course…
I have to stop stopping every time they ask me for a photo because that’s why I’m always late. I feel like fame has always been a part of my life. I won’t deny that I’ve had moments where it was more uncomfortable and I didn’t cope well with it at all, but I’m no longer in that phase. Now everything is very manageable and I’m grateful that people love my work, read my books and watch my films.
I feel like it took you more to find your voice as a person than as an actress. When did you achieve this?
Totally true! What helped me find myself was food. I couldn’t look in the mirror and feel like I was a good person because even though I claimed to love animals, I was responsible for their suffering by eating meat. When I decided to act accordingly, everything took a turn. I changed spiritually, I felt like I was floating and filled with the energy that comes from learning to say no, which is very difficult for someone as complacent as me. In short, animals saved me. I no longer need allergy shots, asthma inhalers or antibiotics.
His book The Parent Scene [acerca de cómo ha criado a su hijo Bear, de 12 años, con quien comparte cama] caused some controversy. Does criticism bother you?
I don’t care about you at all. I feel very safe because all decisions affecting my son were made very carefully. The book contains all sorts of medical and scientific data to back up my words. I am very confident in all the decisions I make as a mother and as a citizen.
He has lived in the same house since he was 19. Very loyal or anti-star?
I think both. I remember Joel Schumacher trying to get George Clooney to teach me how to be a star. “Do you know what we’re going to do? Let’s sit and chat. “How are you?” he said to me as he sat next to me… I fell in love with my house because it looked like the one in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and every time I think about moving , the idea comes to my mind How much money would it cost me to leave. To a place he loved as much as this. If I met someone and had to move, I can’t imagine how I would do it, unless that person lives on the beach… In any case, they have to live on the beach. Or in Paris. Or in Amsterdam!
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Liv Tyler: Why the actress who was destined to be a star, who refused to be a “second-class citizen” in Hollywood, disappeared