Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview With Lisa Kudrow

Aired September 30, 2003 - 11:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow is taking on a very different role in a dark new movie, it's called "Wonderland." She portrays the wife of a porn star John Holmes. The film details his connection to the 1981 Wonderland Avenue Murders in the Hollywood Hills.
The Wonderland Murders combines Hollywood's sleazy ingredients. There's sex, drug, murder, porn. And that make it a natural for the big screen. Lisa Kudrow is joining us from Los Angeles this morning to talk about her new role. Lisa, good morning. A pleasure to have you with us.

LISA KUDROW, ACTRESS: Good morning. Thanks for having me.

KAGAN: We know that actors like to stretch their wings, but this is a pretty big stretch from Phoebe Buffy on "Friends," wacky, fun ditzy -- to the wife of John Holmes, porn star.

KUDROW: Yes. But, you know, Sharon Holmes was pretty straight- laced and had nothing to do with that other part of John's life.

KAGAN: And yet when they come and pitch you this movie that involves a important industry and all those issues and sleaze, why was it attractive for you to take it up?

KUDROW: All I had to do was read the script. That's what was compelling. The way the story was being told. And then this character, I was fascinated that a woman who is disgusted by what her husband does and who he's become -- this drug addict, a shell of a human being. Yet stays -- won't divorce him and won't abandon him. That was interesting to me.

KAGAN: That love aspect. So this is based on true murders that happened in the early '80s in the Hollywood Hills not too far away from where you grew up. Do you remember the murders when they were taking place and being in the press at all? Or were you more concerned with high school graduation and college and that stuff?

KUDROW: I was headed off to college. I mean, honestly, I heard about it and thought, Oh, those druggies in Laurel Canyon. They got murdered and that's what you get.

KAGAN: Let's talk about your other full-time job, and that is wrapping up "Friends." How close are you getting to taping the final episode?

KUDROW: Oh, that's not -- a few months off. KAGAN: With each episode that you tape though, not the tension, the sadness, feelings rise knowing this is the end of a huge chapter of your life?

KUDROW: No. It got to me once. That was good.

KAGAN: When was that?

KUDROW: Couple weeks ago we shot something that it just -- I don't want to spoil anything for anybody.

But -- yes, it was just like a big thing for Phoebe. So that choked me up a little. But for the most part, I'm not thinking about it. I'd be a mess if I did. I wouldn't be able to get through this whole season.

KAGAN: Absolutely. So you're still going work like you have these many years and still working with the same people and still the same relationships.

Just tell me this about that one moment. When we see it, will we go, oh, that was probably the moment that Lisa Kudrow lost it on the set?

KUDROW: No. It wasn't on the set. It was after we shot something. I went back up to my room...

KAGAN: A little private moment.

KUDROW: Fell apart. Jennifer was there. Yes. Just had a little, Wow, this is really over.

KAGAN: But your career clearly is not over. "Wonderland" one of the many movies you've made. Do you think you're going keep it in film or are you looking for television again?

KUDROW: I think I'll focus on film. If there's anything interesting that fits like this did for me then, sure. TV, I think that's a tough thing to do again. It's hard to be a success on TV, I think.

KAGAN: It's hard once let alone people associating you with Phoebe Buffy and try to etch out those new characters on the big screen. We wish you well wrapping up "Friends" and with the new movie and all your projects in the future.

KUDROW: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 30, 2003 - 11:47   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow is taking on a very different role in a dark new movie, it's called "Wonderland." She portrays the wife of a porn star John Holmes. The film details his connection to the 1981 Wonderland Avenue Murders in the Hollywood Hills.
The Wonderland Murders combines Hollywood's sleazy ingredients. There's sex, drug, murder, porn. And that make it a natural for the big screen. Lisa Kudrow is joining us from Los Angeles this morning to talk about her new role. Lisa, good morning. A pleasure to have you with us.

LISA KUDROW, ACTRESS: Good morning. Thanks for having me.

KAGAN: We know that actors like to stretch their wings, but this is a pretty big stretch from Phoebe Buffy on "Friends," wacky, fun ditzy -- to the wife of John Holmes, porn star.

KUDROW: Yes. But, you know, Sharon Holmes was pretty straight- laced and had nothing to do with that other part of John's life.

KAGAN: And yet when they come and pitch you this movie that involves a important industry and all those issues and sleaze, why was it attractive for you to take it up?

KUDROW: All I had to do was read the script. That's what was compelling. The way the story was being told. And then this character, I was fascinated that a woman who is disgusted by what her husband does and who he's become -- this drug addict, a shell of a human being. Yet stays -- won't divorce him and won't abandon him. That was interesting to me.

KAGAN: That love aspect. So this is based on true murders that happened in the early '80s in the Hollywood Hills not too far away from where you grew up. Do you remember the murders when they were taking place and being in the press at all? Or were you more concerned with high school graduation and college and that stuff?

KUDROW: I was headed off to college. I mean, honestly, I heard about it and thought, Oh, those druggies in Laurel Canyon. They got murdered and that's what you get.

KAGAN: Let's talk about your other full-time job, and that is wrapping up "Friends." How close are you getting to taping the final episode?

KUDROW: Oh, that's not -- a few months off. KAGAN: With each episode that you tape though, not the tension, the sadness, feelings rise knowing this is the end of a huge chapter of your life?

KUDROW: No. It got to me once. That was good.

KAGAN: When was that?

KUDROW: Couple weeks ago we shot something that it just -- I don't want to spoil anything for anybody.

But -- yes, it was just like a big thing for Phoebe. So that choked me up a little. But for the most part, I'm not thinking about it. I'd be a mess if I did. I wouldn't be able to get through this whole season.

KAGAN: Absolutely. So you're still going work like you have these many years and still working with the same people and still the same relationships.

Just tell me this about that one moment. When we see it, will we go, oh, that was probably the moment that Lisa Kudrow lost it on the set?

KUDROW: No. It wasn't on the set. It was after we shot something. I went back up to my room...

KAGAN: A little private moment.

KUDROW: Fell apart. Jennifer was there. Yes. Just had a little, Wow, this is really over.

KAGAN: But your career clearly is not over. "Wonderland" one of the many movies you've made. Do you think you're going keep it in film or are you looking for television again?

KUDROW: I think I'll focus on film. If there's anything interesting that fits like this did for me then, sure. TV, I think that's a tough thing to do again. It's hard to be a success on TV, I think.

KAGAN: It's hard once let alone people associating you with Phoebe Buffy and try to etch out those new characters on the big screen. We wish you well wrapping up "Friends" and with the new movie and all your projects in the future.

KUDROW: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com