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American Morning
Estella Warren Shines in "Planet of the Apes"
Aired July 25, 2001 - 10:47 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.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He talked about it before the campaign, during the campaign and now after the campaign. Senator Joe Lieberman is holding the entertainment industry responsible for making its rating system work. The senator is holding hearings to look at effectiveness of rating and to question what TV, movie and recording industry executives are doing to bolster the system.
Meanwhile, the Recording Industry Association of America is taking action to help better publicize parental advisory labels on music. The initiative, which was announced Tuesday, will include a Web site, ParentalGuide.org and a series of radio and public service announcements by such heavyweights as Quincy Jones.
The word in the Hollywood jungle is that moviegoers are already going ape over "Planet of the Apes." One of the film's stars, Estella Warren, began her professional career just six years ago as a model. The big difference between warren and the many other model-turned- actors is the immediate success that she's realized. This weekend, her star-turning performance as Dana in "Planet of the Apes" debuts across the country.
Lori Blackman chatted with this "Showbiz Today" star of tomorrow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LORI BLACKMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Many successful models have attempted acting careers, but few have succeeded as quickly as Estella Warren. She has landed five movie roles in one year, one of which is the highly-anticipated "Planet of the Apes," where you play Dana, the female human. So, I have to ask, did acting come naturally to you?
ESTELLA WARREN, ACTRESS: Yes, it did. I think so.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "PLANET OF THE APES")
MARK WAHLBERG, ACTOR: It's over. There's no help coming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKMAN: When they discussed making this movie, every name actress in the industry wanted this role, and Tim Burton said, "I don't want a name for this movie, I want a what's her name -- I want to introduce and create a star." WARREN: I was in shock when I got the role. I was like, "oh, my God." I was sitting at that table with Mark Wahlberg and Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Roth and Tim Burton, and it was like, "Hi, I'm Estella."
Then I got to use my kind of athletic background -- I was a synchronized swimmer for 10 years in Canada -- to kind of portray her physicality. So, she was running and jumping and swimming and horseback riding, and I did some of my own stunts.
BLACKMAN: You have, in the last few months, shied away from doing salacious, sexy covers of magazines.
WARREN: Yes, I realize why I got the parts quickly in Hollywood. I know that there is a certain aesthetic that Hollywood likes. Those kind of roles or those kind of publicity photo shoots isn't something that I feel I am receiving anything back from, and I kind of already did as a model. So, I might be taking a step back in my mind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN: You're having a bad season and you're throwing me out of your live?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Don't blow this. Not over her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKMAN: Was "Driven" the first feature film you were cast in?
WARREN: No, the first one was in "Perfume," which was an all improv film; all improv, that comes out in December, I think. And the second one I shot was "Tangled," which is like a love triangle, a drama. I shot that in Canada. That was fun because I am Canadian.
BLACKMAN: And then you have "Down & Under" as well.
WARREN: Yes, I just came back from Australia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "PLANET OF THE APES")
WAHLBERG: How the hell did these monkeys get like this?
WARREN: What other way would they be?
WAHLBERG: They'd be begging me for a treat right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN: I love the work. I love being in front of the camera and I love working with actors and directors and creating something. It's -- for me, it's like learning every day.
BLACKMAN (voice-over): Lori Blackman, CNN entertainment news, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OKWU: Wonder why she wasn't cast as a name? Go figure. Join us in one hour, when the legendary Neil Diamond gets all jazzed up about his new album. That's at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on "Showbiz Today Reports." In New York, I'm Michael Okwu.
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