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Film quotes pose as questions. Film stars try to cope. In the crosshairs this month: Vera Farmiga
You talkin’ to me?
Yes I am! I’m in the last stages of pregnancy, which is when you try to fill your time up with as many distractions as possible. The irony is that I’m now at a point in my pregnancy where I can’t tell this person what I need anymore. She tells me what she needs. She’s talkin’ to me!
Do you feel lucky punk?
There is so much luck in this industry but there are always bizarro opportunities presenting themselves to me. Up In The Air awards time was crazy, and then immediately thereafter I discovered I was pregnant and directed my first film, Higher Ground, a tiny low-budget film about a woman grappling with her Christian faith. That was huge. I did it during my second trimester of pregnancy, which was great because I felt invincible.
You talk the talk. Do you walk the walk?
I didn’t speak English until I was six. My parents were from the Ukraine and I grew up in a Ukrainian community. My grandparents made sure that we grew up with a deep appreciation for our heritage.
You either surf or you fight…
I don’t intimidate easily. That’s just a quality I possess. I stand my ground. On Higher Ground, there was another director attached, we weren’t gelling, I tried to remove myself from the project, someone said, “Why don’t you direct it yourself?” I don’t know if I’ll ever do it again, though.
What’s the last thing you do remember?
Well, 2010 was intense. I say that every year but 2010 was an epic year for me – awards season, directing, making Source Code, being pregnant. I don’t remember half of it but it was definitely challenging!
Ever had that feeling where you’re not sure if you’re awake or still dreaming?
I love contradiction in the women that I play. Like in Henry’s Crime, my character is one part fragility, one part strength; one part drama, one part comedienne. She reminded me of the madcap heroines from the ’30s, who could be as sexy as they were silly.
I am the woman that you don’t have to worry about.
People always say to me, “How can you say there aren’t any great roles for women when you’re an example of executing great roles for women?” It is a contradiction because personally I have found great roles, but it’s not like I have millions of scripts to choose from. I’m really zen about finding work.
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