INTERROGATION: Holly spirit ...

Since your girlie kiss in Crash, and your performance as Billie Jean King in the film of her life, you've had a big lesbian fan base. What do you think of that?

Holly Hunter: I, uh, revel in it. I don't know who my audience is, man. I know they like me in Spain...

Spanish lesbians, or all of Spain?

HH: Spain, just Spain. But other than that, I don't know who my audience is. But I'm grateful for every one of them.

Tell us about your childhood.

HH: I was born in Conyers, Georgia. I have six siblings. My dad worked as a rep for a sporting goods company and we lived on a 250- acre farm with an infinite number of pets - tons of dogs.

What is your earliest memory?

HH: Lazy afternoons sipping tall glasses of ice tea with my mum and her friends. The weather was warm - the kind that would give you heat-induced delirium. Those were lovely days. I still daydream about them, especially now I live in LA.

What was your passion when you were growing up?

HH: I studied ballet for 16 years. I loved the discipline of it. It swept me away into this amazing world. I was driven by the romance of it as a teenager.

And your early career?

HH: My first acting part was as Helen Keller in a fifth-grade production of The Miracle Worker. My first film role was in The Burning and I had one line - 'Hey Todd, over here.'

You and your Oscar-winning husband, Saving Private Ryan cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, split up in 2001 after six years of marriage. What happened?

HH: I don't enjoy talking about my personal life. I will say we were apart for most of our marriage because of work commitments. We tried hard to be together as much as possible, without losing the opportunity to work on quality films. Great jobs are never easy to find.

What is your life philosophy?

HH: You learn what is valuable and that life's not black and white. I think that's a realistic and hopeful way to live. Otherwise, you're living in some kind of dream state and you're going to be disappointed at every turn.

You've made nearly 50 movies. How do you choose roles?

HH: It's hard to do a fantastic movie every time, so you might settle to do a good one, or maybe a good character, or with a good director. Sometimes you have to accept compromises.

Were you nervous about making your Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actress in The Piano?

HH: The Oscar authorities tell all the nominees, 'If you don't finish your speech in 30 seconds, we're going to give you the hook and get you off stage.' They show you a reel of disasters where the speeches went on too long, so you get kinda tortured before the show. It stops you making a fool of yourself.

How do you feel about the success of Anna Paquin, your co-star in The Piano?

HH: I'm very proud of her, but not surprised by her success. Even as a young girl, she was poised and professional. She was delightful to work with. I'm pleased to hear she is going to college, so she will expand her mind and not just rest on her lovely looks.

You've just completed two movies in a row - Levity and Thirteen...

HH: Levity is about a murderer's release from prison and his search for redemption, with Billy Bob Thornton, Morgan Freeman and Kirsten Dunst. Thirteen is a drama about a 13-year-old girl's relationship with her mother as the girl discovers drugs, sex, and crime. They're very different, interesting roles.

You've said you don't have any desire to direct films.

HH: Yes. There's something inappropriate about directing, for me personally. I feel like I was born to act, but many actors are becoming much more flexible about how they make their money. Money isn't the most important thing to me. I enjoy independent movies, which tend to pay less.

It says on the internet you're a distant cousin of Thomas Jefferson.

HH: I'm not related to Thomas Jefferson, as far as I know.

The internet also says you met your Miss Firecracker screenwriter Beth Henley in a lift?

HH: Oh yeah, I met Beth when we were stuck in a lift in Manhattan. But anything could be true. Maybe Beth Henley is a distant cousin of Thomas Jefferson. I have no idea. Let's see what else... I turned down the role of God in Dogma, that's true.

Is it also true you were in a poultry judging contest? Does that help when you go to the supermarket?

HH: It pretty much helps me in every walk of life. There were hens and eggs everywhere and I had to chose the best layers. It was fun.

What is your favourite film of the past year?

HH: Chicago is great. Renee, Richard and Catherine are super and I've admired Queen Latifah since we were in the movie Living Out Loud. I thought the way she belted out those songs as Mama Morton was amazing.

What is one of the weirdest things you've ever done in a movie?

HH: I hung off the front of a car in A Life Less Ordinary. The producers wanted to check the insurance situation and get the stunt people involved, but before they got the go-ahead I said, 'Let's go for it' - and that was it. I suppose it was dangerous, but I like thinking on my feet.

How do people describe you?

HH: Smart, tart-tongued, sensual, feisty, eccentric, petite, guarded... a Southern belle with a bit of abrasiveness who loves to talk. But is that me they're describing or some of the characters I've played? You decide for yourself...

HOLLY'S REALITY CHECK

She's a big Hollywood star, but is Holly Hunter still a farm girl at heart?

Do you ever wear sunglasses inside?

Occasionally if I forget to take them off - but not to hide my identity or anything like that.

Do you do your own housework?

When I have time. Why not?

How much is a pint of milk?

Probably $1 for a pint of whole milk, but I drink soy milk - it's better for you.

How many celebrities do you have on speed dial?

None I guess. I don't think of my friends as celebrities. They are just people, some of whom happen to be in the entertainment business.

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