With exactly one more week to go until Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 opens in cinemas around the globe, we have now reached our penultimate interview with the film’s main cast. So far we had Thomas Haden Church (Sandman), Bryce Dallas Howard (Gwen Stacy),  James Franco (Harry Osborn) and Topher Grace (Venom), and we’re following those up with Kirsten Dunst today.

The American actress celebrated her cinematic breakthrough at the tender age of eleven when she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in Interview with a Vampire. She has since starred in a wide variety of successful and acclaimed movies such as The Virgin Suicides, Crazy/Beautiful, Mona Lisa Smile and, most recently, Marie Antoinette. Dunst reprises her lead role as Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker’s girlfriend, in Spider-Man 3.

Why do you think the Spider-Man films appeal to so many movie fans?

Even my girlfriends who don’t like big movies or action movies say their favorite movie is Spider-Man. I think that is because the film has a heart, thanks to Sam Raimi (director). Sam loves Spider-Man, so he does it so honestly. He knows he has a huge responsibility toward everyone that sees this film.  Before getting involved in this film, I fell in love with this character and the way it was written.  I knew it would be something special with Sam directing and Tobey Maguire, who had just come off Wonder Boys and Cider House Rules, playing the role of Peter Parker.

How is the ever evolving romance between Mary Jane and Peter?

In this one it looks like the two characters are finally getting married, but nothing runs smoothly in the Spider-Man world! In the first film it was their first time in a serious relationship. Then they had time off and then they got back together and then they had more time off and then they really committed. This is for real now. Even though the action and special effects are important, Sam Raimi knows the heart of the movie is the relationship between Peter and Mary Jane.

What happens to Mary Jane in Spider-Man 3?

Mary Jane is a young girl and always searching; which I like. She has a strength to her even though in the first movie she was weak. In the second film it was about finding out what she loves and not being afraid go for what she loves - even though she’s terrified. That ending was an open ending, which I liked because it was an ending of hope. Now in the third film she has her career going well and she’s living her dream.  But the confidence and happiness she finds is only from her work and that’s not the best way to live. In this film we break her down and it’s really about Mary Jane becoming a woman and finding out what means most to her in her life.

What do you think of her struggle as a career woman?

She loves what she does and puts all her passion into performing.  But she’s only putting all her efforts into her career because she doesn’t have the support that she needs from Peter.

Can you relate to that passion in your own career?

Of course I can relate to Mary Jane. Why do you think I played her? Why do you think Sam picked me? She’s a girl searching to be a woman and I’ve told that story in many beautiful ways; I’ve done it in Marie Antoinette, in Elizabethtown and in Virgin Suicides. I’ve done it in Spider-Man 3 and I have no idea how many more movies I’ll do it in before I figure out what I’m searching for. But Mary Jane loves what she does and puts all her passion into performing, so it is definitely a part of me too.

In this role, how important was the hair, makeup and costume for you?
 
It’s the fabric of the person.  You look at a person walking down the street and you can understand who they are and what they’re into by how they look. So you use hair, makeup and clothes to tell the story. I felt we finally got it all right in this last film, from the hair color to the makeup to clothes.  It was creating a look that was vintage; that looked like a girl who dresses professionally and is ready for auditions but can’t afford designer clothing so she goes to the vintage store to put that look together.

How did you feel in the film’s opulent opening scene as Mary Jane is singing on stage in a glamorous gown?

The film’s costume designer James Acheson designed that dress.  It was my first day of shooting.  I had to walk down the stairs on that stage, not being able to look down at the stairs, wearing very high heels and a long dress and at the same time performing and lip synching to my own voice! It was a big challenge!  But it was great to see MJ in her element, doing what she loves.  And it gives the audience the picture that everything is roses for her and Peter.

What do like most about Mary Jane?

I think she is a woman of much strength to be with someone like Peter. It’s nice they love each other so much that they’re willing to work on it and try and be together.  But it’s a crazy situation when the person you are with may die any day and is always busy saving the world.  So she put herself in a situation that is very difficult and they both just hope their love is strong enough.
 
What does the Spider-Man franchise mean to you?

I remember I was in Germany doing a film and I met Tobey and read for the movie. I wanted it really badly and knew it was the right thing for me in my life at that time. Because I put so much energy into wanting it and because it was coming from a very pure place; it’s changed my life. I have so many opportunities because of this film and I’m so proud to be in a film that has a very good heart behind it. So I’ve definitely grown with the franchise and I have cherished it in my life.

Spider-Man 3 opens May 1 in Germany, and May 4 in the US and UK.

Be sure to check back at the X-Realms for our review of Spider-Man 3 tomorrow afternoon!

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Posted by Tai in Interviews, Movies, Spider-Man • Add to del.icio.us Add to Digg