What can I say about PJ Soles that you don't already know? Hmmmmm... She's really nice? Honestly, it's PJ fuckin' Soles. She's made some of the best movies of all time in an incredible variety of genres. She made one of the greatest musicals (and the movie I love her most for) in Rock 'n' Roll High School, one of the all time best comedies in Stripes, and arguably the most influencial and important horror movies of all time in the original and infinitely superior Halloween.
I contacted Ms. Soles through MySpace and even though she usually doesn't respond to MySpace requests, she was nice enough to email me back and kindly agree to help out our little site. So here are her 23 answers to my 23 questions. Why 23 instead of the usual 20? I sent her three extra because there were a few she might not have been comfortable answering. But what do you know, she answered all of them honestly with the grace and class of a true lady and left me with an even better impression than I already had of her.
1. Of any of the starlets currently starring in film and television, who do you think has the most potential to end up doing porn?
Not that she's a still a starlet, but if Denise Richards wasn't getting alimony and child support from Charlie Sheen, she might consider that avenue, and she would actually be good at it, but then Charlie might want her back.
2. Is Tom Cruise gay?
I know as much as you do. Whatever, everyone is entitled to their private life.
What I do know is that I auditioned with Tom back in the late '70's for some movie that takes place one drunken night in Tijuana (older woman, younger man scenario), he was brilliant. I was married to Dennis Quaid at the time, and Dennis was waiting for me outside in the car, since this particular meeting was oddly held late at night at a private residence. I ran back to the car afterwards shouting, "Oh my God, I just did a scene with your baby brother" - I thought tom looked exactly like Dennis, and he was such a dynamic young actor. There were only two of us actresses up for this role, and jeez, Shelley Long ended up getting it, I don't know how, honestly. Tom and I had great chemistry. I know his vote went for me, but he was just starting out, so he didn't have the power pull then.
3. For all the hoopla surrounding his life, Michael Jackson was never formally found guilty of child molestation. Do you think he really was a pedophile or do you think he really just wanted the platonic companionship of children because he never had a childhood and because he was slightly batshit crazy?
Again, everyone is entitled to their private life, but no one is entitled to underage private parts. I think he was emotionally stunted from the odd life he led as a child performer, and he really wanted to be a kid playing with other kids, but because he was really a man, I think living out his fantasy of being around kids was a turn on for him. Very sad situation all around for him and his fans.
4. If you had the ability to, who would you stop from ever making another movie again? This can be anyone in film or television, whether actor, director, producer or writer.
Michael Moore. The craft of film making shouldn't be used for deceptive purposes. you can get audiences to react emotionally through visual story telling, whether it's drama, comedy, or horror, but don't insult them by showing something that looks like it's real, but through the magic of editing, it has been twisted to pervert the truth.
5. Is Uwe Boll really that bad of a filmmaker?
Uwe Boll is my hero at the moment, if only because he is brilliant enough to use "Unconditional Faith", a song from my favorite band Gotthard's (www.gotthard.com) new album "Need to Believe" for his new film about legendary German boxer Max Schmelling. This movie just might be good, at least during the scenes when Gotthard's song is playing - you need to believe!
6. If you could star on any television show currently on TV, which one would it be?
No question, I would work for free - "The Larry David Show".
7. Did Bill Murray try to get you in the sack? Be honest, he looks like the type.
Bill is very intense and that is sexy, and yes, he tried many times. We were filming on location in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and staying in motels. He was at a different one than I was, but many, many nights he would call me up at 3am, and tell me his driver was waiting outside my lobby to bring me over to his place. I would laugh and tell him I needed my beauty rest. I was married to Dennis at the time, but if I hadn't been, I still would have laughed it off. I knew Bill had a girlfriend Mickey (who he ended up marrying) who never liked me, but she should have, 'cause I had her back.
8. In your opinion, what is your best movie?
Rock and Roll High School is my best movie because I love the characters and the story and the music and the Ramones and the craziness of it. But there are scenes from other films like the kitchen scene in "Stripes" and the bedroom scene in "Halloween" that I am really proud of and happy that they have stood the test of time.
9. Did you attend any of the Ramones’ funerals?
No, I wasn't asked, but because I worked with Rob Zombie in "The Devil's Rejects", I was able to talk to and hug Johnny about a month before he passed away, and I will be forever grateful to Rob for inviting me to his house for that particular party.
10. How many languages could you have a very basic conversation in, right now?
English, haha, and Spanish - yo puedo contestar todos estas preguntas en espanol si usted quieres - and I could stumble through French, mais pas tres bon, voila!
11. What's the first thing you do after you get out of bed in the morning?
I open all the blinds in my house to let in the sunlight, and then I get back into bed for another thirty minutes while I am still sleepy and see what awake dreams cross through my mind. It's my favorite part of the day.
12. Assuming you've had one, what's the most violent physical altercation you've had with someone?
I was filming "Soggy Bottom, USA" in Marshall, Texas with Don Johnson. He and I wrote a song together since my character was a 1930's backwoods songwriter, and I play a few songs in that film, and the producers were open to hear material. We just had a meeting with the director to play our new song, and Don told him how we needed to record it, and how he wanted to do it, and I tried to talk and say a few things that I had an opinion about, but Don kept cutting me off. Let me say that I loved Donny Wayne - he was my costar and I adored him, but as we walked back to our rooms, he pushed me down in the grass by the pool, and he kicked the #*#*#* out of me with his hard cowboy boots, screaming at me the whole time that I should let him do the talking: "Do you understand?" He walked away, and I lay on the grass for a long time wondering what I did wrong. I was so bruised and hurt, but I was okay. The next day on set Don smiled and acted like nothing had happened. I was stunned. We shot a horseback riding scene together, which wasn't easy to do with aching ribs. Well, I've never told that story before, but it happened, and you asked.
13. You're in an angry, angry mood. What music do you listen to?
I'm not an angry mood person - I get sad and deeply hurt, but to get over any mood that I can't easily shake, I honestly put on one of my daughter's demo CD's - I love her soothing voice, her music, and her lyrics are so beautiful, like poetry - and yes, she's my daughter, but I would listen to her even if she wasn't. She has a college band called "Nouveau" (they have been on a summer break: myspace.com/nouveaumusic) and she's also working with her boyfriend composer John Corlis as "Jo Nash" (myspace.com/jonashmusic). Since we're talking music here, I can't leave out my boyfriend's band, "Uncle Tom" - they have some of the most original songs you'll ever hear: myspace.com/uncletom (he's had some problems with the site - make sure you hear his stuff and not someone who's put their tunes over his - weird) For the last year I have been writing lyrics for country tunes with my boyfriend Rob Best and my daughter's boyfriend John Corlis - stay tuned.
14. You're about to start production on your dream movie. Who would your dream director and dream co-star be?
I'll dream realistically - I like my dreams to have a chance at coming true. Jason Reitman would be my choice for a director. I think he improved the Ivan Reitman genes, thanks to his mother. I'll take Bill Paxton as a co-star - he can go way beyond "Big Love".
15. Which of your movies, if any, are you totally ashamed of and wish the world would forget about?
All films serve some purpose, whether they are even just examples of what not to do, but I can't really say I regret anything I have ever been in. Every experience has made me who I am today.
16. How often do you go to the gym/work out?
I walk every day. Ewww, too many germs at the gym. I swim every day in the summer, too. I used to box at the Hollywood YMCA, but that was another lifetime.
17. Who do think is the most attractive person in Hollywood right now, male or female?
Jack Nicholson.
18. Is Harrison Ford still attractive?
Never was to me, but he has that boyish grin.......still.
19. You've come into a ton of money, I'm talking millions of dollars, and you've decided to make a movie using just people you are friends with, behind and infront of the camera. Name three people you would definitely use. Keep in mind that you're making this movie for fun, not to make a blockbuster.
Screenwriter Matt Russell, producers Pennie Orcutt and Tony Masi, and I know you said three, but we've got money to spend, so for music Robert Best, Johnny Corlis and Ashley Holm.
20. Would you personally kill a puppy if it would add five more years to your life? How about an old and sickly dog?
Not a chance, and not a chance.
21. Who was more fun on the set, Goldie Hawn or Eileen Brennan? I love Eileen Brennan.
Both of them were very serious on set, especially Goldie since she was the producer as well. Craig T. Nelson was great fun! His girlfriend took pictures when we shot all our scenes together - it was a bit surreal.
22. It's 1966 and you're 16 years old again. Who does a 16 year old PJ Soles think is the dreamiest man in the world?
This is the truth, I swear: Henry Kissinger. I wanted to marry him. I was an odd teenager, not Riff Randell at all.
23. Who was the first boy you ever kissed?
Tom McKeon in Oakland, New Jersey in the woods by a river while it snowed.
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