Interview with The Globe
With Eliza Dushku
March 29, 1999
MaxMulvaney: How did you get your start in movies?
Eliza Dushku: When I was 10 years old I went to an open call and tripped and landed a lead roll by Warner Brothers, with Juliette Lewis. That was my first gig and from there came "True Lies" and right after that was "This Boy's Life" with Robert De Niro and Leo DiCaprio. The first movie was called "That Night" I was 10.
Eliza Dushku: I am so happy that everyone is here to chat with me. Thank you for coming.
Bobby_Drake: Do you like working on the show?
Eliza Dushku: Of course, it's amazing. It's a thrill, a rush, it's such an ego boost to believe you can hold your own and everyone responds so well. It makes me feel so good that people are watching what I'm doing every week. It's a lot of hard work and that's the payoff. The fans are so amazing, I went to a concert and people were stoked to see me! It feels so amazing.
PB_Kyle: So do you get a lot of people asking for your autographs while you're doing your shopping and stuff? How do you deal with extreme fans? (You know, the ones who jump out and start licking your shoes and stuff)..
Eliza Dushku: In my every day shopping, I don't usually dress as Faith, I am a bit more conservative, but not too. I am into the tight clothes and leather at times :). I don't really get swamped, but I'll sign. I've even been requested to sign body parts - I've signed someone's arm.
Jasmen666: Hello Eliza. Glad to see you again after the PBP99 and hope to see you soon again. Now to the question: are you going to be regular on Angel series as well as Buffy?
Eliza Dushku: I don't remember exactly who you were, but everyone at that party was such a blast - the people pumped me up to keep going. They were very geniune, that was one of the best nights of being recognized. It was so much fun. On Angel and Buffy, I think I'm going to get back into film instead of signing for either.
angel_phyre: Faith is a cool character! She's a little demented, which is cool. I like her style of dress better than Buffy's, do you really dress like that?
Eliza Dushku: Yes! To a point. I love leather and it's great to be a bad girl at times. But there is a time and place for everything. When I'm with Grandma it's flowers, and when I'm out on the town scoping guys, you know...
BSW33: I'm from the Boston area too, do you miss it back east?
Eliza Dushku: I miss it so much. Boston rocks! My friends and just even the whole attitude on the east coast is much different as I'm sure you know. I represent the east coast!
Scullybugs: Are you going to be making any talk show appearances any time soon? Cuz let me tell you, you are a LOT cooler that those Dawson Creek kids.
Eliza Dushku: (laughs) Thank you. I believe so, yes, in the next month or two. My big fantasy is to be on Howard Stern. I think he made a comment about me. I am talking to my publicist. I love Stern and think I could hold my own with him. That would be ideal.
FaithVamps: Hi!! I think you are the coolest actress (my favorite) and I'm like your biggest fan, but my question is this: What's going to happen with Faith? Is she staying on Buffy for next season? Is she moving to Angel's new show? Is she becoming a vampire? I've heard so many rumors and would love to hear the truth!! Thanks so much!!
Eliza Dushku: You have a great email name! I'm so sorry my lips are sealed. To be honest, I don't even know much. Re: rumors you've heard, they're all fake because I haven't even decided yet. I don't believe I'll be a regular on either show. Being a regular means signing away for 3-5 years. I'm 18 and I have traveling and lots of things to do!
VolcanoFem: Do you listen to heavy metal as Faith does? What kind of music do you like?
Eliza Dushku: Yeah, I listen to heavy metal to a point, I love Metallica, the Beastie Boys, Lauryn Hill. I grew up with 3 brothers, all different tastes, the gamut, a mix of everything. I appreciate a lot of music with the exception of Kenny G!
Trey131: Do you have a boyfriend right now, and do you think that it is different to find someone since you are a star or can you just go to the beach and meet someone?
Eliza Dushku: No, I am quite single right now. God, with a show like "Buffy" you work to 3am. Finding a guy is hard because you don't know why they like you - if they have some freaky thing about Faith or they like me. I am waiting for Prince Charming.
MaxMulvaney: Does a person like me ever have a chance with someone like you?
Eliza Dushku: Of course, I'm just as normal as everyone in these chat rooms. I am an actress and no better than anyone else. I am a very normal person. I fail tests, people say no to me, I get zits!
saiwong: I hear David has to buy his wife stuff whenever he kisses SMG. What did he buy is wife when Faith 'wiggled on top of him' ?
Eliza Dushku: I have never heard anything about this. David and I kept it very tame and it was professional only. He has 10 years on me and it was nothing romantic. I was a little frightened because I met his wife!
slayerette0: Wow you're a great actor (ok I'm sucking up).Ok, who do you think would win in a fight between Faith, Xena,and Batgirl?
Eliza Dushku: I'd say Xena, that girl is buff. I wouldn't fight with her for anything. She rocks! I have to give it up for Xena.
trueblue25: You've worked with Leonardo DiCaprio and James Cameron before...were you ever in the running for Kate's role in Titanic? Would you have liked to been?
Eliza Dushku: No I was never in the running, I believe I was too young. I don't know if I could handle that kind of mass fame right now where you can't walk out your front door. Everyone recognizes you and it's an invasion in your life.
Angel3uffy: What TV shows do you love to watch? Also, what are you favorite movies, and what kind of movies do you enjoy most?
Eliza Dushku: For TV, I just unhooked myself after 5 years of watching "Days of Our Lives" I was a big fan growing up. I love "Ally McBeal" it's cool and smart. I love Conan O'Brien - he's the funniest guy on tv! For Movies: I like a lot of different stuff. I like comedies. Horror sketches me out.
Viper1114: So when you're not working.. or out scoping guys.. .. what do you do in your spare time?
Eliza Dushku: I live with my brother in W. Hollywood and he's my best friend. I have a lot of friends who come out to visit me, I am the tour guide, I'm a big socializer, going to the beach, the pier, the nighlight. I love to sing, my landlord gets a lot of complaints. My favorite thing in the world is to travel, I've been to Asia and Europe and Ireland and everywhere. The last one was Amsterdam.
LevelII: Where is the best area of the world you've ever visited? I enjoyed Amsterdam the best of my travels and am going there next week, have you been there?
Eliza Dushku: I loved Amsterdam, it was definately a great time. I was there with family for new years and it rocked. I loved Australia, the people are great. I was in Ecuador in the jungle and it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Greece was the first trip I've been on. I want to go to Africa, that's the one I really want to do, Safari. I'm a big risk taker.
Jasmen666: Some of the people from the show said that all of you like to do practical jokes. Who is usually a target for them?
Eliza Dushku: Nick Brendan has been a target at times, he gets some tongue twister line, we laugh and screw up his takes. One gloomy day - Sarah and I had a scene in each other's faces, she whispered to me "can you hold my weight if I jump on you?" she jumped on me in the middle of a take and now there are lesbian rumors around. We just did it to lighten up the set. It was funny.
Trey131: Do you ever have conflicts with the people that you work with or do you all get along? What did you think of Sarah Michelle Gellar kissing that girl on Cruel Intentions?
Eliza Dushku: No conflicts, the cast and crew on Buffy is one of the most coolest crews I've worked with. I'm going to miss them all so much. It's a hard show, we have 8 days to do an episode and people are respectful to each other. It's my favorite thing to do, working. It sounds insane, but it's true. I haven't seen Cruel Intentions, I apologized to her for that. I was in Montreal when it came out. No comment yet.
praseuth: Did you study martial art when you were younger?
Eliza Dushku: No. But I grew up with three big brothers. We used to play tackle football. I was a tomboy til age 10, and still am kind of. That was my practice. Tai Bo is so great. I tell you!
NikaSummers: Do you do your own stunts of the show?
Eliza Dushku: Day one I did about 2 punches and I've learned as I go on, from the "Enemies" episode with Angel, we did most of our own stunts, me and David have a sick love for figthing. We don't mind coming home with bruises. I love me personally watching the show and my friends knowing it is me. I always want to do my own stunts.
paranoia6: Is your tattoo real or is it done for the show?
Eliza Dushku: I like to say it's real, but it's a decal, but it's also real.
Dreamslayer: "What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?"
Eliza Dushku: (asks brother Ben) Hanging off the plane on "True Lies" we were 25 stories, plus 50 feet up with a wire as thin as a telephone wire. It took 2 weeks of rehearsal because I walked onto the show with a fear of heights. We'd be stuck up there everyday all day.
Lorryl: What did you think of the Posting Board Party?I wasn't there but was lurking on the message board when you posted.
Eliza Dushku: The posting board party was a blast, it was so much fun. I didn't expect... It happened before the "Bad Girls" episode and I didn't think people would recognize me. We danced and everything. It was great. We donated $6,000 to the Make A Wish Foundation that night. That meant a lot to me.
astety: Will you be doing any conventions?
Eliza Dushku: The publicity is just starting to pick up when I have more time. Season ends April 9, then look out!
LilTree: How is your brother? I spent some time chatting with him at the party..he was very nice!
Eliza Dushku: He's the coolest brother you could ever have, best friend, he plays Buffy - reads lines for me. He moved out here 2 months ago to live with me. All my brothers and my parents are my best friends in the world. I'll do anything for them. My mom is coming out to visit for the first time. My other brother just drove out here from Colorado. We love to be together. We're such a great team all together.
LevelII: Do you ever go into chat rooms in your own free time? If so, do you reveal your identity?
Eliza Dushku: No. I was in one chat room and I don't even know how I got there. It was on AOL. Everyone was talking about porno, then for three days later I got email for porno. I've never put my name in. I just got my computer.
Leah5x5: Where are posting board parties held?
Eliza Dushku: I don't know my way around L.A. enough to know. I think it was on Sunset in a banquet room. We had a band (the band from the Buffy show) "Five Star Mary" they were really cool.
DREAMSLAYER: "Well you have a big fan support on the net do you think in the future you will come on and be the celebrity guest again?"
Eliza Dushku: Yes. As soon as you guys teach me how. I love doing this!
saiwong: Have you got any movies or TV work coming up in the near future after this season of Buffy?
Eliza Dushku: There are a lot of great scripts. I am stearing toward doing a comedy, it's undecided at this point. I don't know if I want to continue on in this business or go to college.
PB_Kyle: Since you're probably going soon, (most chats aren't longer than an hour), any last words or advice to your internet audience?
Eliza Dushku: Peace and love, stay happy, be positive. Know how much I appreaciate the amazing adoration of all the fans. You keep me going.
GlobeHost: Sorry - That was it she had to go back to work - thanks for all your questions, Max. Sorry I couldnt get you a date. The room is open now.
Taken from The Globe