She may be one of television's most beautiful and highly paid actresses but Friends star Courteney Cox Arquette admits to the same hang-ups as the rest of us: body shape, man trouble, kareoke cringes. Here, she welcomes Charlotte Moore into her Hollywood home for a girlie chat over a cup of tea...
Arriving at Courteney Cox Arquette's home just off Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles is a bit like coming to the end of a Yellow Brick Road. Two days before the interview, her publicist's assistant had called me to give me her address- and strict instructions not to tell anyone (not even my Editor) the information that she is about to give me. I am told to tell the taxi driver that I am going to see someone called Alleta Kriack (Courteney's PA), should he ask. So, when I finally get there and the three metre high gates to the driveway whirr silently open, it's hard to believe that this pretty, rather than palatial, house is truly the home of one of the highest paid TV stars ($1 million per episode of Friends is the latest rumour) of all time.
"Hi", gushes enthusiastic Alleta, the doorbell barely rung out. "Courteney's actually sick. Would you like to come in though? Can I get you something to drink?" The news that the interview might be cancelled doesn't make me feel that well either. "But when she realised that you'd come all the way from England to meet her, she wanted to go through with it anyway", Alleta rushes on, ushering me speedily through the opulent entrance hall, through her office -laptops busy twinkling- and into a huge kitchen, where Courteney's cook is chopping mountains of challots, next to a bubbling vat of stock. Are Mr. and Mrs. Cox Arquette entertaining tonight?
A couple of minutes later, Courteney wanders in. Inevitably, she looks tiny, even in her bulky, sick person's Nike shell suit. "Hi", she says, smiling. "I'd like to kiss you but, y'know, I wouldn't want you to catch my cold". Now I know Hollywood stars have their tricks, but she really does (shiny suit aside) look fabulous. Even though she's having a duvet day and isn't wearing any make-up to speak of, her eyes literally shine out, and her hair is long, ridiculously glossy and looks expertly blunt cut.
"Do you have tea?", she smiles. "How long do we have? You must have tea". Instantly, I like her. Not just because of the tea, but because, despite the awesome surroundings in which we are sitting -a Thai style garden complete with stone Buddha water feature- she genuinely seems to want us both to enjoy this interview.
Curled up in the deep, weather worn cushions of her trendy garden sofa, she heaves a happy sigh and mutters, "It's so relaxing here. I don't know why I'm selling it". She and her husband, actor David Arquette, have another spectacular house, down the road in Malibu. Not that this place doesn't feel lived in. A tribute to maximalist living, there are paintings, photographs and objects everywhere -all slightly kooky and unique in style; most notably in the downstairs loo (I can't resist the excuse to go), where the walls are adorned with Ken (as in Barbie) dolls, seven plastic dwarves, an odd looking Snow White and a range of Mickey Mouses.
But, despite the comfort of her wealth, the last couple of years haven't been great for the 38-year-old star of the three Scream movies. In June 2001, she found she was expecting a baby. She'd talked openly to the press about how much she'd longed for children. When, two weeks later, she was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA with stomach pains, she was devastated when she miscarried. Later that year, her 71-year-old father, who'd been diagnosed with liver cancer, died, closely followed by two of her beloved dogs, and then there was another miscarriage of January this year (so I take it that was true then...). "It was horrible being watched by the press while it was going on. One magazine photographer even followed me while I was holding my dog. I was like 'Come on, this really is private", she says, scratching her forehead in disbelief.
Not that any of this has made her any less open about her personal life. Although she's agreed to do a rare interview for Marie Claire as part of her support for Save the Children's 'One World, One Wish' campaign, it's her marriage to David, her soirees with the Friends cast and the benefits of therapy that really had those eyes glinting.
Why did you get involved in Save the Children's 'One World, One Wish' campaign?
I'm approached by charities every day, so I try to focus on ones that are about kids -ones that touch me in some way. My father died of cancer and David's mother died of breast cancer, so cancer research is very important to me. But it seemed amazing to be able to help underprivileged kids around the world by wearing a campaign T-shirt.
Is is hard to stay in touch with the difficulties ordinary women face when you're an actress and a celebrity?
I don't think so. I have many of the same problems as other women. Relationships, love and work -whether it's about wanting to get a movie as a job as a waitress- all these things worry us in the same way.
Why were you so drawn to part of Monica in Friends?
Originally, there was interest in me playing Rachel, but I really wanted to play Monica for some reason. I don't know whether it was a good choice or a bad choice, but looking back I think it was because I identified with her neurosis. Being neurotic is a part of myself that I don't like, and I think playing Monica has helped me deal with that.
Because she makes being neurotic seem so funny?
Yes. But Monica has superseded any neurotic behaviour that I ever had.
What's been the best thing for you personally about doing Friends?
There are so many great things... But really it's the friendships that are the best thing.
So you're all actually friends?
Yes, we truly are. We all say it. Today, when I wasn't feeling well, the first person I spoke to this morning was Jennifer (Aniston).
Do you see each other a lot when you're not working?
Yes, we don't work on Mondays, so Sunday night is our Saturday night and they might come over to our house at the beach in Malibu. David and I are pretty social and we have this room in our house called the 'dining lounge' -it's got tons of games and a karaoke machine. It's really fun.
What's your karaoke tune?
Usually it's Waterfalls by TLC. That's the one I have most confidence in, anyway. I'm not a singer by any means, but I don't mind making a fool of myself.
Which movie did you enjoy making most?
Scream, because that's when I met David.
What were your first impressions of him?
I first met him when the whole cast had dinner at (Scream director) Wes Craven's house one night for the kick-off party. I thought he was just this cute, young, cocky guy. I didn't think I was flirting, but I found myself being very sarcastic with him.
So there was definately something going on?
Something? Yes! He was like, 'Why are you being so sarcastic? What happened to "Hi, how are you?"' I think he was a little wary of me. Then, the next time we met, it was at a script read-through in Calafornia and he sat next to me. Neither of us enjoy doing read-throughs and we were both extremely nervous -reading out loud reminds me of third grade. Anyway, we drove back to LA together that night and I thought 'Wow -this guy is too much'. He was crazy that night. He's changed now, but I was really attracted to him because he was real kooky. And then we worked together and that was it.
Has getting married improved your life?
I love being married, because I think if you marry the right person for you, it's so freeing. Now, I don't spend any time being jealous or wondering whether it's 'out of sight, out of mind'. I know it's right. David goes away all the time doing movies so we have a lot of freedom. But I have no anxieties about that. We are living together but can be totally seperate, and I think that is the most important thing. If you can't have that in a relationship, then I don't want to be in it. I like my seperateness.
What was the high point of your wedding day?
I didn't enjoy the wedding day as much as the night before, at the party after the rehersal. We got married in San Francisco -all my friends and family were from out of town, so it was really fun. My friends and I referred to that night as the Alabama Oscars, because I'm from Alabama and there were all these crazy speeches. I definitely drank too much. The next day, I was a little hung-over and nervous, and we didn't get married till six. But it was a beautiful day. The best part was walking up the aisle with my father. I cried so much, it was so emotional and very special because it was just before he found out he had cancer. It was wonderful, but very intense -what with David and my dad crying and me with a tissue to wipe my eyes, which I had to stick between my boobs.
Did your families get on straightaway?
Yes, David's mum had already passed away, but David's dad was there and I love all my brothers and sisters-in-law.
With all the attention from the press that you and David have, was it odd having such a personal day made so public?
Yes, it was weird, but our wedding planner really protected us from all of that, so I felt very comfortable and free. Although we can all complain about it, you have to accept that it's part of the territory.
It must have been difficult when your miscarriage was reported.
Yes, it was awful. When you think you're going to the hospital to see doctors, you believe that it will be a secret -it's about your family and children after all. Then when someone comes up to you in the hospital and says "Hello", or "Congratulations!" or whatever, you believe that they mean it. But then when they call up the National Enquirer straightaway and tell them that you were in a hospital and describe what you are wearing, you just can't believe that they would do that. I was like 'Surely everything that's not happy should be kept private'.
Did the cast of Friends rally round you at that time?
Yes. They were very supportive of me when I was going through all that personal stuff.
The other thing that has been widely reported is that you and David went to therapy before you were married?
Yes, we did. We wouldn't be married if we hadn't. Well, maybe we would. [Smiles.]
Why did you go?
I'd been smoking for a long time and me, David and his brother Alexis all decided to quit smoking on the 23 September. The next day, David asked me to marry him. Which I thought was very unfair!
Did you have any idea he was going to ask you to marry him?
No idea. My brother had just opened a patio furniture shop in Florida and we were celebrating that there. But David had organised it so that all my family were there too and for Alexis to film it all. I thought to myself- this is a bit extravagant for a shop opening, but hey. Then my whole family said, 'Let's take a walk'. We're a big family and we have fun together, but we never walk! Then, all of a sudden, David drops to one knee, suddenly fireworks are going off and Alexis is filming us. It was all such a shock that I really wanted to smoke. I was so hyped up, I didn't know what to do.
And then...
And then we got home and because we couldn't smoke, we fought like cats and dogs. We hadn't been together that long. OK, we'd been dating for two to three years, but we weren't commited -we were still dating other people. He'd only moved in with me in the July, and in September he asked me to marry him.
So you went to therapy because...
We were fighting a lot. I think we replaced the cigarettes with fighting. Not that cigarettes themselves are good, but when you smoke, you go into another room, sit down, breathe in and take time out. It can stifle your feelings. I was just so used to stifling all my feelings by smoking. But when I gave up, I couldn't hold it in any more. I started to loose my temper and express myself in ways I'd never done before. I was more emotional. David and I had to learn ways to cope with all these emotions.
What did your therapist tell you?
He told us that we weren't ready to get married. But we were willing to put the work in -which we did. And so, six months later, I don't remember what our therapist said then, but we just knew we were ready to get married.
Why do you think you were driven to acting when you were younger?
I wasn't driven to acting particularly, I was driven to make money. My parents were divorced and I wanted things my mum couldn't afford, so I knew I would have to work for them. I think my drive was to be independent and not have to ask anyone for anything. Money has enabled me to do that.
What were your dreams when you were growing up in Alabama?
I always thought I'd be a salesperson -my dad always told me that I'd make a really good salesperson. I didn't think acting was an option at all, because none of my family had ever been involved with the profession.
Describe Courteney the teenager.
After my parents were divorced, I was a bit of a rebel, but I never got into drugs or anything. I stood up for what I believed in. From the age of twelve, I replaced sports with a part-time job. I wanted money and although I liked exercising, I didn't enjoy exercising as a group.
Do you have a gym in your house now?
Yes, I have this great machine that is a bit like a stairmaster without having to work so hard. Cardiovascular exercise really raises my endorphins and helps me to relax.
You've never been interested in yoga?
I used to do it, but it's way too still for me. My mind begins to wander. I need to be active.
How did you respond when people said you're too thin?
I think that those people were right. At a certain point in my life, I was too thin. I was 103lb or 105lb. Although I was too thin at the time all I could think was, 'What is the problem with everyone? I like the way I look'. Since then, I've gained weight- I'm probably 10lb heavier. I don't know whether people are still saying it about me, but if they are it's because they definitely don't have anything else to talk about. I'm not too thin now. No one can say that. They can say that my wrists are too thin, but I'm sorry, that's just my bone structure. They were probably right at one point, but not now.
Does being on TV make you anxious about your size?
No, I was just more hyper and anxious back then. I wasn't trying to be thin. Although, I've got to say, I do like to be slim. But there is a good point where what I think might look good may be too thin for other people.
What's the best bit of advice another woman has ever given to you?
Jennifer gives me good advice a lot. So does Lisa (Kudrow), but David gave me the best advice in my life when he said I should 'be true to myself -and be true to the importance of your wish or want'. Jennifer always encourages me to be like that, too.
How do you think you and David have changed each other?
I think I've given David a sense of security that he didn't have when he was growing up. He likes having that security. And as well as giving me trust and freedom, he has brought a lot of whimsical qualities to my life.
What sort of whimsical qualities?
Well, when you look around this house, although it's not all David's taste, there's a lot of his personality in this home. The lunch boxes above the kitchen cabinets, they're David's. The shoes under the pool table, they're David's. He's brought a lot of color into my life and he has a great heart.
What do you think of David's clothes?
He's a wacky dresser. Whereas I hate shopping, David loves to shop. I can't stop him. He has a closet triple the size of mine.
Does he ever try to buy you clothes?
Yes. It's always a good attempt, but they're not right for me. It's not as if they're crazy things. He buys me things that he thinks I would like and then gets it wrong.
Do you get on each other's nerves when you work together?
Sure. In Scream 3, we shared a trailer and that was tough. We like to watch different things on television. I like music and he likes wrestling!
Are you a pretty sociable couple?
Yes, I always thought I was a bit if a homebody, but we're very social. I feel pretty lucky that I have a lot of different types of people in my life.
What would you love to do if you had more time?
I guess I do have more time, but I procrastinate. I would love to take an art class. I paint a little, but I don't really have the technique behind it. And I'd love to take a cooking class and learn French because it's beautiful, although I guess I should learn Spanish because I live in LA. I should put all those things on my wish-list.
What are three more things that would be on your wish-list?
To have a healthy baby. World peace. Just three more huh? OK, to be happy.
And there was this ickle thing in a box too:
Courteney's details
Her takeout order: "Chinese -always. I order cashew chicken, shrimp with black bean sauce and rice."
Her all time favourite video rental: "Kramer vs Kramer. It really touches me."
The actress she admires the most: "Bette Davis. She was great. So strong. And Robert Duvall, although he's not an actress"
Her beauty treatment of choice: "I love facials, but I really can't stand pedicures, because I hate people touching my feet and it tickles"
The last time she was star-struck: I met Morgan Freeman the other day and that was great. He's such a cool movie star.
The place she'd love to visit: "Africa- although I don't like flying. But I've heard that it's so beautiful there."