Rumours of a split are just that, insists Friends star Courteney Cox Arquette. She and husband David are still madly in love- but he hates seeing her make out...
There is a mischevious twinkle in her eyes as Courteney Cox Arquette breaks out into a big grin that lights up her lovely face.
I've asked her about her steamy sex scenes with Kurt Russell in her new film 3000 Miles to Graceland, which hubby actor David says he found very difficult to watch.
"Those love scenes are out there", she agrees. "But Kurt is great and I loved working with him so much that it was easy.
To me those scenes were just so funny. I'd tell David I'd had the funniest scene when I was riding Kurt but David's like "It's not funny at all!",' reports the svelte Friends star.
"I think the kissing scenes were the hardest because you want to look right. And our scenes are really "anything goes", but it's funny because it doesn't mean anything when you're doing it.
"They're just a scene you did. And as long as you look alright doing it- the lighting is good and they didn't get any weird angles and didn't show too much- it's okay. But honestly, doing a love scene in a movie is the least turn- on.'
Sex on set must be a real talking point in the Cox- Arquette household. The pair met while filming the original Scream movie in 1996 and tied the knot in 1999. And while Courteney finds it easy to laugh off love scenes, David takes them a lot more seriously and actually looks to his wife for inspiration. Which may help to explain why he found her steamy scenes so upsetting.
David said recently, "I'll forever have a fire inside of me for being able to play and portray love on screen because of my love for her." Courteney turns a pretty shade of pink when I relay her husband's comments about her. "Wow", is all she can say.
"You know, really it's not because of me", says Courteney, once she's composed herself. "When you're in a relationship that works, it's better. He makes my life better. I'm not the poet he is, so don't be looking for the same thing from me. I just love him, that's all. He's such a good... expresser."
While both happily talk about the great love that they have for each other, rumours have been flying about the break- up of their marriage. But Courteney insists there's no rift.
"I know- I heard I filed for divorce and kicked him out and he's a bad boy, but none of it's true."
"What's weird is I think this particular one started in England. It was a very small thing in the paper and then it went off from there. That's how false rumours grow."
"But so far it's not so hard. I mean, we get written about, but it doesn't bother me. The hardest part is probably not being together."
"He always seems to be on location and my job is more in LA, so that's tough. But we have a lot of freedom, we allow each other to be ourselves. So when we have that much trust, it's not so hard."
David Arquette has a reputation for individuality- and not least because of his unique dress sense. Courteney confirms he's just as obsessed with his wardrobe behind closed doors and, coincidentally, has an Elvis obsession.
"He has an Elvis suit he actually brought from the movie and had it studded- I'm not kidding."
"David's so creative and he's such a unique person and I just love that he dresses that way because it's not like he's contrived. We wake up in the morning and he's in some sort of... outfit"
"Before he goes to get coffee, he actually puts on an entire outfit and I'm not just saying it's like a jacket or a pair of pants- it'll be a certain pair of slippers, maybe a hat, socks, a whole thing."
"After that he'll take a shower before the day starts and he puts on another complete outfit. It's unbelievable the amount of clothes the man goes through in one day!"
Despite his wacky off- set dress sense, on location he's a highly respected actor. And Courteney would like to spend more time with him infront of the camera. At some point, she says, he will do an episode of her hit TV show Friends 'For his wife!' (hey, didn't he already do that? *confused*)
While Courteney is looking forwards, Friends still takes top priority for now- even with talk of the show's stars wavering over how much longer they'll stay together. The show continues to attract big- name cameo stars, including Susan Sarandon, who Courteney greatly admires.
"Obviously she's an amazing actor, but she's just gorgeous and fun and it was so neat to work with such a great lady. In the show she has a little thing with Joey, so Matt Le Blanc was in heaven."
Courteney Cox is one of the few actresses successfully combining high- profile TV and movie roles, but she still believes she's got a way to go before she's really A-list.
"This character (In 3000 Miles to Graceland) is something I really fought for. People don't assume I can play bitchy because they think I can only do comedy. I hard to work hard- I auditioned for this with Kurt and I read for him a few times."
"I really think I could play anything- what's hard is getting the role. I hate auditioning and, one day, if I don't have to read for things that'll be the best. I really think it will happen- and I can't wait!"
"And I really think my southern background helps with all the parts I play. I'm glad I'm from Alabama. I think it makes me really... normal!"
TALKING ABOUT COURTENEY COX
"I found coming to LA so confusing and she was like an anchor. She made me feel blessed." - Liam Neeson on how Courteney looked after him in Hollywood.
"She is the mother of the group. She explained that we have to look out for each other. She knew the pressures of being on a hit might drive us apart." - Friends co- star Jennifer Aniston.
"Courteney likes to control things and David has been living out on the edge. I think that, in some ways, they scare the bejesus out of each other." - Wes Craven, Scream director.
COURTENEY ON...
Kids
I'm very comfortable with kids. I have a lot of nieces and nephews who I get along with really well and having a child is definately something we plan on doing. We just haven't got around to it yet. But I'd like to start trying this summer. I don't know how much control we'll have over the outcome, but I think summer would be a good time to start.
Amorous co-star Kurt Russell
Kurt is into realism. I had to tell him not to be so realistic. I had to remind him to fake his ardour. (Hey, can u really blame the guy?!!)
Friends co-stars
The girls and I eat lunch together every day and we have done for seven years. We're probably closer now than we ever were- and now we're all married we have another thing in common!
Her weight
You really can't win. For me, if I want my lower body to look the way I like it then my face can look gaunt, but if my face is full, I don't like the way my lower body looks. But you know, who cares? It's my mini-battle, it's my concern!