Sandra Bullock plays detail-obsessed activist lawyer to Hugh Grant's self-obsessed billionaire property developer in her latest (and last?) romantic comedy, "Two Weeks Notice".
You've obviously developed a very good working relationship with Marc Lawrence [the director], having done three films with him and producing this one. Give us a sense of why this one was right in your mind?
In my mind? Boy, that's going to be an interesting place to visit! I think in general, romantic comedies tend to take one person's point of view, but every once in a while you get something that is balanced for two people.
I felt this one caused enough friction and entertainment between the two leads that both actors were satisfied with their lines and what they get to do. Beforehand, every time we got a script it was either good for Hugh and lousy for me or vice-versa. Marc is a brilliant writer and wickedly funny. He just knows how to write great characters and make them work.
Can you set the record straight about the on/off romance between you and Hugh Grant?
Well, at first we loved each other and then apparently we hated each other and I don't know what the story is in the UK but we've just come from France and there we love each other. In Australia we've had a baby, which I'm very happy about as I was a little depressed that we went from love straight to divorce. But the reality is we're just great friends and we have fun together.
Do you prefer the "Four Weddings" Hugh Grant or the "Bridget Jones's Diary" Hugh?
I like a little more pervy and seediness, guys with a little twist. After I saw "Bridget Jones" I was like, "Wow, I had no idea he had it in him, let's work together."
In the movie the two of you are worlds apart. Are you attracted to opposites?
Em, I don't know. Marc has been around me for the last five years and has very interesting views on my personal life, which, I love hearing about second-hand but I have no idea what I do and what I like about someone. I don't want to be with somebody like me but I also don't want to be with somebody who's so opposite that I can't relate to them at all. As long as they buy me nice things...
Is it true that "Two Weeks Notice" is your last romantic comedy?
For a long time, yes. I've done it with the best [points at Hugh]. As stupid as it sounds, I really didn't want to do another romantic comedy, but I knew I wanted to work with Hugh, so I made this one my last one. I know nothing about love and romance, so I prefer to stick to just comedy. There are plenty of other good actresses that can do romance - I think it's time I stopped.
As the producer of "Two Weeks" was there a fear that you might not be able to translate your real-life chemistry with Hugh onto the screen?
Absolutely. Sometimes people put actors together because they think they have such great chemistry and it doesn't work. You just never know, people have fallen in love while they've been making films and the chemistry doesn't translate and sometimes it does. Look at Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy - 30 years of chemistry that never died. They were wonderful together.
You always hope that a writer will come along and give you all the elements and set it up, and that's why Marc and I have worked together three times; he makes it work.
