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Also Starring: Jess Weixler
Posted by Rob Ortenzi on 10-Mar-08 @ 05:07 PM
With all apologies to Hannibal Lecter and Jigsaw, the most frightening character in American cinema-to guys, at least- is actually portrayed by diminutive 26-year-old JESS WEIXLER. After all, her character in this month's pitch-black comedy Teeth has razor-sharp incisors in her lady parts. That, of course, might also make her the most heroic character in American cinema-to girls, at least.PHOTO: Jayme Thornton How did you react when you first heard the concept for Teeth? I was terrified. I actually auditioned for the best friend role because I didn't want to play the lead. I wasn't sure what was going on yet, and I couldn't exactly tell what the tone was. Then they had me do a cold read, and I took another look at it and said to myself, "I think she's kind of like a superhero." Like the first feminist superhero... Yeah, right behind Wonder Woman. [Laughs.] Actually, I don't know if Wonder Woman's a feminist. I see my character as someone with an anatomical uniqueness that has to accept her power and use it for good. Are you prepared for real-life love interests to be a little, well, tentative after seeing this? I don't plan on dating anybody with psychological problems who can't distinguish between real life and make believe. [Laughs.] I have a boyfriend right now who's totally supportive, and I'm very grateful for him. There was some talk the movie would have trouble getting an R-rating. Are you surprised it didn't land the dreaded NC-17? When we were shooting it, we were leaving out anything intentionally explicit. There's just a brief minute of R-rated nudity, but that's it. Everyone was saying it's NC-17 because of the gore content, but for whatever reason, my brain never processed it as that scandalous-definitely no worse than Saw. [Laughs.] I never understood why you can get away with so much violence on film but the slightest bit of sexuality-even if it's expressing love-can push the rating over the edge. What music have you been listening to lately? Well, I grew up listening to Fugazi. I'm from Louisville, Kentucky, and there's a really big punk scene there. I've also been a pretty big fan of Modest Mouse and Jeff Buckley. -Tim Karan CHEAT SHEET >> You may recognize Weixler's face from a guest appearance on Law & Order: Criminal Intent or from her part in the 2006 indie comedy The Big Bad Swim. But thanks to her role as a teen with vagina dentata in Teeth, you won't be able to forget her because of a different body part entirely. ALT |
