By Christina Radish
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Cameron Diaz at the premiere of "Shrek the Third" held at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood, Calif. on May 6, 2007. |
When audiences last saw Shrek, the thing he was least interested in was ruling Far Far Away. But, when his father-in-law suddenly croaks, Shrek (Mike Myers) is quickly fitted for the crown and, unless the reluctant would-be king can find a suitable replacement, he’ll become ruler. And, if Shrek didn’t already have enough on his plate, Princess Fiona has another little surprise on the way.
Reeling from the duties of running a kingdom and impending fatherhood, Shrek sets off, with Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), to find the only other possible heir to the throne - Fiona’s long-lost cousin Artie (Justin Timberlake), a medieval high school outcast. While the ogre is away, his old nemesis Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) returns to the kingdom of Far Far Away with more sinister plans on his mind.
What began as a children’s short story by William Steig quickly evolved into one of the most successful and beloved film franchises in the history of entertainment. Returning as the voice of Princess Fiona in Shrek the Third, Cameron Diaz tells MediaBlvd Magazine that she is thrilled to be so closely identified with an animated character that she admits she greatly respects.
MediaBlvd Magazine> When you did the first Shrek, did you have any idea or sense that you’d be doing three films, with a fourth film on the way?
Cameron Diaz> I had no idea what I would be doing at all, period. I didn’t have any clue of the process of how to participate in an animated film. I didn’t know how they would make it and what my part would be until I got there. It’s been a learning process, all the way through. But, I’m so happy that it’s gone this far because of the fact the people have gotten so much out of it and they want more. It’s great to be a part of that.
MediaBlvd> What have you learned, having done three of these films now?
Cameron> I’ve learned how to act with a podium. In live action film, you live with the script, you spend a lot of time with it, you get to say the words often and you get to deal with how your character fits into the entire story. With this process, it’s very isolating. You don’t get the script and you don’t get the character. Doing three movies with her, I’ve actually learned a lot about Fiona. Fiona is somebody who I really respect. I want to protect her. Even though she’s an animated character, kids look at it as though it’s real.
MediaBlvd> How has the process changed with each film?
Cameron> With the first Shrek, I had no idea what I was doing, and I didn’t know Fiona at all. I didn’t know what context she fit into the story. And, now I do. I look out for her in a totally different way. I respect her and I want to protect her, not that I have to because they all have her best interest at heart. They want to be true to Fiona as well. She knows Shrek, she knows his weaknesses, she knows it’s hard for him to be out of the swamp and be in the kingdom, and she can’t expect him to show up for her every single time.
MediaBlvd> Do you have much input into the development of your character?
Cameron> I think the biggest stride in Fiona’s evolution, as a person, was in the first film, which I had nothing to do with. We first met her when she was in the tower and, when she got out of the tower, we realized that she was probably capable of getting out of that tower, at any point that she wanted to. She was just doing what she thought she was supposed to. She was being the princess that was going to be rescued. But, once she accepted herself for who she truly was, which was an ogre, that’s when she was the most empowered. From then on, she’s been the anchor that holds all these kooky characters together. I feel like she’s the straight man in the comedy. And then, once she married Shrek, all of a sudden, Fiona had a little bit of a nag thing happening. I was like, “Guys, just because she got married doesn’t mean that she has to become a nag.” I think that their marriage is a partnership, where she has to understand that what he’s doing is really difficult as well. He’s an ogre in this kingdom. It’s a lot of responsibility for him and he can’t step up, every single time. So, they all got it and were like, “Oh, yeah, you’re right.” Not to fluff my own feathers or anything, but that’s the one thing that I said to them about the character.
MediaBlvd> Were you delighted when you read the script for this and found out that the princesses go a little Charlie’s Angels? Was that something you suggested, or did they just do that?
Cameron> They just did that. I had no idea. Every time I go into these films, it’s a discovery for me, as far as what it’s going to be. They deliver that message with humor, they deliver it in the best possible way, and they turn the traditional fairy book princess on its ear. It was really fun.
MediaBlvd> These animated movies are around forever. Is that part of the appeal for being in one of them?
Cameron> Definitely. I’m so happy to be a part of it because of the integrity of the film and the message that it puts out. These films tell you not to just sit around and wait to be rescued, but that if you want something, go and get it. You can’t wait for somebody to do it for you. That’s a message for everyone. It’s for boys and girls, men and women, people who knew it all along, but needed to here it again, and people who have never heard it, and need to hear it for the first time. I’m honored to be a part of putting that out in the world.
MediaBlvd> Do you think animation will ever get to the point where actors will be honored for their voice performances at the Academy Awards?
Cameron> I think it’s appropriate that there is a category for animation because the animators are, in fact, the actors in these movies. I’ve seen scenes when they’re not fully animated and, as the progression goes, you’re looking at it and you’re like, “Oh, that was pretty good.” No matter what I do with my voice, it’s not going to reach the audience the same way until they’ve done all the animation. I’ve seen it where Fiona and Shrek look at each other, and it’s not fully animated, and the moment isn’t there. And then, when it’s fully animated, you think, “Oh, my God, that was so touching,” and it’s because the animators have fully realized that moment with these two characters and they’ve animated it. Really, they’re the actors. I could not take any credit for the acting done. I provide the voice, but they do the acting. They’re creating the moment with the animation.
MediaBlvd> When you see the finished version of the film then, are there a lot of hidden discoveries for you?Cameron> I’m a perfectionist. I always want to do it the best that it can be done. When I see anything that I’ve done up on the screen, I’m always like, “Oh, now I know I could have done so much better.” But, particularly with this movie, when you see the performance, you go, “Oh, okay, that’s how they did it. That’s what they were doing.” You put your trust into the director. With this, as with any film, that’s why the director’s the most important thing.
MediaBlvd> With animated films, filmmakers seem to take far more liberties with dialogue and things that they do, that they can’t do with regular films. Does it feel that way to you at all?
Cameron> Because their face isn’t on it. If you saw Antonio Banderas in a live action film being Puss in Boots, you’d be like, “What the hell is he doing?” But, as an animated cat with boots this big, you go, “Oh, yeah, of course.” There are liberties that we can take. It’s liberating to be behind this thing, where you can make stupid, crazy faces. The things that I’ve done to figure out the moment, I don’t want people to witness. We don’t get to see the animation, when we’re doing the voice. The world hasn’t been created around us yet, so we can’t look at it and go, “Oh, that’s what Far, Far Away looks like.” I never saw what Far, Far Away looked like, until the second film was finished. I was like, “Oh, that’s what it looks like.” I had no idea. They explained it to us, but you don’t really get the idea of what the community feels like, when they’re walking down the street, so you’ve got to imagine it. That’s part of our job.
MediaBlvd> Do you feel like your imaginative powers get really stretched in those moments?
Cameron> The great thing is, we can always come back and redo it. I’ve changed lines. They’ve animated it, and then, they decided to change the story and felt that what I already did didn’t work, so I’ve gone in and redone the lines to send it in another direction. They just reanimate it over.
MediaBlvd> At this point in your career, do you feel like you’ve developed a recognizable screen persona, and do you feel like there are elements of that, that come through in the characters you voice?
Cameron> I think Fiona is part of my screen persona. Rather than me putting myself through her, I think she comes through me, in a weird way. She’s one of those characters that I’ve played that, when people think of me, they think of Fiona, and not the other way around, which is a testimony to just how great this franchise, and these films, are. That probably goes across the board for all of the actors in these films.
MediaBlvd> Do you believe in happily ever after, or is that just a myth?
Cameron> It depends on what your idea of happily ever after is. I think everybody has a different idea of what happily ever after is. I believe in happily ever after. I’ve never seen it written in a book. I’ve never seen any princess act it out for me. But, I definitely have a happily ever after. If things ended today, it’s happily ever after. Somebody asked me the other day, “How come you’re always so smiley?” It’s because I’m grateful for everything that I have in my life. I have no reason not to be smiling. I have like the best life ever.
MediaBlvd> Is Shrek the Halls a Christmas movie?
Cameron> It is a Christmas movie. It’s sweet. It feels like one of those you watched growing up, like Frosty the Snowman, or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, that would come on just at Christmas. It’s just for television. It’s the Shrek version of the traditional Christmas message.
MediaBlvd> When The Holiday came out, you said you were being more picky about what roles you want to do. Is that still the case?
Cameron> I want to work. I love working. I love making movies. It’s one of my greatest joys. I just don’t want to make a movie to just make a movie.
MediaBlvd> What are you working on now?
Cameron> I’m working on my hair color, at the moment. No, I’m just teasing. I am waiting to see exactly what I’ll be doing next. I’m hoping one of the few things that I’m looking at will be starting in the summer, so we’ll see.
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Cameron Diaz at the William Rast "Street Sexy" Spring/Summer '07 Launch held at Social in Hollywood, Calif. on October 17, 2006. |
MediaBlvd> Do you think one day you’re gonna look back at all the things you’ve done?
