The Rage Monthly: You really light up the screen when you first appear in a musical number of Burlesque. Please tell me about the process in coming back to the screen and starring in your very first film musical. Cher: Once we started, I was totally there. I was terri-
fied…like you are the first day. That’s the way I roll. I roll terrified in the beginning. But, it was hard because there was a transitional period trying to get her [Cher’s charac- ter, Tess] to where you see her on screen. Once I was there [on set] I was always fabulous. I knew that everything worked with Stanley and Peter[Gallagher, who plays her ex-husband and club manager].
Rage: It’s been almost ten years since you have made a movie. I’m glad you’re back! Cher: I haven’t actually been anywhere. It’s not like I just got back from Pluto. You know…you don’t get many offers that you want to do. You get lots of scripts but you don’t get things that you want to do. The only thing that I missed, that I wanted to do was Mamma Mia. I wanted to have the chance to work with Meryl [Streep] again. I was on the road, so I couldn’t do it.
Rage: It seems surprising but this is the first time the both of you have made a film together. Your chemistry together is great. Stanley Tucci: It happened quite naturally. We met
at the first read through of the script, which did not go particularly well. Then we started texting each other going, “That didn’t go very well.” So, we got to know each other via those little devices. Then, when we got on set….it just felt comfortable. I was star struck when I first met her…now, I could care less (laughter). We just got along. That relationship you see is really the relationship we have in real life.
UE!
Rage: I imagine everyone is star struck when they meet you. Cher: I don’t know. I was doing an interview with someone who has interviewed everyone and I was nervous about him. Because of who he writes for…but he was nervous! I just said, “This is silliness. Don’t be ri- diculous and let’s get this thing together.” I think because I’ve been doing this for 45 years that my personality, I think, is that the moment someone spends time with me…you feel fine.
Rage: Stanley, what was one of your favorite scenes working together in Burlesque? Stanley: I like the scene where she is upset, crying and she gets angry with me. I tell her the truth and she gets really angry. Then, she snaps back and I say, “I thought I lost you for a moment.” I like that scene. That’s a very well- written scene and it shows their relationship. When you want to talk about trust…that’s the scene that expresses trust in that relationship better than any other.
Rage: Developing a strong character relationship with Christina’s character Ali is so crucial to the film. What are your impressions of working with her? Cher: She reminded me of the relationship that I had with Meryl [Streep]. When Meryl took me under her wing because the truth was during Silkwood I didn’t have anywhere to stand. Christina worked so hard. She overcame…look, she came on the set with us and that’s a little bit nerve-wracking, when you’ve only done noth- ing in film. I think that I tried to put her at ease. As quickly as time went by, she felt a lot more comfortable.
Rage: I wonder if I can jog your memory when I say, “Are all American women as exciting as you? [A line from her lover in the film, Tea With Mussolini]. Cher: Alas, no. (laughter, as Cher is spot on in her quick response to her line in the 1999 film).
Rage: Please share a bit about your brilliant performance of the song, “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” in the film. Cher: First of all, Diane Warren who has been my friend
for a long time, wrote that and she wrote, “Turn Back Time.” Secondly, that song was the hardest song…there are two songs in my life that I didn’t think I was going to be able to sing and that was one of them. “Song For the Lonely” was the other one. The song was so high for me, I truly didn’t have those three notes. I didn’t have them in my range. I really don’t know where they came from but the song’s so good. I was more surprised than anybody. Doing the song, I thought it was so perfect for the char- acter and she [Diane] wrote it for that moment in time.
Rage: The song is just one of the incredible musical moments in the film. Cher: When I started this character, I thought, “This is
hard to play supporting to this girl and know that this is what’s happening in my life or potentially happening in my life to kind of half to move over. Not that I’m doing it gracefully…because you’d have to pull me over! (laugh- ter) You know? I’m old. All the dancing and falling and being dropped by dancers and things like that. There was a lot of too much truth in this film for me a couple of times. So, that song was pretty meaningful because it was pretty much not exactly my life but it was my life in that movie.
Rage: The film musical was really entertaining all around…will you tell me what’s up next? More touring or film work? Cher: You know…there is the opportunity to go on
a tour. Yet, I’m not so sure that that is something that I want to do immediately because I have been working for a long time. I did like working on this film so much that I really would like to do another film.
Rage: Thank you both! This was quite an honor. Cher and Stanley: No problem. Thanks!
DECEMBER 2010 | RAGE monthly 49
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