USA: Lisa Kudrow takes on dramatic role in "Paper Man"

Record ID: 602131

  • Title: USA: Lisa Kudrow takes on dramatic role in "Paper Man"
  • Date: 21st April 2010
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR JEFF DANIELS, ON WHY HE ENJOYED WORKING WITH LISA KUDROW, SAYING: "Lisa is very smart, she's very witty, she's very fast, you know. So comedically it was a pleasure. She would -- you know, inside I'd be cracking up at something she just did. Because she just does it so
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2010 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA5JJY72TX3ART42NTNS1UJKF1X
  • Story Text: Lisa Kudrow and Jeff Daniels lead the cast of the new indie dramedy "Paper Man."
    The film explores the unique friendship between a middle-aged novelist and a 17-year-old high school girl.
    Kudrow portrays a busy surgeon named Claire who is married to Richard, played by Daniels, a writer who seems unable to grow up. Claire leaves Richard alone during the week at a rented Long Island beach house while she works at a hospital in Manhattan. She hopes the solitude will be the inspiration her husband needs to pen his next book. But instead of using his time wisely, Richard instead tends to his loneliness by befriending a local teenager.
    Emma Stone plays Abby, a somber young girl who is hiding her sadness over a family tragedy, and finds a kindred spirit in Richard.
    Kudrow talked about how much she identified with her character.
    "I see a lot of myself in this character. I mean I do. 'Cause I do believe that when you're committed to someone, that you're with them through thick and thin. And at some point you have to snap and let them know when they're really trying your patience," says Kudrow.
    Daniels shared why he enjoyed working with Kudrow.
    "Lisa is very smart, she's very witty, she's very fast, you know," shared Daniels, 55. "So comedically it was a pleasure. She would -- you know, inside I'd be cracking up at something she just did. Because she just does it so well."
    The Emmy Award-winning actress said she doesn't prefer playing comedic over dramatic roles, but admitted she sometimes needs help keeping the two straight.
    "I don't really have a preference," says Kudrow. "And I think what's challenging about comedy is, finding the right tone in a comedy. Cause there's so many different kinds of comedies. And in this movie, too, honestly, I mean, my role is not comedic at all. And we would complete a scene and I'd go over to Michelle and Kieran, you know, who directed it. And I was like 'Did I? Wait. That's not funny, right? I wasn't forgetting to turn on like the comedy switch. Right?'"
    Kudrow, 46, is best known for her role in the popular American television sitcom "Friends."
    Meanwhile, Stone said she learned a lot by working with Daniels.
    "You know, for the most part I interact with Jeff more than anyone and, he's just-- you couldn't ask for a better person to do scenes with," said the 21-year-old actress. "'Cause he's so giving and receptive. And he's just, he taught me so much just by getting to work with him it was awesome."
    The film also stars Ryan Reynolds as Captain Excellent, Richard's imaginary friend, and Kieran Culkin, Abby's pretend neighborhood pal.
    The husband-and-wife screenwriting team Michelle and Kieran Mulroney directed the film.
    "Paper Man" opens across North America on Friday, April 23rd.
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