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NO, I’m
not suggesting Eva Mendes can’t conquer her
substance-abuse problems. What really worries me is how
she will ever possibly stay sober, having to deal with
some of the most clueless people on the planet: the pack
of celebrity journalists who seem to be an inescapable
part of the recovery program for troubled starlets.
First you go to rehab, where they teach you how to love
yourself. Then you’re forced to endure idiotic
interviews, which surely must teach you to hate yourself
all over again for consenting to answer all their
moronic questions.
Mendes
has plunged into the rehab-recovery deep end, having now
survived a cringe-inducing chat with Interview
magazine’s David Colman that is featured in the
magazine’s upcoming August
issue. (The magazine doesn’t arrive on newsstands
until next week, though you can read excerpts
here, since the actual interview isn’t online yet.)
Mendes is a better actress than most people give her
credit for, having kept her footing, going toe to toe
with Denzel Washington in Out of Time and Joaquin
Phoenix in We Own the Night, while totally
stealing the show in minor fare like 2 Fast 2 Furious.
But all the acting chops in the world couldn’t stop her
from showing her annoyance at the hapless queries and
bad jokes Colman lobbed her way in Interview.
To see
the trainwreck, keep reading:
David
Colman: Now, let’s talk about substance abuse. My
favorite topic.
Eva
Mendes: Great.
DC:
First of all, what is it with actors and substance
abuse?
EM: I
don’t know. I’m not a spokesperson for any kind of
substance-abuse organization.
DC:
They’re going to have to change the name of it to
“Alcoholics Unanimous.”
EM:
[silence]
DC: I’m
sorry, that’s a bad joke.
EM: I’m
not making jokes, because people die from this stuff.
So, honestly, I think it’s a bit tacky that you made a
joke. I’ve got to be honest.
DC:
You’re angry. Listen...
EM: I’m
not angry. People have died, and I’ve lost friends,
too—even recently. So I can be a little sensitive on the
subject.
DC:
Look, I haven’t had a drink in 11 years. I’m just trying
to be light-hearted about it, because it’s an awkward
topic.
EM: I’m
not angry. But because celebrities’ lives are so
visible, I think it makes it look lighter than it is. I
have a really good sense of humor, I’m just very
sensitive. The other day I was reading an article. I
don’t even remember who the actress was, but she’s been
around for a long time. She said something like, “I’m
proud that I’ve had a whole career without making it to
rehab.” I thought, that’s such a negative twist on it.
I’m proud of people who have the determination and the
fearlessness to actually go and face their demons and
get better. This is a life-or-death situation. Again,
I’m not a spokesperson for this, but it’s just that I
want to support people for their decisions when they do
go in and get help.
DC: You
might think it’s a new problem, but it’s probably only
because people are quicker to say, “Okay, I’m going to
rehab. Let’s get it over with.”
EM: It’s
because everybody is so highly visible now. We see
everything. We see what celebrities buy at the
supermarket. It’s ridiculous. It’s that visibility. I’m
confused by this whole celebrity-obsessed culture. It’s
really weird.
DC:
Again, I wasn’t trying to be...well, I was trying to be
flip, but not trying to be dismissive. I do take it very
seriously myself. You could just say, “I don’t want to
talk about that.” Which is fine.
EM: I’ve
given you a more interesting answer, I hope, than to
just say, “I don’t want to talk about it.” [Laughs]
There are so many lies out there regarding my recent
trip to Cirque Lodge. But I don’t care what people
think. I just don’t care. So I will neither confirm nor
deny. I think now we just know way too much about our
celebrities. It’s not that interesting when you know
that much about people. I have no ego about me. It’s
just better for you not to know, because it really does
make me a better actor at the end of the day. You’re not
going into the movie with all these specifics about me.
DC: I
don’t know what I would do if all my business was out
there...
EM: You
know what? You wouldn’t feel that bad, because so much
of it is not true. Actually, the media has been pretty
nice to me. They’ve really trashed some people, so I’m
actually thankful that it didn’t get too crazy. But for
all the stuff that came out a few months ago about
substance abuse, there were so many wrong stories. I was
so happy about that, because it’s when they get the real
scoop that would make me really nervous. It’s a relief,
in a way. You want it to be a lie, because when it’s
true, that’s when I’d be like, “Oh, my God!” It’s time
to rethink who’s in your circle, because stuff got out.
Pretty
awful stuff, huh? |
