There was absolutely nothing difficult about being enamoured of both Alessandro and Kate 
Married to Joel Coen, Frances McDormand once jokingly remarked on how she got her Oscar-winning role in the Coen Brothers' Fargo: "The fact that I'm sleeping with the director may have something to do with it." The truth is, with her performances in Blood Simple, Miller’s Crossing, Raising Arizona, The Man Who Wasn't There, she's become the third Coen. Laurel Canyon sees McDormand give her best performance since her Oscar win, playing a famed 70s record producer. She's one liberated lady, taking in young lovers, smoking it up, and getting butt naked...
Whilst promoting The Man Who Wasn't There, you said how you really wanted to do some nudity. Is Laurel Canyon what you meant?
For me, it's not really representative what was on the screen. I spent two days completely naked in a pool - walking around and getting in and out. So the experience was what I was talking about, and I'm really glad it's represented the way it is on film - because I look so good in the water! At the same time, I'm thinking, OK, this is what we look like, us 45-year-old women. This is what we've got - it's not perfect but it's not bad. Still, my vanity likes the fact that there were ripples in the water!
You have a hot scene with Kate Beckinsale (Pearl Harbor) and Alessandro Nivola (Best Laid Plans). Was that a breeze after the nudity?
There was absolutely nothing difficult about being enamoured of both Alessandro and Kate. Not only are they nice to look at, but they're very funny and smart. So I really liked hanging out with them, but if anything, what it confirmed was my innate heterosexuality. Kate's a very attractive woman, but just too soft... I like the whiskers and stuff.
You wear an AC/DC t-shirt in the film, and you're wearing a Led Zeppelin one now. Does rock music appeal to you?
I like hard rock, and classic rock, and even metal. And I really like some of the British rock bands, like Coldplay. I listen to Guerrillas, although I wouldn't call that rock - I don't know what it is, but I like it.
Do you find your connection with Joel [Coen] helps within the industry?
Nobody cares really, I don't think. I used to feel that when I was younger. I've done more movies than Joel has, and worked with a lot more directors than he has actors, so I feel I have my own place in the scheme of things. But at the same time, two years ago, when I was at Cannes as Joel's escort for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a friend of ours from the press gave us a photo from the red carpet and it said, "Director Joel Coen, Palme d'Or winner, and unidentified female." Chez Moi!
Well, you have tended to stay away from higher-profile Hollywood roles...
I'm not going to waste my energy fighting it [Hollywood]. Certainly, a lot of the films I've worked on have ended up good movies, but they haven't always been the best experiences. Things like this [Laurel Canyon] are a lot more fun.
