>>>
is here.
>>>
hilary swank
is a two-time
academy award
-winner, and there is already talk of a possible third with her latest performance. i'm embarrassing her now. swank plays legendary pilot
amelia earhart
in the new movie "
amelia
." take a look.
>>
after this round-the-world flight, miss earhart, are you going to give up long-distance flying?
>>
not while there's always life left in me.
always ready
for a new adventure.
>>
frank, give us a big
smile for the camera
!
>>
write to me.
>>
always.
>>
hilary swank
, good morning.
>>
good morning.
>>
obviously,
richard gere
with you.
>>
yes, the lovely
richard gere
.
>>
the lovely
richard gere
. let me tell you what the "
los angeles times
" said about "
amelia
." called it a beautifully crafted, a very traditional epic, the kind of adult biographical story
movie studios
generally don't seem to be making anymore. how would you describe the movie?
>>
you know, i think more than ever, people have really come up to me and said i can't wait to
see this movie
, more than any other movie i've been a part of, and i think that just makes you realize that
amelia
is someone that epitomizes i think what we're all striving for, which is, you know, to
live your life
the way you want and to not make any apologies for who you are and to live your dream. and to me, that's really what the movie's about. it's also a great
love story
, and it's epic. it's sweeping.
>>
but that puts a lot of pressure on an actress, too. on the one hand, it's an irresistible role because she is so iconic. on the other hand, because she is an icon, getting it right.
>>
you're right. i think there's a lot of responsibility that comes with playing someone who has lived in the past, especially someone as iconic as
amelia
. you know, there are all these images we have of her and ideas we have of her. so it's not like you can take a lot of fictional, you know, figure out what you want to do with her. you have to really play true to who she was.
>>
was she somebody that as a kid you admired? had you paid much attention to her growing up? the story of her.
>>
i did. i knew the story of her. and it's interesting. obviously, she was american, but she's known worldwide for all of her achievements. i knew of her, but i didn't know, obviously, all that i realized about her in playing her, diving into it.
>>
more of the human side of her, right? you know her as the aviator, but not the woman as much.
>>
that's right. that's right.
>>
you cut your hair for the role.
>>
i did, i did.
>>
and went very blond.
>>
i did. the short blond, yes, which is fun.
>>
you also learned to fly, something you did not know how to do. did you take to it? do you like it?
>>
i love it, actually. one of the great things about my job is i get to learn all these things had i not done because i'm an actor. so i got to fly and i love. it i'm a daredevil at heart. so that's something
amelia
and i have in common.
>>
you're not only the star of the movie, you're also the executive producer. so you're not only responsible for owning the part, but also, you've got to
pay attention
to the bottom line now, whether this thing brings in the money because the bean counters are looking.
>>
absolutely.
>>
does that put a particular pressure on you on how you approach a movie?
>>
you know, it's a good question. i've come on board as executive producer probably my last five movies, and that's really just to make sure that it gets to the screen and you know, trying to help get all the elements together to get it to the screen. because i think a movie's really only as good as its
weakest link
, so i just try to help put all the components together.
>>
and now they are talking about another
oscar
for you, a third
oscar
. you're hearing them, but why are you shaking your head?
>>
it's just crazy. first of all, to think -- to hear that word. it's incredible that i have two. it's an honor, and it's something -- it's not what you work for, but just to hear that is -- it's, you know -- i just, i love being a part of it.
>>
and you have it for "boys don't cry" and for --
>>
"
million dollar baby
."
>>
and both times you were up against
annette bening
and now they're saying she may get an
oscar
nod again and it would be you two again. is it weird?
>>
i wouldn't say weird, but it's funny timing, isn't it? it's funny timing. i love annette. i can't wait to see her film. so you know, it would be an honor to be nominated with annette if that were the case. oh, there's a picture of us --
>>
hugging.
>>
hugging. how sweet.
>>
wait, is that a
night gown
she has on? no, i'm kidding.
>>
she's a doll.
>>
she loves you.
>>
i really admire her and she's been doing it so long. she really kind of took me under her wing and is very, very gracious.
>>
and the truth is, there's room for a lot of wonderful actresses out there.
>>
that's true.
>>
there's a great article about you in "
marie claire
" magazine, but i want to ask you about one part that's gotten some eyebrows raised.
>>
yes.
>>
you're asked about your boyfriend john, and at one point, you say, you know, my boyfriend's son is 6 years old and you wonder at what age you should stop walking around nude. every morning he comes into the bedroom and you're just nude, but he doesn't look twice. he doesn't think about it yet. now, some people, they've criticized that behavior.
>>
mm-hmm.
>>
set the record straight
.
>>
the interesting thing is we actually -- the editor in chief and i were having a longer conversation about it. she said what do you sleep in? i said i sleep in the nude, what do you sleep in? and she said i sleep in a
night gown
now because i have two
young boys
. and at one point, one of my kids said ew, so i started wearing a
night gown
. so we had a conversation about what age you do that. i think it's great that you can talk about things that bring up debates. i think every family is different and you have to know what's right for you and your family.
>>
before i let you go, you're involved in
home for the holidays
pet adoption
. what's that about?
>>
yes,
home for the holidays
. 6 million animals are
put to sleep
every year and you think, what can i do to help? so i came aboard for iams
home for the holidays
to raise awareness about this and all the animals that need to be adopted. and everyone usually around the holidays are wanting an animal. and if they are, i'm suggesting they go to the pound and adopt one of those animals that need a loving home that may not find a life without them. i adopted my dog roomi last year and helped, you know -- they're trying this year to adopt 1.5 million. last year was a million and they made that. so let's make this happen.
>>
absolutely. hilary, it's such a pleasure. nice to see you again.
>>
nice to see you, meredith.
>>
again, "
amelia
" opens nationwide on
october 23rd
.
>>>
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