LiveWorld Transcripts

HBO presents

Cynthia Nixon, actress
"Sex and the City"

July 24, 2000

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SunnyDenise: How old were you when you got into acting?

Cynthia: Depending upon what you count as my first professional job, I was 11 or 12. My first big job was an after-school special when I was 12, and then shortly after that, I did a movie called "Little Darlings," with Tatum O'Neal and Kristie McNichol and Matt Dillon. I was 12 when I did that movie, and I'm 34 now, so I've been acting for about 22 years.

Mary: I've read that you're still with your school sweetheart.what do you consider the hardest thing in keeping it together that long?

Cynthia: Yes, my boyfriend and I know each other from Junior High and High School, but we didn't begin dating until college. I guess we really like each other! We really like each other and I guess we try very hard not to lose sight of each other. We've been together for a long time. We have a daughter, but we're not married. We stay in touch with the person. Rather than think of him as my boyfriend or husband, I think of him as Danny, that person I really love and like.

Ashley: How many seasons is the show expected to run?

Cynthia: I don't know, and I don't think anyone knows. I think I can say with some confidence that we'll definitely do one more after this one. I'm hoping for many more, because it's the greatest job I've ever had, and I hope it goes on for a long time.

Mspaintedeyes: Is there something you think of most of the time to make you feel comfortable, or do you just grin and bear it on difficult scenes?

Cynthia: Hmmmmmm. You know, different scenes pose their own particular problems. I think if you're worried about a scene, the best thing is to try to be in the moment, which is hard to do. But the camera really sees whether you're present or not, or whether your mind is somewhere else. So I try hard to stay in the moment, even though I don't think I'm doing a good job. If I'm honest about what I'm feeling, there will be some true emotion there. As long as you're honest, that's the main thing about film acting.

Charlene: Does the character of Miranda imitate your feelings on single life?

Cynthia: No. I think that Miranda is very judgmental of people. While I definitely have a judgmental streak, I think it's not my first knee-jerk reaction. Miranda's first impulse is to blame others, and I think my first impulse is to blame myself. So I think if I were out in the singles scene having all this trouble finding a man to be with, I would assume the problem is me; whereas Miranda assumes the problem is them.

Superfan: Which episode did you have the most fun? Why?

Cynthia: That's so hard to pick. That's so impossible. There's not a favorite one for me. Maybe if I have a guy that I'm playing opposite with. I enjoy acting with David Eigenberg who plays my boyfriend. We have a lot of different directors that we work with, but one in particular is Nicole Holofcener. I've known Nicole since she was a film student. She's directed four episodes, and I'm excited when Nicole is directing.

Eurostl: Do you interact with your co-workers outside of work, or do you see enough of each other shooting episodes?

Cynthia: Well, we do see an awful lot of each other shooting, but we are also now summering in the Hamptons, and we've seen a bit of each other. Sarah Jessica and I went to a play together a few weeks ago. I keep trying to find a chance to go out with Kim and her husband on their boat. One night we were shooting very late on a Friday night, and Kristin drove me out to the Hamptons, and we arrived at 4 AM so we could wake up on Saturday and be in the country. Kristin has a car because she's a California girl.

Hot-to-trot: How would you say the girls you work with have changed your life both on and off screen?

Cynthia: I wouldn't say that we have changed eachothers' lives, but I would say that we're pretty close. I would say that we're all going through this thing together, which is changing us at the same time. Being on this show is an amazing ride, and we're kinda in it together. We keep checking with each other as the show gets bigger and bigger. Like being in a war with someone, you can't know what it's like unless you've been in it together.

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