Best known for her hit TV show Weeds, which came to an end in 2012, Mary-Louise Parker is now starting to leave her mark on the film world. With recent credits in films like RED and RED 2, the actress now has another comic book adaptation coming up in the form of R.I.P.D., which hits theatres tomorrow.
In the film she plays Proctor, the woman in charge of the Rest In Peace Department, an organization made up of dead cops whose job it is to rid Earth of the evil spirits who refuse to move into the afterlife.
While in NYC to promote the film, we had the chance to sit down for a press conference with the actress, where she spoke briefly with journalists about her role in the film, how she chooses her projects, what it was like working with Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds and more.
Check it out below.
Was it a letdown being in an action film and not getting to do any action scenes? Or was it a relief?
Mary-Louise Parker: Not really, because generally, the heavy action scenes require big resets afterwards so there’s hours in between takes. There’s a lot of sitting around and a lot of technicalities. I prefer getting to interact with the other actors. Unless you’re being dragged to the ground and sheltered by Bruce Willis, they’re really not that fun actually. [laughs]
You’ve done a lot of TV and a lot of film, do you have a preference?
Mary-Louise Parker:Â I really prefer acting in the theatre the most actually. In some ways TV is closer to that because there’s more of a regularity to the schedule. You have to finish an episode by a certain day you know. Movies can just go on forever. With TV, there’s a continuum with the crew and the cast so you feel like you have a sense of community, which is similar to theatre. Honestly though, I’ll act anywhere. When I did Weeds people tried to talk me out of it. They were like “there’s nothing on Showtime, Showtime isn’t cool.” [laughs]
How do you choose your projects?
Mary-Louise Parker:Â It’s mostly based on my children’s schedule, that’s my first concern. With this movie, I was so flattered that Robert [Schwentke] asked me to work with him again. I really like him and respect him. And then there was Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds, so that was a huge plus. And it was also one of the best written characters that I’ve ever had. There are some scripts that you have to make it look like you’re having fun and make it look fresh and make the character interesting and it’s a lot of work. But this, it was on the page. The writers really deserve credit here.
There’s one question that I feel like we’re all dying to get the answer to: why did you cover up your ankles in the film? [laughs]
Mary-Louise Parker:Â [laughs] That’s so funny. The boots were actually one of the biggest parts of the character. I wanted her look to really speak for who she was because she only has one costume, so it has to say everything.
How was it working with Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds?
Mary-Louise Parker:Â Well, I’m going to sound really phoney because I have nothing negative to say about either of them. They are both so principled and nice and gentleman-like. They are both different though and they both approach their work in a different way. They’re so much fun to be around and are just so nice. When you’re that successful, to be that humble, it’s rare.
What’s next for you?
Mary-Louise Parker:Â I’m doing a play on Broadway called The Snow Geese. I’m really looking forward to it.
Do you miss Nancy Botwin and do you have any hopes to bring back the character at any point?
Mary-Louise Parker: I do! It was eight years of my life and I felt so close to the crew. Hunter [Parrish] and I are still really close. I saw him a few days ago in LA actually. If there was a Weeds movie I would do it. At a certain point I can’t keep putting on the cut-offs though, I’m going to be 49 soon, so at a certain point you got to move on I guess.
You’ve been described as the thinking man’s sex symbol, how does that feel?
Mary-Louise Parker: Well, it’s better than the dumb man’s sex symbol, right? [laughs] I would take either though.
That concludes our interview but we’d like to thank Mary for talking with us. Be sure to check out  R.I.P.D., in theatres tomorrow.
