Do we really need another Austen film about the manners and
mores of early 19th-century England? 
Paltrow: I had read Sense and Sensibility and Pride and
Prejudice, but not Emma. When I read it, I thought, It's
brilliant---and so funny and sweet. We're so starved for
that kind of material. In this time of email, phones and
movies about explosions and car crashes and aliens blowing
things up, it's nice to have a film that's about people and
the mistakes they make, and falling in love.

Wasn't it risky trying to match British accents with all
those dyed-in-the-wool limey actors? 
At first, I thought, Oh brother, I've really bitten off
more than I can chew. By the second week, the English crew
were teaching me Cockney rhyming slang.

Are they bringing out a line of Emma Barbies? 
If they do, I hope I have the licensing.

Emma's a meddler and a wanna-be matchmaker--she pokes her
nose into everything. Is that close to home? 
I don't share any of those qualities. I'm no matchmaker. I
pretty much let people alone. But I loved Emma, though at
times I hated her. I disliked the ruthless way she is
determined to help, no matter what cost to the person she's
helping. She thinks she knows everything. But I think it's
important to see a heroine who is not perfect and makes
mistakes and feels the pain of those mistakes--and then
ultimately grows and learns from that.

Isn't there some irony in the fact that Emma is a gossip
and in real life, since you've been going with Brad, you've
become a prime gossip target? 
I can see the irony--and yes, we're trying to cope. It's
difficult to explain. I can understand why we're interesting
to people, but I just feel like nothing's different. And I
sometimes forget that I'm a recognizable person. Then
suddenly I see someone staring at me at the supermarket and
I think, Oh God!

Has it dampened your private life? 
Yes, but the whole thing is silly. We can't go to a mall,
can't go to any tourist sites. We go to restaurants and
bookstores, walk around, ride our bikes in Manhattan, until
someone goes, "Omigod--it's Brad!" Sometimes we go to a bar
with friends, and then within minutes the bar owner is on
the phone giving play-by-play reports. I don't know if
anyone's gone through our garbage. Maybe they have. When
Brad finished shooting 12 Monkeys, Bruce Willis gave him a
paper shredder.

Then how do you retain your privacy? 
We go to movies to support our friends. But we hang out
alone, read papers, have coffee, watch Unsolved Mysteries
or have friends over for dinner and laugh and play
Pictionary. All very normal.