I guess you sort of had a Sliding Doors experience with
Brad Pitt?
Yeah. I mean Brad never did anything wrong, so don't get
that idea. But there are some emotional similarities,
definitely. When I did the film, I was in a much different
place. But watching it later: Here is this girl, going,
'You're really smart and nice and under different
circumstances something might happen between us...but I'm
going through this major breakup right now.' Wow! It's art
imitating life.

How do you feel about Gwyneth now--as an independent
person?
Hmmm...What do I want to say about this? It's great to be
by myself. I've learned a lot. You have to know who you
are, irrespective of the company you keep. That's a lot of
becoming a grown-up.

Speaking of grown-up things, is Perfect Murder finished?
Yes. Michael Douglas is so scary in this movie! It's going
to be a smart, fun thriller. But I broke one of my cardinal
rules.

Which was?
I held a gun in a movie. I swore to myself there were two t
hings I'd never, ever do. One was to hold a gun, and the
other was to say 'Objection, your honor' before I'd reached
a reasonable age. I don't want to be some ridiculous, skinny
blond girl as 'the lawyer.' Like, I'm so sure you went to
law school.

There's a Grisham coming up...
No, no, no! I turned down a Grisham, but they ended up not
making it. And I wasn't a lawyer--I was a bad girl.

You also turned down Titanic. Are you sorry?
No! Are you insane?

Who was the first person who you were really excited to
work with?
It was Meg Ryan when I was doing Flesh and Bone. Before
that, I had one line in one of those cheesy John Travolta
movies, and I'd done a little scene in Hook. I'd known
Steven Spielberg my whole life. So, when I got Flesh and
Bone, I said, 'Meg Ryan! She's just so cool!' I was really
thrilled.

Is it tough following your own instincts?
I'm so glad I have opinions, because if I didn't, I think
I'd feel completely lost. I'd wonder, Should I have done
that movie? But I'm led very strongly by the way I react
to things when I read them. That makes my decisions safe.