Gina Gershon: as bold as she is free, she's coming out swinging and singing in two brand-new cult-perfect movies

Interview, Oct, 2003 by Don Was

DW: No. So can you clear this up? Did you sucker-punch Bob?

GG: No. We were boxing, and I legitimately knocked him down. He laughed; he thought it was funny. And I was horrified--I thought I'd broken his jaw. We've been friends ever since. He gave me a jab and I just reacted. You have to understand, I grew up with a big brother, so if someone hits me, I react and hit back.

DW: Rematch! [both laugh] Anyway, back to your choices as an actor. Tell me more ...

GG: Hopefully you choose a character because there's a part of it you understand. And it could just be the shadow parts--if you integrate those dark shadow parts into your life that you normally keep pushing away, they don't have that power over you anymore. And in any art, if you don't have that darkness, who cares?

DW: That's why I think many people prefer that artists take the journey for them. Like mythological characters--dream up Hercules or Ulysses, and let them take the journey. And I think that's why people don't want anything false in their music--because you're their surrogate. I think we had a great conversation, Gina.

GG: We always have great conversations, and this one we'll make public.

Producer Don Was has worked with such artists as the Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt.