Jill Ritchie – In the Fast Lane

Q.  What are the current projects that you are working on?

A.  The next project that I am going to be working on is a movie called Southland Tales, directed by Richard Kelly, who directed Donnie Darko.  This is his long awaited next project and it’s starring The Rock and Sarah Michelle Gellar and I will be having the part opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar in it.

Q.  You just starred in Herbie: Fully Loaded, what made you want to be a part of this project?

A.  What made me want to be a part of Herbie was the director Angela Robinson who is a really close friend of mine who I met working on the film D.E.B.S.and we work together great.  I’ll do anything that Angela is working on and it’s a big huge budget Disney film, I’ve never done a big budgeted film.  It was really just kind of interesting for me to go there and to do something that big and publicized. 

Q.  What can you tell us about Herbie and your character for those who haven’t seen the movie yet?

A.  Herbie is a remake of Herbie The Love Bug from back in the day and it is kind of an updated version Nascar style.  It’s really fun and real cute, children will love it.  My character is a friend of Lindsay Lohan’s character who is just kind of this bubbly Beverly Hills girl who gives Lindsay advice when she needs it. 

Q.  What was it like reuniting with director Angela Robinson on this project after previously working with her on D.E.B.S.?

A.  It was great, I mean every actor I think desires to have those directors who want to continually work with you.  A lot of the actors I admire work with the same director and you kind of develop a relationship.  Angela is just now blowing up, I mean she’s got a deal with Disney and it’s just exciting to have a director who thinks that highly of you.  She said so many wonderful things about me to so many people, to have that kind of support from her I am forever indebted to her, whatever she wants from me. 

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from working on Herbie?

A. This was a pretty crazy experience working with all of those big movie stars like Matt Dillon.  I guess maybe my most memorable moment is when Michael Keaton just kind of talked to me and gave me a little advice about acting.  He told me about a great acting book to read and study and kind of gave me some advice about the camera.  That was definitely always stand out in my mind as an actor who is getting going and learning the craft, trying to learn it the best that I can.  Someone like him who has been doing it so long, it was really like, “Wow, I can’t believe this guy is actually talking to me and telling me this stuff!”  So, it was really fun and I think that would be it.

Q.  Speaking of D.E.B.S., the DVD was just recently released.  You and a few other cast members provided commentary for the DVD.  What was that process like for you?

A.  It was silly, it was fun, you get like four girls in a room and what are you going to talk about?  The way you look, boys, outfits, that’s what girls do.  So, like any other situation whether we’d be out for dinner for cocktails or whatever, it was pretty much what we did with the commentary.  It was fun, it was different, I haven’t even actually heard the commentary yet, I’m afraid of what we sound like.  It was cute, it was fun!

Q.  You have such terrific comedic timing in the film.  Have you studied this ability or is it something that comes naturally to you?

A.  Oh boy, I think it’s a little bit of both.  But I do think that comedic energy is just something that you are kind of given.  I just happen to be that kind of person in my real life, I try not to take myself too seriously.  I just kind of make jokes, but I think comedy just comes out of being there and in the material.  I don’t think it’s about trying to be funny and I think that naturally my expressions and my personality come across kind of comedic and kind of quirky.  I have never really studied it, I’ve studied acting, I’m still currently studying acting but the type of acting that I study is not about comedy or drama.  They just teach you how to be a great actor, I just think great writing kind of lends itself and if you just pair it with someone who just has that comedic timing you know it comes across that way.  It’s nothing that I’ve ever really sat down and tried to study. 

Q.  There are so many hilarious and amazing lines in the film.  Do you have a favorite line from your character Janet?

A.  I think I say something like, one of the other girls says “I don’t care if you’re the perfect score,” and I kind of as an aside say “the perfect whore!”  I remember when I read that line, I was like “this is going to be funny.”  It’s so witty, Angela has such a witty sense of humor and hysterical, there are so many great lines that she gave me.  That definitely stands out as one of them!

Q.  What do you think it is about the movie D.E.B.S. that has captivated so many people?

A.  I think D.E.B.S. has so many layers to it, you know one person wants to call it a gay film and another person calls it like a chick flick.  Another person calls it a spy girls film, it’s really all of that and I think that the love story that happens to be between two women is so neat.  It can be a man and a woman, it’s just a cute little movie about a love story and about two people who are not supposed to be together that end up falling in love.  That’s life, that’s everywhere, that’s everyday, so I think that and also it’s got that cool Indie feel and who doesn’t want to see four girls running around in Catholic school uniforms.

Q.  What would you say is your latest obsession? Are you into any particular book, sport, music group or activity?

A.  I guess I am reading this book called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and I must say that every single human being I really think should read this.  It’s kind of changed my life, that’s been an obsession, I love what I do but I don’t want it to take over my entire life.  I really am working on trying to the best human being that I can be, I think that this business can be kind of self serving, you can get really wrapped up in yourself.  I am trying now that I’ve got my foot in the door and I’ve obsessed so much about the business so long, I’m trying to take a step back and read that book and try and become a better person.  I just got engaged and I’m just anticipating life!

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  In my spare time I spend a lot of time with my friends, going to dinner.  I love to go out to dinner and kind of hang out, I go to acting class, which I really enjoy.  I knit, I’ll go to the movies, or watch movies on TV or watch my favorite TV shows, that’s about it that I do with my free time.

Q.  Is there something that you would like to say to fans and supporters of your career?

A.  I would like to say thank you so much and I hope that you guys continue to come out and support all of my projects.