ERIKA CHRISTENSEN

I barely recognize Erika Christensen. In the photos I’ve seen, she’s all luxurious curls, gazelle legs and a predatory, yet playful look in the eye — a distinctively “up-and-coming-starlet” kind of glance which invariably appears coquettish over the top of expensive sunglasses. The girl who walks up to meet me is small and sweet and simultaneously rosy-cheeked and pale-skinned in that way they call “milk fed.” I had expected 18-going-on-35, but Erika is 18-going-on ... 16. She’s idealistic and innocent, and has a sincerity which is immediately endearing. She is smarter than you think and more naive than you imagined, all at once. The young actress is poised on that precarious gulf which separates mid-level child star success (e.g. a lead in the Leave It to Beaver movie) with the full-blown celebrity adulthood (e.g. starring in Steven Soderberg’s highly anticipated Traffic). It’s a place where many a career has faltered, but judging by her solid sense of self (not to mention the critical raves her performance has already garnered), Erika Christensen just may land on her feet.

How was it working on Traffic with Steven Soderberg?
Isn’t he brilliant? He’s a director’s director. I talked to other directors about him, and they love what he’s doing. He works really fast: After three takes, he’s on to the next set up. He’s calm, he knows what he wants, and he doesn’t have to lecture you to get it. It seems like he gives you a lot of freedom in your performance, but you still end up doing exactly what he needs. I play a drug addict, and I’ve never even been drunk. So that was acting! I completely trusted him. I think he’s comfortable as a director. I needed that environment for this role.

What sort of preparation did you do for the character?
Well, I went downtown... (laughs). No, I interviewed people: I talked to a former meth-head; I talked to a girl who had tried everything; I talked to a former heroin addict; and to a woman who is president of a rehab center. I also wanted all the scientific stuff — how long it takes for drugs to enter your bloodstream and how long they take to affect you. The addicts told me how it affects you mentally; how it’s the only thing you care about, and how it takes over your life. When I was cast in Traffic, I knew I was going to do a good job — I wasn't quite sure how — but once I got all the information, I really had everything I needed.

It must have been quite an experience to go from starring in the Leave it To Beaver movie to playing a dope addict in a film like Traffic.
No kidding. I’m wondering what my grandparents are going to say when they see the film. They’ve seen me play roles that are a little bit funkier, but they haven’t seen me do a sex scene. There’s no nudity or anything, but I do have a sex scene. They know what’s in the film though — we’ve warned them. Still, it’s going to be funny! And my friends, oh man! Yeah, the differences in the roles are huge. At the audition, I just kind of gathered a few things in my head that I thought an addict would do — subtle little physical things. I had the idea that she would be sort of confused, so things would come out a little backwards. I just went with that, and I guess Soderberg liked it. I just decided what I needed to do to make the role real. There are two sides of the character. With her family, she’s a normal kid: She gets great grades in school and is the president of her class. Then, there’s the other side of her. I think some people around me thought that playing this role would somehow traumatize me, but I’m completely objective. You don’t take a role like this home. It’s not healthy.

This must be a delicate transition for you: to move from a child actor into more adult roles. That seems to be the time when a lot of actors get lost in the shuffle.
Yeah, I’m so thrilled that this is my first adult movie — one that deals with real issues and a real message. You’d think that you wouldn’t have to tell people that drugs are bad. You’d think that was common knowledge, but you really have to beat them over the head with it. You’re destroying your life! Whoever gets into this sort of thing is destroying his or her life and I hope that the movie succeeds in driving that message home. The character that I play is not someone you’d expect to be a drug addict. The cliche of the drug addict is not necessarily a true one.

What attracted you to acting in the first place?
Just the creation of it. I knew I would be miserable if I didn’t do it. I don’t want to get all dramatic about it, but it is basically the only thing I care about. With stage acting, there’s this incredible rush from interacting with the audience. With film acting, everything is subtle; the camera picks everything up, so you really have to hone your skills. I knew I wanted to be an actress when I was 12. I started working right away making commercials. I told my parents what I wanted to do, and they supported me and helped me find the right people. I love them for that.

I know that your family isn’t in the industry. Were they at all ill-at-ease with you deciding to become involved in that world?
No, they’re totally supportive. The other day, they came to a photo shoot and their jaws dropped when they saw me in a low-cut down. You know: “our little girl!” But they have always been really supportive of me doing this. Before, I was doing dancing and singing a lot, but I knew I had to focus in one direction, and it was acting. Still, it gives me a sense of excitement that sometime I could sing or dance again. Who knows? It may come in handy for a film; I know at some point I’m not going to be able to stifle it anymore. I also know I’m going to have to try writing and directing myself. I have ideas, but I know it’s not my place right now. I’m not ready. So, for now, I write notes or poems or whatever.

How much professional training did you do in acting? Do you think it comes to you naturally, or do you think you’ve had to really work to get where you are now?
It’s probably pretty natural. I think the hardest stuff to do in acting are the little things. You become self-conscious, say, when you’re trying to remember a line and pick up a drink. It’s hard to be authentic with movement. I think I have the emotion. Sometimes when I read a script where a character is supposed to be crying, I cry — just because I can imagine the situation. But I did have to learn how to portray those emotions in a real way. I study myself. One time I ws crying for real and I ran to the bathroom to see what I looked like when I cry. Now I know. I’ve learned how to make the action natural.

You say that you “study yourself.” Do you think you may have developed self-awareness more quickly than most people your age?
Yeah. Definitely. It’s kind of a perk; I feel like I know myself pretty well now. When I first started acting, I thought, “I have to be real.” So I toned everything down. Then I was kind of under-acting. I would be talking with my mom and she would stop me and say, “see how you are right now? You’re crazy. You can use that in a role if you want.” If you look at good actors, you realize they’re bringing themselves to the roles. I have to be aware of how much life I have in me. It’s not necessary to drain that out of myself for a role. Good actors make you want to know them.

You say it’s the only thing you want to do, but do you feel like you may have sacraficed your adolescence for it?
Obviously my life is different than most people’s; but I don’t think I really have missed anything — at least anything I’m interested in doing. A couple of years ago, when I was about 16, I thought “I wonder if I’ll ever go to a prom? Probably not.” But then I thought, “Oh well. I’ll go to a prom in a movie or something.” That’s sort of my answer to everything: I don’t have a sister. Maybe I’ll have one in a movie.

I’m not a junkie, but I’ll get to be one in a movie.
Right. Ironically, I ended up going to more than one prom. I get to meet people — from the school that I was in and whenever I work — although they may have to sacrafice going to their favorite bars because of me.

Come on, don’t tell me you don’t have a fake id?!
You know, I got one from a TV show... I probably shouldn’t say that. Oh my god! But I’ve never used it. I’ve never had the nerve.

And you’ve never had any typical sleezy Hollywood experiences?
It hasn’t been that bad for me. I’ve gotten a little taste here and there... But I’m just selfish. I don’t want to waste my time doing anything stupid with people that make me feel like crap or with drugs that make me not myself. I just want my life to be my own. I want to experience it all.

What sort of stuff do you want to experience through film? Are there directors who you think would help you experience those things?

Well, I’d love to work with Steven again and the other Steven — Speilberg. Schindler’s List is an amazing film. And maybe James Cameron.

Action films? Fighting the alien robots?
Yeah! That would be funny. I can’t think of a plot line that would suit me, but it would be fun. Like Linda Hamilton, I’d get all buffed up! That would definitely be fun.

Or a musical?
Hell yeah! Musicals ar great. I’m totally into stuff like that. I love it! I think somebody should bring them back. If they don’t, I will! I love to sing and dance.

It’s coming back. There are four musicals coming out in the next few months, with two of them featuring tap dancing.
Yeah! Tap dancing is so great. I could watch that stuff for hours.

Do you find it hard as a female actor to find those kind of roles that let you experience a world you haven’t experienced? Are most of the roles you find damsel-in-distress, sexpot/love-interest roles?
There definitely aren’t many roles like the one I had in Traffic. That was a dream. I’m really glad to have had a part in it. But I’m not one of those women who needs to always portray female characters who are strong: My character Carolyn is a damsel in distress who needs to be saved by someone else. I just want to portray women that are complex. In some ways, women are not all that different from men: We all have our own opinions and ideas to share. Still, as similar as we are, we do have different viewpoints on some things. It’s nice to see that. Maybe I’m spoiled now. If I can’t find any good roles, then I’ll just have to wait until I can write them for myself.

What kind of films would you like to write?
I read a lot of scripts and I know what moves me — stuff about family and love. I’m pretty much a softie. But when I end up writing, I think I’d have to refer back to Traffic. It’s so amazing: the way it moves, the way it weaves things together, the way it just slaps you in the face and you have to sit back and take it. I love romantic comedies and all that — and I don’t want to put down that genre at all — but I think I’m going to try to do something that really tackles an issue. I’m so anti-drugs, it’s not even funny. I mean, there are so many ways that you can get whatever drugs can give you — without ruining your life. I want people to understand and listen. You can have fun with your friends, but if it starts to be a problem, get stronger and face the world on your own without that help.

Are you adverse to any kind of drug use, even like smoking a bunch of pot with your friends and watching a movie?
I’m completely adverse to it even recreationally. I think it’s cowardly. I think you’re not taking the responsibility of creating your own fun. Because that high — whatever happiness or energy you feel — you can create that on your own.

Do you think it’s hard for some artists who maybe feel like drugs help them in their performance?
Especially for an artist, it may take more work finding that happiness without drugs. But with the work, the happiness will be real; and it won’t come with a lot of side effects. Like taking over who you are. If you’re Dumbo and you think you need the feather in your cap to fly, then you’re right; but eventually if you try it without the feather, you’ll be able to fly anyway. It will take more work — and it will take more courage and more creativity — but you can do it. You can definitely do it.

November/December 2000