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TOTAL MOVIE MAGAZINE Feb/Mar 2001 Hype: People we want to see more of Submitted By Aaron Tom |
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O
ur favorite Lolita is an independent woman
"I don't really listen to what anyone says, which is why my resume has a
few shady areas," says independent film darling Dominique Swain. "If I want
to do the project, basically, I do it."
It's that attitude that's landed the 20-year-old actress roles in no
fewer than nine flicks in the last two years. This year you'll get to see
her as a nutjob sorority girl who's afraid she's retarded (Pumpkin), a
semi-psychotic cheerleader (Happy Campers), a girlfriend driven insane by the
confines of a small boat (Dead in the Water), and an abused wife out to take
her revenge (Briar Patch). "I think all of my characters end up becoming
insane as soon as I take them on," she says with a laugh. "Someday I'd like
to play someone who's criminally insane, with the padded walls and
everything."
Following a bit-part as John Travolta's daughter in Face/Off, Swain saw
her career potential break wide open opposite Jeremy Irons in Adrian Lyne's
widely banned 1997 remake of Lolita. But ever since, she's been working
counter to the Hollywood pattern of going after bigger roles and budgets.
"With independent movies, there really aren't any rules--it's kind of like a
big family that's working toward an idealistic goal," she says. "I can't say
that I wouldn't want to be in the next Titanic, but my real goal is to build
up the sort of integrity that allows you to do whatever you want."
Taking one look at Swain, it's tough to imagine anyone not giving her
whatever she wants. But, refreshingly, she's not one of those simply "skin
deep" types, either on or off screen. "It's so easy when you're pretty,
things are just handed to you. But that's not where the interesting stories
are," she says. "Good filmmaking is really about showing audiences the best
and worst parts of life."
By Scott Warden
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