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10 Questions with "On the Line" Star
Emmanuelle Chriqui
Emmanuelle Chriqui |
Canadian native Emmanuelle Chriqui stars in the new Miramax film On the Line as the dream girl of *NSYNC's Lance Bass. She began her acting career on the children's television network in Toronto "YTV." She recently finished adding several new films to her rapidly increasing repetoire, including Steven Spielberg's A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) with Jude Law, and 100 Girls for director Michael Davis.
She can also be seen in such films as Snow Day with Chevy Chase, Chris Elliot and Mark Webber; New Line Cinema's Detroit Rock City; and Ricky 6, written and directed by Peter Filardi (The Craft), which made its world premiere at Montreal's Fantasia Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award.
Her first acting job was in a McDonalds commercial. "I was the one who had the dancing cheeseburger on my sweatshirt," recalls Chriqui, chuckling. TV commercials gave way to small parts on TV shows -- "One line, two lines, three lines, it was a slow build," she remembers.
Telefilms and guest shots on Canadian-based TV series such as Traders, Forever Knight, Kung Fu, Once A Thief and PSI Factor, followed. Then Hollywood came calling.
Today the "slow build" is over, and now instead of having fast food on her T-shirt, Chriqui's face will be on the fast food wrappers pushing On the Line.
But if you're looking for a similar change in Chriqui herself, forget it. She's still charming, beautiful, and a delightful person to be "On the Line" with.
TEN QUESTIONS
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SportsHollywood: What's your favorite sport?
CHRIQUI: Basketball. I go to all the games at the Staples Center. The Lakers are fun to watch... (looks around, guilty) But I love the Clippers.
SportsHollywood: Where were you born?
CHRIQUI: I was born in Montreal and I was raised in Toronto. I live in L.A. now. I've lived in Vancouver, New York a couple of times. I was very nomadic for a couple of years, but L.A. is my home now.
SportsHollywood: You're well-known in Canada because of your TV career there, but you're relatively new in Hollywood. Are you ready for the notoriety this film might bring?
CHRIQUI: I think I'm ready. The reality of it is that it might or might not happen. I'm still pretty anonymous.
SportsHollywood: Do you get a lot of autograph requests?
CHRIQUI: It's building -- slowly. Especially when I'm with the guys. *NSYNC fans know who I am, because of the film. They ask for autographs -- but from Lance.
Chriqui with Joey and Lance |
SportsHollywood: So, I hear you got to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with Lance and Joey for the crowd at Wrigley Field during a Cubs game.
CHRIQUI: They sang! I mouthed it. I didn't even know the lyrics of the song! I just stuck my head out the Window and pretended. I'm not a big baseball fan. I follow the World Series and stuff like that, but basketball is my game.
SportsHollywood: You got to hang out with Lance for a month in Canada before your scenes, so you could build the chemistry of your characters. What waas that like?
CHRIQUI: We had a friendship blossom. We became such GREAT friends -- beyond the film. To this day we'll talk on the phone, go places...
SportsHollywood: What do you do for fun in Los Angeles?
CHRIQUI: I love to go dancing. Unfortunately, the really great clubs in L.A. are "much the scene," so they're a bit rough, but that goes with the territory. So I just stay on the dance floor. I love relaxing! I love yoga. And I love meditation and I love music and I love traveling. I love hanging out with my friends.
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SportsHollywood: What was it like working with Lance and Joey?
CHRIQUI: Wonderful. It's been so much fun to be a part of this movie! That's how it's been for the last six months! Every time we get together it's so much fun. A pleasure.
SportsHollywood: Were you an *NSYNC fan before the movie?
CHRIQUI: Before this I wasn't an *NSYNC fan in any way. I heard their songs on the radio, but I didn't know their names or what the albums were called. But I think it was a good thing, because when I went into the audition and I was a fan I think I would have froze if I saw Lance.
But I became a fan, working with them and sharing the experience with them.
SportsHollywood: What was your audition like with Lance?
CHRIQUI: (Laughing) I was sick as a dog! I had the worst cold and sore throat, and I was really medicated! And I got the call-back with Lance, and all I could think about the whole time was how I wanted to get back home and go to sleep. I had done the audition and I was, like, at have my vocal capability. It was terrible. And so I left the audition and I felt horrible for two reasons now - I felt physically ill, and it was the worst audition ever! I called my manager and I told him, "You've got to get me back in there, because I felt so badly." But apparently they didn't think so! So being sick worked in my favor!
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SportsHollywood: Did you ever think through the part of how it would feel to have this boy pusuing you like Lance in the film?
CHRIQUI: I think it would be scary! It's stalking! (Big laugh) But I guess what make it all right is that she felt this connection on the train. She walked away thinking about him. So when she finally sees him again it's, like, "Wow! There really was something there!"
SportsHollywood: Has anybody ever pursued you like Kevin in the film?
CHRIQUI: No! Not at all!!! I've had flowers and little notes sent to me, but as far as big signs and the things in the movie, Hell, no!
Interview by Jeff Hause
"ON THE LINE" EXCLUSIVE FEATURES
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Emmanuelle Chriqui
Films: On the Line (2001); Cruel Intentions II (2001); Storytelling (2001); A.I. (2001); Ricky 6, aka Say You Love Satan (2000); 100 Girls (2000); Snow Day (2000); Detroit Rock City (1999)
Television: Futuresport (1998); Cuori in campo aka Greener Fields (1998); Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998); Principal Takes a Holiday (1998); Giver, The (1997); Unwed Father (1997)
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