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Kirsten Dunst talks about motherhood, love and her new TV series
LOS ANGELES — The last time we talked to the lovely Kirsten Dunst was when she portrayed Edwina Dabney in “The Beguiled” two years ago.
Now 37 and engaged to her “Fargo” co-star Jesse Plemons, 31, Kirsten looked happy and contented.
A new mom, Kirsten is now the mother of a 15-month-old son Ennis Howard Plemons.
We interviewed her recently and she talked about love, motherhood and her new TV series, “On Becoming a God in Central Florida.” The dark comedy television series, created by Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky is about Krystal Gill, a minimum-wage-earning water park employee who schemes her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise, a multi-billion dollar pyramid scheme that ruined her family.
Below are excerpts of our conversation with Kirsten:
What attracted you to the role?
For me, it was the script and the role. I hadn’t read a woman like this. I knew that whatever this journey of a character would go on would be ruthless and so challenging, and I could just lay it all on the line. It was going to be a challenging but very freeing role for me.
In what way did you relate to your character?
I read the script before I was pregnant and had a child. So, it was a fit for me then just because she was such a great female character. There aren’t that many great roles like this. It’s just, she puts it all on the line and is fearless and will get whatever she wants. So, I just loved that. I just hadn’t read a role like that. And I love comedy and dark comedy, just the whole gamut of all of that. And then, after I had a kid, I was like, “Oh! This is even more fitting now, because I don’t have to ask the mother on set, ‘Oh, when you feed them, how would you do this or that?’” Now I knew all that stuff instinctually, so it was fine.
How has motherhood change you?
Having that much joy in your life, no matter how you feel, personally, waking up and seeing that face is the best thing in the world. That sweet, smiling face just looking at you. Having so much pure love, and just watching him grow and change every day, is really the most special thing in the world. So, for me, I just feel like just being able to watch him grow up and make me laugh and all these things, I’m just so grateful that I get to experience that.
What surprised you about motherhood?
It’s just very tiring. I guess that it really does take a village, it really does. Like, friends come over, “I’m here’s the baby, bye.” Whenever you have a second to yourself, it’s just like, “Here you go. Here you go.” I never thought I’d be giving him away as much as I do. I’m like, “Have him? Yeah!” Yeah. So, we have friends come over to the house all the time, everyone likes to hang out at our house anyway. We’re one of those communal households. So, whenever I have a chance to have a time for myself, I do.
Have your sleeping patterns changed?
For a while, I had a really hard time sleeping, because I always had the monitor on my side. I moved it to Jesse’s side, now I sleep great. Because dads don’t have that inner, you know what I mean? So, I keep it on his side, and I sleep much better.
Do you have a motherly role model?
I don’t know. I’m just navigating what I think instinctually. And then I’ll ask friends and things, but there’s no one role model. I’ll just ask everybody for help or what they think.
Now that you are a parent, how has your relationship with Jesse changed?
I think, because we started out such good friends, the communication is very great. He’s like my best friend. So, it’s not like, I only feel like, that it’s made us more connected. You know, responsibilities, I feel like women often take, because our brains just work in a different way, I think that we take a lot of the anxiety, fear, and of what’s going to happen. I have so many awful thoughts that pass through my head, they couldn’t possibly happen. And I don’t think he has that. But it’s nice to have that balance too, because then he’s like, “Relax, it’s fine.” You know what I mean? So, it’s good to have a balance.
What have you learned from past relationships?
I just found my best friend. I think I got very lucky. And I knew he was a soulmate of mine; I didn’t know what capacity that would present itself.
Your character is able to read through B.S. Since you grew up in the industry, where did your ability to know who you are come from?
I think because you meet so many different types of people and you have to deal with so many different personalities on a set, especially from a young age, you can work with people who you don’t like, a lot of the time. But you have navigate the waters, and what makes you feel comfortable, setting up boundaries from a very early age. You’re like, know your safe zones, know who you like to hang out with. Know who, like, not so much, or whatever it is. I think that your intuition gets more and more astute the older you get.
How do you overcome your roadblocks?
I think it’s a moment-by-moment thing, sometimes. I don’t know. Sometimes you can wake up and like, “Uh, I’m not in the mood.” And then you’re like, you just have to be present and see what other people give you. And you can either have an openness, which I think I do, or you can just stay in a rut, and in your own world. But I like people. So, always the days where I feel like it’s going to be not the greatest, turn out to be good, because I didn’t expect something.
You have a new show and a new family so it looks like a wonderful time in your life. Can you talk a little bit more about it?
I’m very emotional about it, because I had a baby and then I had this baby (the show). So it’s like watching these things develop and grow. And just, if someone likes it or whatever. I just have so much pride, so I’m just going to allow myself to be really proud and happy.
What attributes do you have for making a good motivator?
I grew up in this business for a long time, and part of being an actor is keeping a childlike sense of things. But also, I think that you’re getting savvy and protecting yourself in this industry, and not letting it take a hold of you in any negative way is an important thing. Because it can be very hard, especially if you’re a true artist. It can be very disappointing. —JST, GMA News
