Sissy's Redemption Part Two

By: Pamela Harland
Date: Thursday, February 21, 2002

After first making a name for herself in the title role of Brian De Palma's cult horror flick CARRIE, Sissy Spacek went on to win an Academy Award for her turn as country singer Loretta Lynn in COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER. In the years since, the actress' career has had the expected run of ups and downswith the ups including a total of a half-dozen Academy Award nominations. Among those Oscar nods is one for her latest performance in the drama IN THE BEDROOM. Today, Spacek continues her discussion about the film.

Playing an

overprotective mother mourning the loss of her son wasn't an easy place to go for this real life mother of two, according to the actress.

"I've never been able to completely remove myself," admits Spacek. "The tears that I cry are real. I think as a human being no one gets through life unscathed. We're humans. We live the human experience and we've all experienced tragedy and sorrow and grief. That's where I go. I go to the deepest, darkest reaches. It was hard but it was such a beautiful story that I couldn't not go there."

The ensemble cast, says Spacek, was thrilled to do the film from the start. The experience became even sweeter, though, when such a large audience accepted and embraced the film.

"We were

there because we wanted to be there," says Spacek. "It was really something we did for all the right reasons and it was fun. Todd Field, I can't say enough about him and I think he is going to be a director to reckon with."

Getting roles like this is difficult for any actor says Spacek, in particular females. But they are out there: it's just the ability to find the right ones for you.

"I think that I've always been choosy," says Spacek. "I've not always been competitive in terms of the roles. I believe the ones that you are supposed to do, you'll do. And the ones that you're not supposed to do, you won't."

In fact, this 30-year veteran is less hung up on being a movie star and just fine being a character actress which, in effect, affords her more opportunities and freedom to do what she wants to do.

"I take

it as such a huge compliment to be called a character actress because I am untrained," reveals Spacek. "I've had a little bit of training in the beginning and I've had on the job training. I've been blessed to work with great directors and great actors and I've learned from all of them. As my career has progressed, I've gotten older and I've felt more free to do the character stuff. I am really having a lot of fun right now."

Recognizing and appreciating good material comes with age, says Spacek, who is set to appear in two new films AGAINST THE CURRENT and TUCK EVERLASTING - this year.

"To me it's all about the work," smiles Spacek, "and just doing good work and working with talented filmmakers."