An Interview with Glenn Close (continued)

Was the square dancing a new thing for you?
They shot me at 8:30 in the morning. And it was one of those times where you just had to say, okay, just be brave, go ahead. Go on there, you can do it. It was like, when I did the voice of Kala in Tarzan, and I was in a booth and they are saying, make gorilla noises. And somehow you screw up your courage and do it. It was one of those moments.

You are very fit lady. Do aerobics come effortlessly to you?
I worked out for two months in order to prepare for this part, because I knew that I'd have a very, very, very tight corset on because they wanted me to have a very, very small waist. And it was wanted to look a little inhuman. So you just have to be in good shape for that. So I worked out very hard.

Were you able to eat or drink when you were wearing such tight corsets?
You can't drink much because you can't take it off easily. It takes too long. So you become quite dehydrated, and that's not great. I had a dresser who literally squeezing me in like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind.

The way Connecticut is depicted in the movie is interesting and amusing. How do you think the locals will take to the comedy?
I grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. So I hope they have a sense of humour. But it might be a little close to the bone. There are a lot of big spec houses now all across Connecticut, a lot of ostentatious showing of wealth, and so some will like it and some won't.

What do you think of a society based on image?
I think it's very unhealthy. I have a 16-year-old daughter, and I suffer for her. It is very difficult for girls. They're told to look one way, but to act another way. And it's very confusing, and not good. They have to be careful, think before they act, which is not necessarily something they're actually able to biologically do.

How do you get on with your daughter?
I just try to keep communicating with her, and I'm curious about what's on her mind. She says, mom, I tell you a lot, but I don't tell you everything. So I'm hoping that what she doesn't tell me won't hurt her.