cameron diaz movies
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Chapter 4 - Cruise, Cruz and Diaz: The Love Triangle
 Although Cruz's part in "Abre Los Ojos (1997)" and "Vanilla Sky" are technically the same, Cruz adamantly considers the two Sofias completely different women."It really wasn't the same part at all, and I felt like I was in an entirely different movie," Cruz says. "Cameron brought out so much more of the love story between Sofia and David. You got to know much more about Sofia as a person through their relationship in 'Vanilla Sky. ' That's why it never felt like I was redoing a role I had already played. "
Cruz is a friendly, open woman whose staggering beauty belies an engaging, ingenuous goofy streak that manifests itself in her fondness for the animated hit, "South Park. " She also has a big-hearted ability to take a joke. For example, Crowe and cinematographer John Toll delighted in sometimes hiding wicked little notes for the actress to discover on the set during her scenes. The Spanish-born Cruz's reactions to these playful pranks, as well as her occasional malapropisms, earned her some good-natured ribbing and the nickname "Lupe," which Crowe bestowed on her. In fact, the director probably called out, "Action,Lupe," as much as "Action, Penélope" throughout the production.
"I didn't mind. Everyone was so kind, and all the teasing came from affection," says Cruz, who in turn cheerfully pronounced Crowe's first name with a Spanish cadence, camarn, which in Spanish means, "shrimp. "
Names, in fact, were a big issue on "Vanilla Sky. " Between Tom's and Penlope's similar last names, Cruise and Cruz, and especially between Crowe's and Diaz's identical first names, Cameron, monikers were a bit confusing. Ultimately, Cameron Diaz answered to "CD. "
"Yes, the solution was to call me CD. It took me awhile to get used to it because I'm usually the only Cameron in the room," Diaz notes. "People would talk to Cameron Crowe, and I'd instinctively respond. It was always very surprising, but it wasn't bad. In fact, it was fun to have a new name. "
Diaz says her character, Julie Gianni, is a vulnerable woman despite her outward assurance and allure. She finds herself in a precarious emotional position common to many women.
"Julie is the good-time girl, the one who always knows how to make people, especially guys, feel comfortable without any pressure. But that isn't enough for her anymore, especially once she meets David Aames and falls in love with him. They don't make that commitment to one another, and at first, that's fine. But when we meet Julie in the film, she's trying to define the direction of the relationship, and that affects everything in her life. "
Diaz explains that she was drawn to the role because Julie not only has a unique personality, but she is also someone with whom many women can relate.
"She's 27 years old, she's not in a committed relationship, and her career is in transition," Diaz says. "She feels disconnected, even desperate, and then she meets David Aames. She loves him, and he seems to have feelings for her, but the relationship is not quite coming to fruition. Slowly, she realizes he won't protect her, he won't be her knight, and she loses her step a little bit."
Diaz adds, "I think that all women have experienced that moment in their life when they're just not getting what they need from a relationship, and instead of walking away, they keep trying. I think we've all driven by a guy's house on the way home, just to see if the lights are on, because he didn't call. And Julie's gotten into that place, with very dire consequences. I understood what she was going through. It was pure pain, and when you are in pain, you do stupid things. If she had another chance, if she was able to get some perspective, Julie would probably do things differently."
Meanwhile, Diaz's off-screen relationship with her co-star Cruise was much more rewarding than Julie's fictional one with David Aames.
"Tom brought complete humanity to the role," Diaz says. "He's got everything that David Aames doesn't have, in that he is caring, compassionate and generous. David Aames might have all the charm that Tom has, but he can't be there for people. He can't commit to anyone or anything, not to his friends, or to his career. He lives in a self-centered world, which doesn't mean he's a bad guy. It's just that that he keeps life at a distance, in a very appealing, but ultimately, lonely way. "
A friendly working relationship between the two on-screen rivals, Diaz and Cruz, also developed, and together with their shared on-screen paramour Cruise, the trio had a great time. In fact, though the three actors didn't share many scenes together, they were inseparable on those days that their work dovetailed, laughing and joking between takes. Both Cruz and Diaz attribute that happy environment to Crowe and Cruise and their passion for the project.
"Cameron and Tom are so thoughtful and appreciative that it was always a pleasure and fun to come to the set," Cruz says. "There was a sense of friendship and playfulness that created a safe place to do the best work possible, to explore the characters and their relationships."
According to Cruz, Crowe worked in a particularly nurturing way with her. Often rehearsing with her off-set, he'd toss her not just new lines, but also less obvious artistic cues, from various sounds, to Spanish expressions, to feelings. It was a lot like a jazz musician riffing with a band mate.
"It was a very organic kind of acting," Cruz says. "Cameron and Tom made it all very safe and comfortable to play with new ideas. Cameron encouraged me to experiment, too. He talked to me all during the takes, suggesting different things for my character. It was a very exciting way to work, really thrilling. "
Diaz agrees with Cruz. "Cameron and Tom were two people that I wanted to work with for a long time, so this was a great opportunity. Cameron is the nicest man who ever walked the earth. He's so generous and gifted. He really knows how to be there, to be present, and he totally loves his actors. Tom is so supportive, and was there for us every second, in terms of acting, so it was like constant, instant gratification with him. And Cameron, he knows what he wants. His style is so laid-back, and when you do something he likes, he's so enthusiastic that you can't help but want to please him. It was a wonderful atmosphere on the set, and the team of Tom and Cameron was amazing. They really connect creatively, they speak the same language, and they have great chemistry that they convey with such joy and energy. We all really enjoyed one another as people. "
The feeling is mutual for Crowe, who admits that he is a big fan of his stars, not just because of their acting ability, but because of whom they are.
"These are all people that just kind of voraciously enjoy every minute of the process, and I was inspired by them," says Crowe. "Penélope throws herself into the experience of filmmaking, Cameron Diaz is the same wayand Tom, he's legendarily known for that. It's really telling that many of the very biggest stars are fans of the process themselves. The joy shows in the way they act. "
"Cameron Diaz, Penélope Cruz, Jason Lee, Kurt Russell, all of these people are professionals, and they really brought their game on this picture," adds Cruise. "We were like a community of people all working with the same intention and working toward the same goal to make the best picture we can. In fact, the mood on every set Cameron works on is one of generosity and communion. "
Besides reaping the benefits of Crowe's insightful direction, Diaz also received an additional gift from him in the form of a theme song for her character.
"Julie is making a transition in her career from model to singer, and she's cut an album," Diaz explains. "So she's got this CD that she shuffles around town, trying to get people interested in her music. Her songs, of course, are inspired by her life, and the song we hear, naturally, is called I Fall Apart. Well, Cameron Crowe is married to Nancy Wilson from Heart. I grew up listening to that rock band, and I used to stare at the album covers of these talented, beautiful women. My sister and I were in awe of them, and we saw them in concert 400 times. So, at one point, Cameron told me, 'We have this song we'd like you to sing. Actually, Nancy has been working on it, and she wants to come in to sing it for you, to find out what you think about it. ' I thought, Nancy Wilson wants MY opinion? I was completely stunned. "
Diaz and Wilson later recorded I Fall Apart in the same studio that Fleetwood Mac recorded the record-breaking album, "Rumors. "
"The whole experience was really cool," Diaz says. "Of course, they had to add some of Nancy's voice over mine, but I'm still totally delighted. "
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