May 14 - 20, 2023
celebrityq&a
BY JAY BOBBIN
Amanda Peet OF FATAL ATTRACTION ON PARAMOUNT+
‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ is California leavin’ with Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J
Q: In the series version of “Fatal Attraction,” it’s incumbent on you and Joshua Jackson to portray a marriage that infidelity could disrupt deeply. Did you know his work previously? A: I had tried to work with Josh many times. The two of us had tried to do a romantic comedy, and wouldn’t you know this is this thing where we finally got to work together? I think he’s brilliant, so I was really excited to do this with him. I also knew his stage work. I think he’s been underrated because he’s done so nicely for himself, but I definitely feel like he’s a force acting-wise. Q: You’ve generated some of your own work in recent years, such as co-creating and co-writing the Netflix series “The Chair.” Can you describe the appeal for you in doing that? A: It’s a great joy to be able to sit down and work without waiting for my agent to call me and say, “We have an audition!” As many people have said before me, there’s a whole aspect of being an actor that’s a little bit like having a terrible boyfriend. For most of us, there’s a fair amount of waiting ... but not if you’re Cate Blanchett or Julia Roberts. With writing, I can just go ahead and do that anytime and anywhere. And in my sweatpants. Q: Being married to former “Game of Thrones” show-runner David Benioff, do you bounce your own creative ideas off of him? A: Yes, and I hope this doesn’t sound too corny, but I consider him a mentor. I had thought about going back to school, to get the kind of critiques in class when you’re a writer – but instead, I had my husband, and also D.B. Weiss (also of “Game of Thrones”) and D.B.‘s wife, Andrea Troyer (also of “The Chair”). We have a little writers’ group, and that’s not always pleasant, but it’s necessary.
Find out what’s happening in your town! Call 815-223-3200 or visit us online at www.newstrib.com to subscribe today! Chris O’Donnell stars in “NCIS: Los Angeles,” airing the first half of a two-part series finale Sunday on CBS.
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