Mister D: This is an excerpt from Ms. Smith’s column about the screening of “Match Point” in New York City.
NYP
Liz Smith
December 16th, 2005
AFTER THE screening Woody, the en tire cast and stars such as Bette Midler, Willem Dafoe, Matthew Modine, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marcia Gay Harden, Michael Stipe, Jeff Daniels, Patricia Clarkson, Alec Baldwin, Josh Lucas, Helena Christensen, Michael Imperioli and dozens more jammed into the Harbor Room of the Soho Grand.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who looks taller and even more dangerously alluring in person, bristled a bit when somebody jocularly referred to his character as a sociopath. “He’s not a sociopath. He’s a nice guy caught in an impossible situation!” O-kay!
Photo: Peter Kramer (Bette chatting with Chaz Palminteri after the screening of Woody Allen’s “Match Point”)
Miss Johansson, glamorously dressed in black, hair down in sexy waves and made-up to the nines, looked ravishing and is remarkably self-assured. The teenager she was just recently, is still touchingly evident. Although by now she should be used to parties, fawning, petting and compliments, she was stunned when Bette Midler approached, embraced her and said that she is on the cusp of gigantic stardom. “Bette Midler!” Scarlett gasped, after The Divine One had swept out. “Bette Midler!”
The actress has worked nonstop, and though one feels she is level-headed enough to realize she could safely take a break, she also recognizes the merry-go-round of keeping herself “hot” and available. She has made remarkably intelligent choices, but surely the grind is killing?
“Well, I like to work. But who doesn’t get tired,” she says, tugging modestly on her one-shoulder gown, so as to make sure it is only a shoulder that is revealed. “But I have my little dog. I have something warm and cuddly to come home to. That means a lot.”
On screen she has just denoted every adult passion. In person, in a dark, crowded room where everybody begins their remarks with “Darling, you’re fabulous, the greatest . . . the biggest . . . the best . . . ” Scarlett Johansson keeps it real, warm and cuddly.
