Anna Faris: Not Your Typical ‘House Bunny’
Premiere talks to rising comic star Anna Faris about developing her character Shelley in ‘The House Bunny,’ why it’s liberating to play a character without a love interest, and her vow to never Google herself.

Nobody can debate Anna Faris’ status as a movie star, but few may realize the subtleties of a career that began with Scary Movie and its three riotous sequels. However, the thirty-one-year old Seattle native has carefully navigated a variety of projects over the years that buck the archetypical, brainless female roles dominating contemporary Hollywood cinema. In The House Bunny, she confronts and deconstructs those stereotypes as Shelley Darlington, a doll-faced Playboy Mansion reject whose narrow outlook on life expands when she becomes the unlikely house mother for a sorority of social rejects (including one played by Superbad’s Emma Stone).

Although Shelley seems utterly vapid (an accusation she frequently mistakes for a compliment), the character turns out to be quite perceptive under the surface. The performance ought to be viewed alongside Faris’ remarkable transition into the dazed and confused pot smoker Jane F. in Gregg Araki’s woefully underseen Smiley Face. Faris’ out-of-place goofiness works in a variety of offbeat scenarios, from The House Bunny to the Scary Movie quartet. She spoke to Premiere about the motives behind those performances, the genesis of The House Bunny, and her “deliciously awful” future role opposite Seth Rogen.

Was it hard to get Playboy interested in this project?
No. We gave the script to them right after [Adam Sandler's production company] Happy Madison and Sony were onboard. They agreed immediately and were incredibly supportive. We spent a week and a half shooting there, and it was very satisfying.

Did the magazine finance any of the film?
No, they didn’t — not that I know of. I’ve been asked a few times if I know anything about producing, and I don’t, really. I got the executive producer credit because I created the idea and sold it to the studios. I was involved in some of the decision making, but most of the time they were just like, “Oh, that actress doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” I’m still working my way up on the producing side of things.

Where did the idea come from?
I came up with it a couple of years ago. It was a specific character I had been thinking about. What happens when you’re living a very surreal Hollywood life and it’s time to move on? Do you become a lawyer? Work at Starbucks? Marry somebody wealthy? I brought the idea to the writers of Legally Blond, they wrote the script, and we pitched it together. I’d never done anything like that before.

How much contact did you have with Adam Sandler?
Adam had produced The Hot Chick, so he was really involved. We pitched [The House Bunny] to him and he was like, “Let’s do it.” When you’re Adam Sandler and you say that kind of thing, it really happens. He was on set and wrote a lot of jokes. He’s a really hardworking guy.

Were you a sorority girl?
No, I lived in a dorm off-campus. Looking back, I wish I had joined a sorority. I probably would have been much happier. I couldn’t figure out what my social group was. I was the different girl.

Speaking of different, do you think Smiley Face eventually found its audience?
I don’t know. It’s so gratifying to me when people love that movie, because it was definitely a passion project for me, and so much fun to make. I’m not sure where it is on people’s radar. I don’t even know if it’s really out there. I guess it’s at Blockbuster. I did win a Stony Award. I have my High Times bong on top of my mantle, and I love it. It’s the only award I’ve ever won.

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Red Carpet Report: ‘The House Bunny’
Premiere chats up the stars of ‘The House Bunny’ at the NYC screening about being awkward teens, rapping with Rumer Willis, and what to say when someone pinches your tail.

Leave it to actress Anna Faris to find herself sitting at home wondering what exactly happens to a Playboy Playmate after she peaks and has to move out of Hugh Hefner’s mansion. Faris, 31, turned her passing thought into her latest film, The House Bunny, and both stars and co-produces in the life-after-Playmate comedy.

“The Bunnies are so beautiful, and I am so awkward,” said Faris, who claimed that growing up she was really short, wore braces, read a lot, and didn’t have many friends in high school. Even her costume gave her some less than fabulous flashbacks. “I had a very complicated bra they had to outfit me in!” Faris revealed.

Faris describes her character Shelley Darlington as “really optimistic… She’s a kind-hearted girl with a heart of gold,” and admits in many ways Shelley is a lot like her. “I don’t know if I am as optimistic as she is, but there were times where I had to ask: ‘Am I as dumb as she is? I might be!’”

The reality is Faris is anything but dumb. Here’s what she had to say:

To get into character was there any method acting involved in this role?
There was A LOT of working out and three hours of hair and makeup every day, which I guess the Bunnies have to do too. I was wearing all those sexy outfits, and after a while I started to feel sexier. I think it was the gift that this movie gave me, amongst other things. I started to feel like a sexier person, which was really cool. I never felt that way before, so that was really nice.

Are you anticipating any feminist groups raising a ruckus?
Oh god, I just hope they don’t ask me anything. No, I should maybe worry about that and have something intellectual prepared to say. I wanted it to be clear that my character, while she is pressuring the girls to look sexy and impress guys, that we recognize that her priorities are skewed and not necessarily the correct priorities. I think this is an empowering story of women realizing that they really don’t need the approval of guys.

Did the Bunnies have any lessons they taught you?
They are really poised. I felt like I learned that. We would walk into parties where they were very poised, very graceful, very friendly, warm, and charming. Even when guys are groping them, pinching their tail, and acting inappropriate, they were always poised. I thought that was pretty impressive.

So someone could pinch your tail and you could maintain your composure?
You’re supposed to say [smiling while feigning a sweet voice and giving a little curtsy], “Please don’t touch my tail.”

Had you been to the Playboy Mansion before filming?
No, I hadn’t, so it was completely just a trip for me to be shooting up there and with Hef. The rainbow pajama collection was just amazing.

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I have scanned Anna’s feature from “In Style Make-Over” magazine. I also uploaded a HQ scan from the “Jane” (2006) issue and a HQ scan from the UK edition of “GQ” (2001). Finally, I uploaded 5 new HQ stills from “The House Bunny” – which opens this Friday, August 22! You can click on the thumbnails to see the last additions.