TATTOO
:MERRICKMORTON/SONYPICTURES;
GUMP
AND
BRIDE
: EVERETTCOLLECTION
andthefilm—acareerboostforWright,who
stars as the friend andoccasional lover of
Blomkvist, playedbyDanielCraig— isone
of theyear’smost anticipated releases. Ina
word,RobinWright ishot.
“I’
around earlier,” says Wright, set-
tling intoa redplushchairacross from the
small tablewhere I’m sitting. “My entire
family is in town, and logistically, it’sbeen
is completelymakeup-free, refreshing ina
townwhere
natural
istypicallyadescription
associatedonlywithhealthbars.
“Can I get you something todrink?” she
asks. “Water?”
I nod yes and she’s off down the stairs,
returning a few seconds laterwith afilled
pitcherandtwodrinkingglasses.
WhateverI’dbeenexpectingbeforearriv-
ingatWright’shome—aslewofbodyguards,
maybe, or a bustling room filledwith an
ever-changingrotationofstylistsandfriends
— itdefinitelywasn’tthatI’dbespendingthe
nexthoursittingbesideoneofHollywood’s
most talented actresses, having a casual
andprivateconversation insucha laid-back
setting.Through theyears, the45-year-old
beautyhas shared the screenwith somany
of film’smost incredible leadingmen (and
women) that the list readssomething likea
celebrity-awards-show seating chart: Tom
Hanks, RobinWilliams,MorganFreeman,
RobertDowneyJr., JudeLaw, the latePaul
Newman, Russell Crowe, John Travolta,
Winona Ryder and her ex-
husbandSeanPenn,toname
a few. Yet, as far as leading
actresses go, she slips un-
dermanyaudiences’ radars.
But that’s about to change.
Along with having played
the lead roleofMarySurratt in last year’s
RobertRedford–directedhistorical drama,
TheConspirator
,Wright canbe seen in the
upcomingcrimedrama
Rampart
;sheplayed
BradPitt’s ex in
Moneyball
;
and, thismonth, she stars
as feistyeditorErikaBerger
in the eagerly awaited
The
Girl with the Dragon Tat-
too
, thefirstfilm ina trilogy
based on Swedish author
Stieg Larsson’sMillenium
series. Themovie centers
onLisbethSalander, an ec-
centric and emotionally
damaged computer hacker
whohelpsdisgracedjournal-
istMikael Blomkvist solve
a cold case and restore his
reputation. Since the first
bookwaspublished in2005,
the lateauthor’s
Millenium
novelshave soldmore than
27millioncopiesworldwide,
andaChihuahuamixnamedViolet (who
belongs toa friend) greetmeat thedoor,
andmomentslaterI’mupstairsinWright’s
airy sleepingquarters— justher,meand
the humming and buzzing of nearby
construction.
“Hi,”saysWright,walkingoutfromwhat
lookstobeawalk-inclosetandshakingmy
handwarmly. “Thanks somuch formeet-
ingmehere.”
Iimmediatelynoticethatthe longblond
locks I’dbeenexpectingarenowcropped
closelytoherneck,herbrow-lengthbangs
held backwith a bobby pin. She’s wear-
ing stretchyblue leggings, apair ofNew
Balance sneakers and a faded, oversize
redhoodie (“Iput thison [this]morning
because I’vebeenplanningongoing run-
ning all day,” she later says), whichonly
accentuatesher tiny frame. Andher face
FROMTOP:
WrightwithTomHanks
in
ForrestGump
,whichwonBest Pictureand
fiveotherOscars; oppositeDaniel Craig in
theupcoming
TheGirlwith theDragonTattoo
;
withCaryElwes in 1987’s cult favorite
ThePrincessBride
42
DECEMBER 01, 2011
AA.COM/AMERICANWAY
