The Runaways Talk Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll

The Runaways, staring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, is currently making waves in the both the film and music worlds as it approaches its theatrical release. Based on the book "Neon Angel" by Cherie Currie, the film follows the legendary punk band through the eyes of both Currie and rocker Joan Jett from 1975 to 1977. Charting the band's formation and rapid rise to fame - they often played with Tom Petty, Cheap Trick and The Ramones - the film also explores their controversial sexuality as each member of The Runaways was only sixteen at the time that the band formed.

In a recent conversation with Interview Magazine, legendary rocker Joan Jett discussed the film in depth:

On wanting The Runaways' story to be told:

"I was always pretty resistant to both a Runaways reunion or just any sort of movie situation. I guess I was afraid that the only thing that could happen is that things could go wrong. Maybe it was a way to protect it for myself because The Runaways was so special to me and meant so much, beyond just girls playing rock 'n' roll. I think it represented a lot to me about following your dreams, about not being dictated to about what your life is going to be. Girls see these defined roles they're supposed to follow in life, but when I was a young child, my parents told me I could be anything. Before I settled on music, I wanted to be an archaeologist, an astronaut, all sorts of really diverse things."

Neither Stewart nor Fanning have been, at least until now, known for their particularly sexual roles, utilizing The Runaways to explore the themes of sexual identity, liberation and exploitation. The pair recently discussed the subject with Movies Online:

Q: How difficult was it to tackle the sexuality in this film? Was it challenging at all?

Dakota: Cherie deals with sexuality different than Joan does. For her, it was all about putting on lingerie and going out there and growling at these people that were telling her that she couldn't do that. For her, that was her way of being different, and she got that through channeling David Bowie, who was extremely sexual on stage. That's how she dealt with that. Personally, I was really excited to do those scenes because that is a big part of who Cherie is. "Cherry Bomb" really sticks out in my mind and I was really excited to do that because it's her defining moment in her life and career.

Kristen: It's what made them different. I'm actually a couple years older than how old Joan was, at that time, but at the same time, I don't feel that there's a whole lot of distance. I am that age. I am a youth. Joan really talks about it all the time, and it still really has affected her, that sexuality isn't respected if it's coming from young people. It can be a scary thing to consider because you're young and you don't know if you can handle it, but it's an undeniable thing that they're very sexual little beings, especially then. Personally, it was making a movie. But, just to think about it now, it is cool that the movie deals with that and says, "You know what? This is something to be seriously considered and not discredited." They're demanding freedom, which is just what the movie is about.

Fanning recently spoke further about the role to MTV, describing the differences between herself and the real-life Cherie Currie, who also chimed in about Fanning:

Growing up in 1975 and growing up today is so different.  Cherie kind of grew up with no restrictions or rules, kind of figuring it out for herself. It's kind of different for me. I will never get to have that experience, so I kind of got to have it through the film.

Currie herself agreed to MTV that while Fanning has a much better grasp on fame than she did, she's still a great rebel in the movie.

I just don't think they could have found anyone better [to play me]. She nailed it. I'm her biggest fan.  Dakota has her stuff way more together than I ever did. She handles fame beautifully. To her, it's just another day.