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The following interviews are from Entertainment Tonight: The most watched entertainment news program in the world.
'Friends' Interview: 1994
Courteney Cox/ Friends Interview COMPLETE VERSION
September 22, 1994
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: It seems like you and the cast have done this bonding thing from day one!
COURTENEY COX: We all get along really well. We're friends. JIM BURROWS really encourages that in this cast. He really believes that's how it all should work. It's an ensemble show. Yeah, we're good friends. We've gotten together a bunch of times.
ET: You have a great show in a great time slot -- that has to feel good.
COURTENEY: Yeah, it does. It's also a lot of pressure, because we need to do well in that time slot -- we have such a great lead in. That's exciting. Thursday nights are going to be more competitive. They're moving some really great shows on that night. The show really is funny. I watched two episodes just recently and I was really surprised. Pleasantly excited. I took the job because it was good, but it's even better than I thought. Jim Burrows is so good. The show's even better than what's on the written page.
ET: You've done series before. As this gets close to its due date are you on pins and needles to see how it's going to turn out?
COURTENEY: No, not at all. I've been on shows that have been total failures. I've done shows that were really great. "Family Ties" was great. But I knew that was great when I joined the cast -- I never had the added pressure. I did one pilot, but that was before "Family Ties." I did another show that lasted six months.
ET: Does the "Friends" show parallel life with your friends?
COURTENEY: Yeah. We didn't have a coffee shop to hang out in, but it's actually all the same problems. That's what's great about the show -- it's very real. Some of it might not be totally real, but real life isn't as interesting as what you can write. It's all about real-life stuff that can happen in your 20s and 30s. It's not just a show about people in their 20s, it can apply anywhere.
MATTHEW PERRY: (walking by) Do they have chicken salad there?
DAVID SCHWIMMER: Yeah, I think so.
COURTENEY: They are such hams. They are pretending to go to the commissary, just so they can get in the shot and be on TV.
MATTHEW: What are you going to eat?
DAVID: Are you going to eat with us or what?
COURTENEY: I'm doing this ET interview right now!
MATTHEW: What, that little alien guy?
DAVID: We'll leave and try another bit.
COURTENEY: Come back later. That was pretty good, though, but try again. Anyway, I...(Jennifer Aniston walks up to Courteney and holds her hands)
JENNIFER: Courteney? Are you hungry? Where do you want to eat?
COURTENEY: Jennifer...Jennifer, I am doing ET right now.
JENNIFER: (acts shocked) You are?!
COURTENEY: Yes.
JENNIFER: Oh, well, okay...(walks away)
COURTENEY: She's part of the bit. The guys told her to do that. We did it to her, she's getting me back(laughs) Anyway...
(Producer walks up to Courteney)
PRODUCER: The cast wants to know where you're going to eat.
COURTENEY:(laughing, pretending to be angry) I am going to eat in the commissary, okay? Now, get out!!
Courteney Goes Graceland!
February 13, 2001
COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE is free to hit the road with '3000 Miles to Graceland.'
JULIE MORAN: This movie is like a roller-coaster ride. You must have had a blast making it.
COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE: I loved making this movie. Working with Kurt was the most fun, because he's a doll. And Kevin's great. I didn't have as many scenes with Kevin, but he's just a really sweet person. I loved playing this character. She's out there.
JULIE: Kurt was in here, he was so cute. He said, "I loved my scenes with Courteney, but the poor thing, she had to kiss me." How tough can that be?
COURTENEY: (smiles) Kurt's fun and I love GOLDIE (HAWN). I like working with somebody that you respect because he's a great actor. I think working with him was just amazing. And I love the fact that he has such opinions. I love people like that. My family has really strong opinions about things, and even if I disagree, that's my favorite kind of person to be around because I like people who do their own thing.
JULIE: There were some pretty intense love scenes. Does David ever get jealous?
COURTENEY: Yeah, I mean let's face it, it's so weird what we do. The fact that you can be married to somebody, but you kiss someone else maybe a few times a year, or with Chandler, we kiss a few times a week. So, it's a weird thing but David handles that really well. I think my thing is that I told him, if you ever do a movie that's really about romance or sex, I'm just probably not going to go.
JULIE: Smart.
COURTENEY: Why do I need to see it? Good for him. Do it and enjoy yourself -- to a point.
JULIE: Now, you have a son in the movie. Did that give any taste for motherhood at all, working with a child?
COURTENEY: I'm really comfortable with kids because I have tons of nieces and nephews, but that's not the age that makes you feel like it's work. I mean, if it was a little infant, that's the part I'm nervous about. I can relate to boys and girls that age, it's the younger part that make me nervous.
JULIE: Of all the things I've seen you do, I think there was the most action in this. Did you get hurt at all? You got kicked around a lot toward the end of the movie. Was that tough?
COURTENEY: That was pretty tough. I did all that stuff when I'm going after Kevin with the big steel pipe. I didn't have any stunt people.
JULIE: He kicked you in the backside?
COURTENEY: Yeah, I didn't want him to hurt me. He didn't. But you want to feel something. You don't want to fake your own fall. And I'm kind of weird like that. If we're doing a scene and you're supposed to grab me, I really want you to grab me, because I'd rather be a better actor, you know what I mean? I want to feel it. But we didn't do anything that was not safe.
JULIE: Sometimes people have big misconceptions about Kevin. What was your take on working with him?
COURTENEY: I think he is such a professional. I just really liked him. He's just one of those people that teach you what he's learned. He takes time and he's very patient. I learned a lot from him. I liked when we were off camera just talking. And he's just a really genuine person. He taught me a lot of stuff. He really did.
JULIE: Now, I talked to Kurt about this, and so many high-profile couples are splitting up. It's so hard to have a marriage in the public eye. How do you keep your marriage so strong?
COURTENEY: We give each other tons of freedom. I think that's the most important thing. When you get in relationships sometimes I think you feel like now you're going to be missing out on things, so people get nervous. I have more freedom than I've ever had, because I'm not worrying about a relationship. He does whatever he wants to do; I do whatever I want to do and we are our own judges. There's nothing I can't do because I'm married -- within reason.
JULIE: Is it hurtful, though, when the tabloids write what they write?
COURTENEY: Yes. It's more hurtful to David. The latest one is that I've booted him out because he's turned into a wild boy. So, it's probably hurtful to him because it's just so not true. And David has just turned into this mature, amazing person. Not that he wasn't before, but he works hard at being who he is. So, it's probably more hurtful to him. To me, it's just like, "Oh, how stupid. I've never been happier."
JULIE: I think '3000 Miles to Graceland' is a great movie. It's like a roller coaster. When people walk out of the theater, what do you want them to take away from having seen that film?
COURTENEY: I hope they had a great time. I hope they are exhilarated, and I hope they are really happy about the romance.
Keeping Secrets
February 03, 2000
We chatted with 'Scream' queen COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE about life on the set -- and we even got her to tell us the art of doing a really great scream!
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: Are you going to miss Gale?
COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE: Yeah, I think I will. I'm going to miss everyone. I'm going to miss working with WES (CRAVEN) in that capacity. I'll miss the whole group -- even DAVID (ARQUETTE) as Dewey. It's just a fun thing to do. I'm glad I was able to do all three of them and didn't get killed off in '1' or '2.' I'm glad we finished off the trilogy as a team. It was such a great experience for me.
ET: What was the mood like on the set because you knew this was the last one?
COURTENEY: At the beginning it was just excitement from being back together again, and at the end it got a little strange. It was bittersweet. The weird thing is, when you finish a movie, you know you're going to see everybody again -- whether it's the wrap party or the press junket. You don't really get sad. You get sad when you know it's completely over and that's after it premieres.
ET: Is it hard to keep the secret of the killer?
COURTENEY: I'm kind of good at it now. I'm very used to being really blunt and saying, "I can't talk about it." It's very important to the people who make this movie because you don't want to give it away. It's all about who or whoever did it. If you give that away, it takes away a lot of the fun. I think it's only fair to keep the secret.
ET: Are people constantly asking about it?
COURTENEY: Yeah, but they ask me still if ("Friends" characters) Ross and Rachel are ever going to get back together, so I'm used to those kinds of questions.
ET: This is really special because this trilogy is where you met your wonderful husband. He's adorable!
COURTENEY: He's a doll, isn't he? The most original character there is.
ET: There's no filter. I love to talk to him because he's so unique.
COURTENEY: He's so special. He really is. And he's so not private. I'm sure he told you just about everything!
ET: As I said, there's no filter.
COURTENEY: I'm a really open person, too, but together....
ET: Did you guys have two separate trailers or did you share one?
COURTENEY: We had one -- it was a special trailer. We were going to spend time with each other anyway, so we got one large one. We felt very privileged.
ET: He said you were always cold in the trailer, though.
COURTENEY: I don't know if I'd recommend it all of the time -- he always wanted the air conditioning on and he was always watching wrestling. One time I wanted to watch one little video of something and it was a big fight. No, it wasn't. We do have to negotiate.
ET: Some people don't enjoy working with each other, but you guys obviously really like working with each other.
COURTENEY: I love it! I just think he's an amazing actor and we have such a good time together. It's just so easy to act with him.
ET: There were some intense scenes in this movie. Does that come easy?
COURTENEY: Yeah, especially with these characters. That's easy.
ET: PARKER (POSEY) said you were writing your wedding thank-you notes on the set this year.
COURTENEY: I'm still writing those. I haven't finished. If any of my family from Alabama is watching this, I'm sorry. It's just so hard to do. I for some reason can't say, "Thank you for the beautiful knife. I really loved it. Love, Courteney." I have to get too personal. I have to make it special.
ET: JENNY (McCARTHY) was saying that you gave her a lot of advice and were so sweet because she was getting married when she was filming this.
COURTENEY: She's so happy. It's so great to see. She's such a fun, sweet girl. I recommend marriage so highly.
ET: I love the inscription on your band: "A deal is a deal."
COURTENEY: My best friend came up from New York to be the maid of honor. Her dad said, "You just tell David and Courteney that a deal is a deal." We heard that and just got chills.
ET: Do you ever see yourself ever doing a 'Scream' reunion?
COURTENEY: No. I can't predict the future, but I can't imagine it happening.
ET: Do you have any feelings about the future of "Friends"? Do you think you'll continue?
COURTENEY: I don't have any real answers, but we love doing the show. We have such a good time doing it.
ET: If one person does decide to leave the show, do you think that would make a decision for everyone?
COURTENEY: Yeah. We're a team, and that's the way it should be. When one person is not there, it's just not the same.
ET: Tell me about working with Wes as a director.
COURTENEY: Wes is such an amazing director. I have so much faith in him. It's so nice to be able to trust someone. When you don't understand something, he just has a way to explain it to me. You can just trust that it's going to work out and be scary and real.
ET: You had to get some bruises and bumps and cuts.
COURTENEY: Yeah, I took some falls.
ET: Do you do all of that yourself? Do you have a stuntwoman?
COURTENEY: Oh, absolutely. When I go down the hill, that's not me.
ET: You must have some battle scars from 'Scream.'
COURTENEY: I think I have a worse one from 'Scream 2.' LIEV SCHREIBER kneed me in the thigh. Man, it hurt so bad.
ET: Do you guys have to scream a lot in the movie?
COURTENEY: Yeah.
ET: Are you good at screaming?
COURTENEY: Yes, I am. I'm pretty good at it. I mean, this is 'Scream 3.' I better be good at it by now. You just have to be uninhibited and let it go.
ET: Do you and David want to have kids?
COURTENEY: Definitely.
ET: Do you think he'll be a good dad?
COURTENEY: Oh, yeah. He's so great with his niece and nephew. He's amazing with kids. He really just has fun.
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'Scream 3' Interview
One More Stab/Scream 3 Interview
October 10, 1999
'Scream' queen COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE is becoming Gale Weathers again for the third installment in the 'Scream' series. Get the scoop as she chats with us from the set of 'Scream 3'!
BOB GOEN: I was talking to DAVID (ARQUETTE) and I was thinking about your schedule -- between this, 'Shrink' and "Friends," working out and pulling hip flexors and all that, you don't look as exhausted as I would expect you to be!
COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE: Thank you! I have a lot of makeup on!
BOB: But are you tired? Does it wear you down after a while?
COURTENEY: It has been such an exciting summer and an exciting time. Doing 'The Shrink Is In' was such an important movie for me because it's something I really believed in. It was a big deal for me and I executive produced it. I had so much energy riding on the excitement of doing that and then getting married -- you know how exciting that can be! Then we went away and I relaxed so much. I read three books and did nothing. It was so relaxing. This is a great time. I love doing 'Scream' so much. I'm tired, but I don't want to complain!
BOB: This has got to be a comfortable place for you. Tell me about the friendships and all that.
COURTENEY: Well, a lot of people have been through all three of them. WES CRAVEN is one of my favorite people. He's such a wonderful, sweet man. He was at my wedding -- he really is a special friend to me. It's a great team. I could go on and on, but it is kind of like going home. Like after a summer when I go back to "Friends."
BOB: Is there the same kind of excitement over this particular installment of the trilogy?
COURTENEY: Yes -- probably more, in a way. We had a great time in the first one and in the second one, but they were different. I think they have taken the best of everything and put it all in the third one. I really think it's the best one. It's really funny. NEVE (CAMPBELL) is a real important character in this movie because she grounds in such reality. I was watching her -- it's like, "Wow! This makes it so real!" Then you have characters like Gale and Dewey who are a little over the top and silly. PARKER POSEY is in this one and she plays Gale Weathers in the making of 'Stab 3.'
BOB: So she's playing you?
COURTENEY: She's playing me and she's hysterical.
BOB: Does she have you down?
COURTENEY: She has me -- up it a few notches.
BOB: Did you have to teach her you?
COURTENEY: I always thought that Parker and I looked alike so much anyway -- and then to see her with the blonde streaks, the ones I wore in 'Scream.'
BOB: So your character is playing an entertainment show reporter?
COURTENEY: Yes.
BOB: Where do you go for your research for that character? Please say me!
COURTENEY: You! She started out as a newscaster and she was on gossip shows, and she is in charge of "Total Entertainment."
BOB: The plot is not convoluted -- but it is confusing.
COURTENEY: In thrillers you have to keep people guessing, so there's a lot of stuff going on, which makes it more interesting. It has to be that way. I couldn't give you a one-liner, other than they are making a movie called 'Stab 3.' Some stuff goes down -- you know what I'm saying. Gale gets a load of it, she comes by, Dewey comes by, Sidney comes by. We all meet up! That's about it! People come by for some running, screaming, chasing and stabbing!
BOB: So then this has been shrouded in secrecy! You're not allowed to say anything?
COURTENEY: The only secret I have is who the murderers are.
BOB: Now, the big debate is behind you -- on the back of your chair it says "Courteney Arquette." What are you officially going with?
COURTENEY: I'm going with Courteney Cox Arquette with no hyphen. When I was a kid I always wanted to change my name. It feels good -- it feels like I'm really committed. It makes him happy.
BOB: Is that what is on your driver's license?
COURTENEY: It's for real -- my Social Security card, everything!
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