Interview

Associating with Whoopi

Comedian talks about film, fans and Hollywood

By Constantine Nasr
Staff Writer

When Whoopi Goldberg rose to instant popularity over 10 years ago in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's "The Color Purple," not many people would even have speculated that this former comedian would rise to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Goldberg, whose films vary from comedy to drama to science fiction to action, has become a symbol of the entertainment side of the filmmaking world, and her films reflect a kind of enjoyable escapism that usually leaves audiences content with the way the Whoopster handles herself and the situations presented to her.
That's what the polls say, at any rate. In a recent survey reported by the Los Angeles Times, Goldberg was the actress people most wanted to see in films today, ousting other obvious choices like Demi Moore, Julia Roberts and even Michelle Pfeiffer. So it seems audiences love Whoopi, and she loves them back.
Whoopi returns to the big screen (only having recently left it with last month's "Bogus") with her newest escapist comedy, "The Associate." This time around, she has the chance to play a man's role, and more importantly, a man--jock strap and all. The film, which opened last Friday, was Whoopi's fourth film in 1996, the others being "Eddie," "Bogus" and the unmentionable "Theodore Rex."
Whoopi sat down to a table of eager reporters, cigarette in hand and ready to talk about her new film. The first thing anyone asked was regarding Goldberg's decision to be made up looking like a rather thinner Marlon Brando, with a ponytail and the works.
"There are a couple of people in the world that I had always wished I could do something to pay my homage to them," Whoopi says. "And he's one of them. They said, `What kind of essence?' and I said, `There's the picture. I want to look close to this.'" The image she was referring to was of Brando in the film "A Dry White Season."
"Cutty is a mixture of a lot of people, but a lot of Brando--because I love him."
Working under a ton of make-up (devised by wizard Greg Cannom) was a challenging task, but one Goldberg had fun with. The only problem, it seemed, was that the make-up was so effective that no one recognized her on the set.
"Literally, until I smile, people just don't know. I'd have these gloves on and just be standing there, and people would look because he looks like he has bad skin. But nobody ever wants to stare. They kind of just look and look away.
"And when I walked up to Eli Wallach and said, `How ya doin', Eli?' He said, `I'm fine.' And I said, `Have you worked yet?' He said, `Uh, no, I haven't.' And I realized that he didn't know who he's talking to. I said, `Eli, look, it's me. It's Whoopi!' He said, `Oh my God!'"
"And the crew was like that too. It was very weird for them, because I'd come in and I'd start talking in my normal voice. And they just said it was very creepy because they would periodically see a flash of brown hand and big white head, with Whoopi's voice coming out of it. It was very peculiar."
Whoopi found the idea behind "The Associate" to be one of direct relevance to today's society. By dealing with the idea of the glass ceiling--whether for men, women, black or white--Goldberg tried not to limit herself to a one-sided argument.
"The movie's about the things we have all found: racism, sexism, nepotism. You know, you're in line for a promotion and the boss brings in his sister's cousin's wife's brother's father who needs a gig, who doesn't know sh-- about what he's doing. So you have to train him, and he's your boss. You're doing all his work.
"Basically, Tim Daly is that guy. I train him, I do the work, and he sort of surreptitiously goes in and collects the credit. Lots of people look past (my character), and I think Laurel is the part of this system that is warped because when I turn around and do it to Sally, I'm not doing it because she's a woman. I'm not doing it because she's a white woman. I'm doing it because, in my mind, she's only a secretary. So we all carry these.
"She allows it to be done to her because she thinks, `Well, I'm not going to rock the boat,' which is also what Aesop feels. `It's a big company, and I'm not going to rock the boat. I'm just going to take a real tiny job.' So it's what we all do, and it's what I do to Tim... I'm as responsible for Tim getting that promotion in a negative way because if I hadn't done all the work, he wouldn't be in that position. So I guess I enabled him to do exactly what he did.
"So this movie is about first seeing where you're responsible. It's your responsibility; I'm responsible for going on this path, this path and this path. She's not all that heroic when you really get down to it, `cause she lies, she cheats and then she's mad when her lies and cheats work. Basically what she's not saying is, `I want somebody to get me. And I don't need all these other things to do it.' So it's all about pulling oneself up and getting to scream at the system, as opposed to saying, `Oh, it's because I'm a woman.' I'm not saying that doesn't happen. I'm just saying that this particular movie is more accessible because its experiences are ones that we all, if you check, have probably seen or been party to, or attitudes that we have verbalized. When you go home, say, `Did that come out of me?'"
Because of her conviction about the film's themes and her belief in Laurel as a character, Goldberg had the opportunity to work with screenwriter Nick Thiel to rework certain plot points in order to remain true to the film's messages.
"One of the biggest things that I wanted to change was how they had Laurel as Tim Daly's secretary, and that didn't make any sense to me. We went around and around about this, because they said, `Well, she can't be in that position.' I said, `We're making a movie about what you just said. It's what the movie's about.'"
Goldberg's star status allowed for her to influence the script's various revisions, most of which she was proud to be a part of.
"I don't think (the story) would have been feasible with the depths of rage that she needed to have in order to cut that job loose. That's a great job, and she's making a lot of money. But you have to have something to go to so you can make a big exit... In the secretarial pool, they just replace you."
In a world where image often matters most, Goldberg is amazed at her longevity, especially when recalling the ideal of the tall, blonde actresses in Hollywood. Do those things affect her?
"After 30 movies, it would be false of me to say, because a lot of those blonde females aren't around anymore," Whoopi says. "More than anything, I think Hollywood has to do with age. I think it's more age than anything. And it's a business. That's the thing."
After having a string of not-so-successful films, Goldberg has learned some tough lessons about the industry that can make or break individuals.
"Someone said to me earlier, `Well, it's full of all these disingenuous men.' And I said, `No, it's full of business people.' That's kind of what they do. They don't give a sh-- if they're polluting your river. They wanna know if it's gonna bring the money in. They're business people. That's their gig.
"I know that if I make five movies that bring in $150 million, I will make $20 million a movie. But I don't, you see, `cause not all my movies do that well. Jim Carrey--his movies make $150 million. He could poop on screen," she says, snapping her fingers. "Money would roll out. That's all he'd have to do. `Poop,' starring Jim Carrey. Thanks very much, good night."
Whoopi has been sitting, occasionally puffing away on her cigarette, when someone comments on her distinct hairstyle, which is sort of the actress' trademark.
"My hair?" she begins quite defensively. "You want me to change my hair? No, I'm not going to change my hair. Lots of people looked like this. Now, 13 years later, lots of people do look like this."
"These lips. People spend zillions of dollars to get these lips. This butt?"
She stops at that, as all of those around her break into laughter.
"It's ironic, but that's Hollywood."
Fame is one thing Whoopi isn't shy about discussing, and she is glad to talk about her fans as well. However, sometimes fans can go a little too far.
"It's not just in Hollywood. It's everywhere. It's here," she says, referring to New York. "I walked down Madison Avenue, and I'd go into one store, and when I came out, there were 45 guys with cameras. Why? I'm buying aspirin. I don't know.
"Then I look at the work people are doing in places like Covenant House, and the people who are spending their own money to do dance projects with little kids from up in Harlem. They can't get attention. So it's just a warp. We're in that warp now."
As an actress who became a comedian, then returned to acting, Goldberg has had a career full of twists and turns, maneuvering her way into memorable parts and roles. From her Oscar-winning role in "Ghost" to her comedic role in "Sister Act" to the role of Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Goldberg seems to know what buttons to push to grab audience appeal. But when asked of a role she would like to play--particularly a male role--Whoopi's answer is quick and to the point.
"Atticus Finch. That's the one I would have done," she answers. She is, of course, recalling the classic "To Kill A Mockingbird," based on Harper Lee's novel and starring Gregory Peck as Finch.
"I loved that movie, because it's a great role to be. And different days of the week, I'd like to be Gregory Peck. I'd like to be Captain Ahab. There are a lot of great things out there. But if I could do a guy's role, it would be that."
Whoopi's next film, her fifth this year, will be the upcoming Rob Reiner drama, "Ghosts of Mississippi." Unfortunately, she will not return in the upcoming Star Trek film. Contrary to many rumors, she was not asked to be part of the film.
"You let them know that I was disappointed, too," she said, referring to her many Trekkie fans.
While Whoopi may be in a state of limbo (with films that either succeed overwhelmingly or bomb), her status as a star and an activist for community well-being is undeniable. "The Associate" is another attempt for her to regain her glory that she had in years past, but it seems that her smaller attempts are the ones that win her more praise. Whatever her future, Whoopi has left us dozens of films that reflect and replicate her solid image. More often than not, she has the magic appeal to draw crowds and make people feel comfortable and entertained.

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"The Associate" is now playing nationwide.