We checked in with Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman on the eve of SWE2 much hyped release. By now, we know that Anakin and Amidala (the future parents of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia) share a fiery romance. But offscreen, the two are just friends ---with views that are, at times, a galaxy apart.
If you had a clone, what would you make it do while you stayed home?
NP: I would send it to walk to my classes for me when it's cold. That's the worst part of the day. I don't mind being in class, it's just the getting there that is horrible.
HC: I don't know. My publicity?
Gee, that encouraging. In Star Wars, Amidala and Anakin have to choose between love and duty. What choice would you make?
NP: I'm just as torn as they are. Ultimately, you're going to be more satisfied having real love. But it's also important to know what you want intellectually.
HC: It would definitely take some reflection, but I would choose love over obligation. Definitely.
Name one thing you've learned about the opposite sex?
HC: It's difficult to say one thing, because I don't understand them at all.
NP: I think girls are never satisfied. I think guys get to a point more easily where they're like, "This is it," and girls are always like, "Is there something better?"
What's your first Star Wars memory?
NP: I have two older, male cousins. When we would go over for the holidays, they would run around the house talking like Chewbacca, pretending to be wookiees.
HC: My older brother was a fan, and I think he probably waited until I was seven or eight to show it to me, so I was old enough to understand what was going on.
Now that you've both turning 21, what teen traumas are you happiest to be leaving behind?
NP: I wish I could say I'm leaving pimples and mean boys behind, but that doesn't exactly happen.
HC: Self-doubt, though I haven't left that behind completely.
Do you think it's harder being a teenager now than it used to be?
HC: I think the struggles are the same, for the most part, which is to do things that are productive instead of self-destructive.
NP: It always feels incredibly hard. We realize that we're lucky that we can stress out over boys and not worry about our friends losing their lives in war or famine. All my friends from when I grew up in Israel are now in the army, and they lose friends in suicide bombings. In the meantime I'm stressing out over too much homework this weekend?! You do need to take a moment out and think, Damn. I'm lucky having these problems!"
What is the weirdest rumor you have ever heard about yourself?
NP: There's always weird rumors about who I'm dating. Like when I was 14, it was Adam Duritz, the lead singer of Counting Crows. First of all he's like, 35, and I had never met him.
What about the rumor that you two are - or were - closerthanthis?
NP: That makes a little more sense because we did work together and we are friends. I usually don't talk about anything private, but Hayden is awesome.
HC: We never dated or anything. We hung out.
What TV show would you like to guest-star on?
HC: I would meow as one of their cats just to have a cameo role on The Simpsons.
NP: Friends is hilarious. They could bring Brad Pitt back on, and I'd play anything!
What product would you endorse for free?
HC: Helmut Lang underwear.
(Boxers or briefs?)
HC: That's to be unknown. I'm actually an underwear and sock freak. I just love the sensation of a fresh pair of socks.
How do you want to be remembered?
NP: I don't like that question. That question only provides irony if you prematurely die.
HC: As a good person