Jessica Biel has spent 15 years in the throes of Hollywood, tackling everything from action movies and rom-coms to serious dramas and even British comedy. Now, she opens up to ELLE about marriage, her very public love life, and why she’d consider giving up acting.
On her status with Justin Timberlake: “A girl doesn’t kiss and tell.”
On dating actors: “I think those are the people you meet and so it just kind of happens. Let me tell you: It never happens on purpose.”
On whether she plans to have children someday: “Sure, of course. And, yeah, I think probably at some point it would be something I’m interested in. But I don’t feel pressured. I was never one of those girls who dreamt of my wedding and my Prince Charming. To piss off my mom, I used to say, ‘I’m never having kids, and I’m going to be a fabulously rich old maid living in a house with cute butlers and dogs.’”
On whether she would consider leaving show business: “Absolutely. I’d love to write. I wrote a lot of short stories and poetry when I was a kid. That was my creative outlet. I’ve written a short film, and I write poetry.”
On the role that got away: “The Notebook. That’s one that I wanted so badly. I was in the middle of shooting Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and I auditioned with Ryan Gosling in my trailer – covered in blood. Nick Cassavetes put me through the wringer in an interesting, exciting way. But there’s a million that get away. We’re gluttons for punishment. It’s just rejection.”
Beauty Secret: To get Biel’s soft pink but ultraglossy pout, try Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Peony.
On whether she would go nude for another movie role after Powder Blue: “I wasn’t so scarred by that experience that I’d never do it again. If a director I trusted came to me with an amazing opportunity and it felt organic, I would do it.”
On staying in shape: “I feel very lucky that I grew up using my body, playing soccer, doing gymnastics. I’m just not one of those people who are super-duper skinny.”
On shooting Total Recall with Colin Farrell: “The other day, Colin and I were in our harnesses, hoisted up 30 feet in the air looking down…The adrenaline rush of that was explosive. We hit the bottom, looked at each other, and burst into giggles. That was an I-love-my-job moment.”
I’m sooooooooooo glad she didn’t get ‘The Notebook’. That movie wouldn’t be nearly as good as it was if Rachel McAdams wasn’t in it!
