311 - Anna Paquin on Letterman
David Letterman (Standard American accent)
Our next guest is an Academy Award-winning actress currently starring in the popular HBO series True Blood. Please welcome the very lovely Anna Paquin. Anna... (music)... Welcome back.
Anna Paquin (American accent, but with traces of New Zealand and Canadian)
Thank you.
David Letterman
Anna, I remember when you were on the programme. I think you were, I don’t know, how old. Er... 13...
Anna Paquin
12.
David Letterman
...12 or 13 years old?
Anna Paquin
I think it was 12.
David Letterman
Do you remember that? Wow, that’s a long time ago, isn’t it?!
Anna Paquin
It was quite a long time ago.
David Letterman
Yeah, and was that your first trip to New York City?
Anna Paquin
It was my first trip.
David Letterman
What... what memories do you have of the trip?ì
Anna Paquin
I absolutely fell in love from the second I was off the plane...
David Letterman
Yeah, uh-uh...
Anna Paquin
... and, you know, stuck at baggage claim, waiting for the luggage and all of those lovely things. And then I just remember being in my hotel room and looking outside at all the snow falling on the cabs...
David Letterman
Oh, wow!
Anna Paquin
... and just being like,“This is it! This is home!”
David Letterman
Wonderland... yeah, and then...
Anna Paquin
Oh, God!
David Letterman
...how old are you when you did this?
Anna Paquin
11!
David Letterman
11 years old. You went to win an Academy Award. How does a thing like that happen, for heaven’s sake?
Anna Paquin
I have no idea!
David Letterman
Congratulations! And what... what would... what do you remember of that event, at 11 years old? My goodness!
Anna Paquin
Uhm, not as much as I remember it... the anecdotes that other people have told me and their impressions of it. I mean, I... I still didn’t, you know, really understand why everyone knew my name, or why they cared so much, or wanted to know what I had to say about anything.
David Letterman
Now, the... the movie was The Piano?
Anna Paquin
Yes.
David Letterman
And had you... you couldn’t see the movie because you were too young.
Anna Paquin
No, there was a lot of sex!
David Letterman
Yeah, yeah, and... have you... you must have... you must have seen it since, right?
Anna Paquin
I have seen it recently, only because my manager sent me a copy and I watched it just so I could have a new answer to that question ‘cause I figured after almost... 18 years...
David Letterman
Yes, you should take a...
Anna Paquin
... I needed a new answer.
David Letterman
Yeah, and what was is impression of the... of the movie and your role in it as an 11-year-old?
Anna Paquin
I mean, I don’t know what the big fuss was regarding my performance, but I think everyone else was really great.
David Letterman
Uh-uh... Really? But it’s just... and you were the second... was it the second youngest?
Anna Paquin
Yes.
David Letterman
Who was the first youngest?
Anna Paquin
Tatum O’Neal. Yes.
David Letterman
Oh, that’s right, Tatum O’Neal. Wow! So that’s just remarkable. Well, there you go, you got that right out of the way...
Anna Paquin
Yeah...
David Letterman
And you don’t have to worry about that... Yeah, yeah.
Anna Paquin
So check that off against “things to do before you die” list!
David Letterman
Yes, exactly right!
Anna Paquin
I didn’t even know that was supposed to be on my list, but there you go, got that one done.
David Letterman
And then you... and then you came to New York CIty to go to school, to go to... to college.
Anna Paquin
Yes, Columbia, yes.
David Letterman
Oh, Columbia, well, good for you!
Anna Paquin
Well, it would be if I’d graduated, but yes!