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.
Thank you.
Anna, I remember when you were on the programme. I think you were, I don’t know, how old. Er... 13...
12.
...12 or 13 years old?
I think it was 12.
Do you remember that? Wow, that’s a long time ago, isn’t it?!
It was quite a long time ago.
Yeah, and was that your first trip to New York City?
It was my first trip.
What... what memories do you have of the trip?ì
I absolutely fell in love from the second I was off the plane...
Yeah, uh-uh...
... 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...
Oh, wow!
... and just being like,“This is it! This is home!”
Wonderland... yeah, and then...
Oh, God!
...how old are you when you did this?
11!
11 years old. You went to win an Academy Award. How does a thing like that happen, for heaven’s sake?
I have no idea!
Congratulations! And what... what would... what do you remember of that event, at 11 years old? My goodness!
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.
Now, the... the movie was The Piano?
Yes.
And had you... you couldn’t see the movie because you were too young.
No, there was a lot of sex!
Yeah, yeah, and... have you... you must have... you must have seen it since, right?
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...
Yes, you should take a...
... I needed a new answer.
Yeah, and what was is impression of the... of the movie and your role in it as an 11-year-old?
I mean, I don’t know what the big fuss was regarding my performance, but I think everyone else was really great.
Uh-uh... Really? But it’s just... and you were the second... was it the second youngest?
Yes.
Who was the first youngest?
Tatum O’Neal. Yes.
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...
Yeah...
And you don’t have to worry about that... Yeah, yeah.
So check that off against “things to do before you die” list!
Yes, exactly right!
I didn’t even know that was supposed to be on my list, but there you go, got that one done.
And then you... and then you came to New York CIty to go to school, to go to... to college.
Yes, Columbia, yes.
Oh, Columbia, well, good for you!
Well, it would be if I’d graduated, but yes!