B.L What a dynamic role for you to play. What was your first reaction when you read the script for The Business of Strangers?
S.C. Actually I read it and then I talked to Patrick (Stettner, the director) because it was really about talking to Patrick — when you read a script you really don't know what a director wants to do with it. So we met and spent a couple of hours together. I had seen a short film that he had made when he was in college I think and I was just really impressed with him. Then when Julia came aboard we all thought that it would make a great combination. It kind of moved from there. It could have gone in many different directions and he definitely wanted this kind of ambiguous relationship which I think we have achieved, from what people tell me.

B.L What drew you though to Julie? This woman seems very different than what you are like.
S.C. I don't know if there was anything that I really liked about her. I was more intrigued by the dynamic of the relationship and wondering if we could pull that off. Plus there were certain places, shall we say, that she had to go and I wondered if I could pull that off. There was this weird logical build until she really flips out and I kind of thought, as an actor, that was an interesting task and not one that you usually get to undertake.

B.L Why do you think that a sophisticated working woman like Julie would want to hang out with Paula, Julia Stiles' character in the film?
S.C. I don't know; I think that that's the given. Go from there. It's a night unlike any other in her life and she certainly felt that she behaved a little badly to her, which she did. She was a bit of a bitch to her. I think that it is always curious who we have chemistry with, who we talk to. There are certain people that you sit with them on a plane and you don't talk to them at all and other people you find yourself confiding in or they confide in you. It has nothing to do with an ongoing relationship. It just has to do with what happens in the moment I think, initially, to make amends for something that she'd done, and she's sort of bored and at loose ends and is a bit overwhelmed by something that has unexpectedly happened in her life. Then it sort of goes from there and a lot of alcohol is consumed and the night goes on and its kind of strangers on a train kind of thing and you have to believe the premise that they would initially talk to each other and after that it has a life of its own.

B.L. How did you like working with Julia Stiles?
S.C. I think that she is an extraordinary girl and an extraordinary young woman. So to work with somebody that age that has that kind of centre and poise and talent is great.

B.L. And so wise for her years I think.
S.C. Yes I know. She was perfect for the part.

B.L. Aside from this movie you have so many things on the go, its hard to keep track. But The West Wing, I understand that we are going to see a lot more of you this season.
S.C. Yes, you'll see more of me but I am still able to do other projects. I was actually making Business of Strangers while I was officially part of West Wing, so its great to have both.

B.L How you do you like being a part of that show? It is so popular and winning a ton of awards.
S.C. I love being a part of it. I'm a fan of the show and I really love working with all of the creative people involved. There's an extraordinary level of talent and accomplishment. The bar is set real high on that show so it's really fun to be there.

B.L. And getting to play the first lady is not too shabby.
S.C. No, you're right. However, I really have to clean up my act. I was in Washington D.C. running and I was disgustingly sweaty and I was wearing this T-shirt with holes in it, I was staying at this hotel because I was on location and as I got out the elevator this voice said, that's the first lady. And I sort of went 'whoa, I better get some new running clothes.'

B.L. Some high standards to meet I guess.
S.C. You got that right!