B.L. What did you think about this story when you first read the script?
K.B. Well, I loved it. That was my first reaction. I loved it from start to finish and I thought it was funny and real and poignant and I was very moved by the end of the piece. I had seen Alexander Payne's earlier pictures and I thought, "This is terrific, I want to do it."

B.L. Roberta, the character that you play, is so out there. What was it about her that got you excited?
K.B. It's always wonderful to play a character who has no boundaries, no holds barred and you can just have a blast. It was also wonderful to have the prospect of playing with Jack Nicholson as well.

B.L. Speaking of Jack Nicholson, honestly, I can't think of another actress who can give that man a run for his money...
K.B. We had a good time, he's very professional and this was a very different kind of role for him. I sort of had the Jack Nicholson part in this film in a way and it was fun to work with him.

B.L. What surprised you about him?
K.B. He's very professional and focused. I guess that I expected him to be a little more of a cut up on set, but he wasn't at all. He was very professional.

B.L. I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to give anything away in the film but you have a very bold scene. You obviously knew what you were in for when you read the script, but what was it like for you to do a nude scene?
K.B. It was good. You know? I negotiated with Alexander (Payne) over what I felt comfortable with. Without losing what he wanted for the character and the film, we both got what we wanted and I felt very comfortable on the day. I'll tell you a little secret. I actually had a Cosmopolitan before I got into the scene so I would relax a little bit. Plus, Jack made it very comfortable for me on the set. There was a very small crew and I even got to look through the camera to see what the lighting would be like, so I felt very at ease on the day.

B.L. Also, working with Jack during that scene you can see that his character is so uncomfortable and your character is just so carefree. Did you guys improvise at all?
K.B. No.

B.L. This script is so beautifully written I can't imagine that you'd want to embellish on it.
K.B. No, we didn't improvise at all. That's one thing about Jim and Alexander's scripts is that they are very specific and very well written that there is no need for any ad-libbing to go on. Plus, Alexander told me that the shot that he had in mind when Roberta is coming from way back in the hall was sort of like Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia coming across this huge desert. I never quite got the humor in that, but I know when we were in New York for their film festival, by then the audience really knew what was happening and they were groaning because they knew she was going to come out and take a hot tub with him.

B.L. I don't think that there is a person in the world who can't relate to this film. I was wondering how it touched you?
K.B. I was around when my dad retired and saw what a difficult adjustment that was for him. I remember sitting with him many times asking himself, "What is all of this for? You spend all of your life learning all of these things and then you die and what happens to all of that stuff you learn and all the work that you've done, doesn't it mean anything?" It's a question that we ultimately all ask ourselves. Did I do what I needed to do? Did my life mean something?