In August, Stiles heads to London and Washington, D.C., to shoot a supporting role in The Bourne Ultimatum, her third turn in Matt Damon's spy-on-the-run canon. But after that, her slate is entirely clear. As she says, ''I understand now that nothing is a sure bet — box office, the next role, being able to dictate the kind of career you have.''
Stiles recognizes that the substantive roles she so admires, like Reese Witherspoon's in Walk the Line (''such openness'') and Claire Danes' in Shopgirl (''really lovely and honest''), are all too rare. Determined to wrest some control of her future, Stiles decided to bring her dream project, Plath's 1963 novel, The Bell Jar, to the big screen. She plans to star as the talented writer who suffers a mental breakdown after a summer in New York. As the project's producer, Stiles helped settle on a writer and is currently working with Killer Films on choosing a director. ''I've totally felt overwhelmed, but I'm good at asking for advice,'' she notes assuredly.
And if the story of a woman unraveling sounds like a mighty load to bear, Stiles is also looking to be taken a little less seriously. ''I love Christopher Guest-type improv comedy,'' the actress says. ''It would be such a challenge, but I'd be game.'' She hails Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin's ode to Robert Altman at the Oscars as sheer genius. ''So refreshing and spontaneous and uninhibited! Okay, that's something I wish I had a shot at,'' Stiles adds, her pale skin flooding with color, ''Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion.'' The role, of course, went to Lindsay Lohan.
Just then two giggling Japanese tourists wander nervously up to the table. ''Hello,'' says one. ''I am your big fan. Can I take your picture?'' As Stiles shyly obliges, hunching her back awkwardly so she doesn't tower over the two small women, it's reassuring to see that even these days a nice girl can get the attention she deserves.
Julia Stiles' Must List
The starlet, who plays mother to a hell spawn in The Omen, shares her earthly delights.
Inside Man 2006
''I'm a big fan of Spike Lee and heist movies. Jodie Foster is different
[in this] than anything you've seen her in.''
Mule Variations 1999
Tom Waits' hauntingly melodic comeback album is ''perfect if you're
feeling grungy or bluesy.''
The History Boys 2006
The Tony-nominated play is ''impeccably written, humorous, and all of a
sudden harrowing.''
Slowness 1996
Milan Kundera's meditative novel ''is about 200 years ago and now — I'm
preoccupied with how time has sped up.''
Madeline Kahn''She was exquisite in Clue! Great comedic timing. It's that suppressed insanity [that I admire in her].''
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