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Helen Hunt feared working with Woody | jade_l
HELEN OF OY Hunt calmed her nerves before taking on Allen's ''Curse''
Curse of the Jade Scorpion: John Clifford
By Allison Hope Weiner
Allison Hope Weiner
Allison Hope Weiner is an EW staff writer based in Los Angeles

A beloved Oscar-winning beauty would never be intimidated by a nebbishy little man in horn-rims, right? Wrong. At first, Helen Hunt was completely unnerved by the idea of working with ''The Curse of the Jade Scorpion'' director-star Woody Allen. She'd heard horror stories, including one in which the Woodman was displeased by an actor's performance -- ''he fired that person,'' says Hunt. The actress went so far as to call Allen alumnus Sean Penn for moral support. Turns out her fears about the eccentric filmmaker were unfounded: ''He was approachable and receptive,'' reports Hunt, who even got a special privilege few others enjoy. ''I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the entire script before signing on to the project,'' she says. ''Although [a messenger] was waiting to take it back as soon as I finished.''


Posted Aug 29, 2001 | Order Article Reprints