The Dukes of Hazzard
An Interview with Jessica Simpson

Some people tend to think of Jessica Simpson as an airy blonde. Over the past few years she has reaped unimaginable profits from television shows, multi-platinum albums, a cosmetics line and product endorsements. I think she's a genius. This Friday, the 24-year-old will be able to add movie star to her long list of fortune swelling talents. Below, the new Daisy Duke discusses her lifelong hardships of being too sexy, preacher's daughter boot camp, and personal issues with exposed butt cheeks.

Do you feel that after playing a supporting role in this film, you’d be able to go off and carry your own?

Jessica Simpson: I think that I could. I hope I could. It was a conscience decision that I wanted to do an ensemble thing. I didn’t want the pressure of carrying the movie. I denied that pressure. I think Daisy’s strong enough. She was a great first role for me. Do I think I can carry a movie? I really do hope so. I mean, I believe in myself.

Daisy uses her sexuality to get whatever she wants. Can you basically get whatever you want using your beauty?

Jessica Simpson: No, I don’t think that I can get whatever I want because I would be way too shy to drop a jacket and just have a bikini underneath. That’s honestly...Jessica Simpson, that’s just not her.

It was said that during your first audition you were very shy.

Jessica Simpson: I was very shy.

Have you gotten over that in terms of auditioning for future roles?

Jessica Simpson: I haven’t auditioned for anything else yet, so I don’t know. I’m definitely more confident. I believe that if I put my mind to it, I can make it happen.

The original Daisy Duke was a brunette. Was there ever any discussion on changing your hair color for the role?

Jessica Simpson: Nobody ever said we want you to have brown hair. It never even came up. I don’t know why, but it just never even came up. In a lot of ways we wanted to definitely keep the spirit of the TV show because that’s what was so amazing about it. But the jokes and the characters and how all of us played our characters, it was important to modernize it and kind of update it. It’s kind of like reintroducing it in a way. At least the General Lee is the same.

Were you familiar with the original show? What were your references when thinking of the character?

Jessica Simpson: I went back to the show for the audition. Once I nailed the audition, I was confident as Daisy Duke. All I needed to do was work out.

Did you draw on any people you knew from experience when developing the character?

Jessica Simpson: There’s some southern women I know that I definitely would think of in the back of my mind. But really it wasn’t that hard. I think anything sounds good with a southern accent. And I always say I’ll be interested to see myself do a movie without a southern accent. You can make anything sound good with it.

Can you tell us about the project Major Movie Star?

Jessica Simpson: Major Movie Star is not a remake of Private Benjamin but it has the same feel. I’m this huge movie star who does all these comedies, romantic comedies, all-American girl, and she can never get any drama roles. And she wants this drama role and she ends up getting drunk and enlisting.

How distracting are all the tabloid rumors when you’re trying to concentrate on working on a film?

Jessica Simpson: I don’t read it. I know a lot of people read it. I don’t think a lot of people even believe it when they do read it. Unfortunately, people want to see people fail. My marriage is rock solid.

There’s never problems when a story comes out where you have to explain things?

Jessica Simpson: No, not at all because I know where Nick is and what he’s doing and what he’s doing tonight. He’s my husband. We talk on the phone all the time if we’re apart. So I’d never question him. I would not have married him if I did not trust him.

How prepared were you for the media attention?

Jessica Simpson: I was pretty prepared. I was prepared at a young age. I was a preacher’s daughter. I lived in a glass fish bowl. I had to deal with gossip and rumors and mean girls at a very young age. So I think that I was prepared. That was just working me, getting me ready for now.

With the Newlyweds show over, is it weird not to have cameras following you around anymore?

Jessica Simpson: No, it’s wonderful. It’s definitely great. I love not having cameras in our house.

Do you feel like this is really your newlywed year since its the first time you're getting privacy?

Jessica Simpson: Well, we were married for six months before we even started the show. We're about to be three years. So, we've been together for almost eight. Do we feel like newlyweds anymore? No, we're old school.

Still hesitant to make home movies?

Jessica Simpson: I know right. Gosh. Yeah we haven't done that, and if we do that we erase immediately. (laughs)

You mentioned once that you were irritated by the ditzy blonde image? Do you think you've gotten over that?

Jessica Simpson: I try to make all the right decisions in my career. And I try to put my hands in all the right places and hopefully people will see the mind behind it.

Can you talk a little about working with Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott? Did they keep you laughing throughout the shoot?

Jessica Simpson: All the time. I mean they're the funniest guys. I couldn't have had better costars. Everyone from Lynda Carter who was Wonder Woman and had to be in a bathing suit half of her life. She was always encouraging me. And Johnny and Seann were so good at improv. Half the stuff they say in the movie is not even scripted.

Could you keep up?

Jessica Simpson: No, no no no no. I stood off in the corner. I would come and watch them because they're so good. But they would tell me, they'd be like, "Hey, say this." And I'm like, "Alright. I'll play along with you guys." But they were so professional. They worked really, really hard.

Are there any classic roles you would like to reprise?

Jessica Simpson: The Goldie Hawn Private Benjamin is defintely a role. Dolly Parton 9 to 5. It's hard, there's so many amazing roles. I love Sally Field.

Did Burt Reynolds offer you any acting tips?

Jessica Simpson: Burt made me so comfortable my first day on set. He welcomed me into the movie business by giving me a sapphire daisy ring. It was so nice. Burt Reynolds. I can't imagine how many movie sets he's been on and think about, "This is her first movie, I want to make her feel comfortable her first day."

You and Jay had some discussion over the shorts?

Jessica Simpson: (laughs) You know, not really. Not really. I just didn't want butt cheeks hanging out. That was very important to me. So if they had to be a little bit lower waisted, you know, you got to meet in the middle. Like a marriage, you got to compromise with the director.

Have you finished your new album yet?

Jessica Simpson: Yes, I've executive produced my first record that I'm very proud of. I've been working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who are phenomenal. It's everything from Patsy Kline type records to Benny Goodman swing to Fleetwood Mac. I've done all kinds of stuff. It's called And the Band Played On and it's about just generations of music and kind of reintroducing them to my fans today.

What's the street date?

Jessica Simpson: I don't know the street date yet but it's going to be in November.

What are your thoughts on this girl in New Jersey?

Jessica Simpson: It's very strange. It's strange to be used like that and not even know about it. You know? This had been going on for such a long time and when the FBI arrested her she had like $12,000 of merchandise. And I felt bad because I didn't want all these companies thinking I was greedy and wanted all this free stuff. And my assistant was so upset because she's from the south and she has great relationships with so many different companies. What is so funny is, the way they found out about it is through my product line, Dessert. This girl called. She didn't know that this one product called Lip Fusion, that I was a part of that as well. That I got a percentage of that. And she called and asked for boxes and boxes of Lip Fusion...for me!?! And it was just...uh...the girl's in jail.

Are you going to have to testify?

Jessica Simpson: I hope not.

Christian groups have been giving you a hard time over the 'Boots' song and video? Has that been resolved?

Jessica Simpson: I've had to deal with that. I couldn't even sign a gospel deal at fourteen because people thought I was too sexy. This is not new. Trust me. What I've realized is that, you know what, it's just not really a Christian-like thing to do. To go into the press and say that about somebody.

The Dukes of Hazzard Opens August 5th