William Hurt on Kristen Stewart, Bernie Madoff, and His Love of Dave Eggers Magazines

So what do you make of this three-ring circus that surrounds Kristen Stewart wherever she goes?

I've defended her in public as regularly as I can. I think it's absurd, that they're not giving her a break. I think that she's holding her own, that she's courageous, that she's inventive, and that she's got character oozing out of her, and I say, "Give her a break. Who is she to pander to your idea of what she's supposed to be?" She has every right in the world to express herself exactly as she chooses to, and she's got a lot of surprises up her sleeve. Why won't they give that woman a break?

If you were starting out right now and you were her age, do you think you'd be able to withstand all this pressure?

I couldn't take it. No. My route was categorically different from hers. I have to study something for fifteen years before I take a risk, and then I take a very calculated and big risk, but I really have to work hard before I jump. I do jump, but I look at where it can make the most impact. [Kristen's] route may be different, but the ends might be the same.

You know, we were discussing preparation for a role earlier--

She was one of the ones who prepared the most! Kristen and I worked together great, and so did me and Eddie [Redmayne]. We had two weeks of wonderful rehearsal on this project, and that's why it's a good film. [A publicist enters the room] Excuse us. ["One more question," says the publicist. Hurt raises his voice.] Come on! Give us a break. We're just getting started.

When I spoke to Maria Bello earlier, she said she likes as little preparation as possible.

But when you're in the scene with her, she's home. She's there. So she's doing something.

Is it interesting to reconcile those different approaches, or does it just happen naturally?

It depends, you know. It depends, but to me, there is a common denominator. Maria is a very considerate person. She's not just in flagrante delicto. She obviously has a structured approach to life. She's got a life and integrity, and integrity means there's life and structure and principles. That's what you're working with -- the idea of total spontaneity is total chaos, for God's sake. There's form there. There are things she's trying to convey and questions that she's asking her peers, and there's a real conversation there and I can understand it. She's considerate. Lack of structure? Maybe she doesn't prepare the way I do, but she prepares.

All right, thank you, William. It was a pleasure to talk to you.

Yeah, same. Same! I'm sorry you have to go. I feel like there was a connection there.

[Photo Credit: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images]

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