Juliette Lewis on Conviction, That Nasty Car Accident and Why She's No Joaquin Phoenix

"Academy Award-nominated actor quits acting and pursues a music career." I feel like I've heard this before. Did you not realize that you could have made a movie with Casey Affleck?

I knew [Joaquin Phoenix] wasn't for real. That's cute... No, man. Mine was this whole beautiful, hungry exploration of the live-show medium and rock and roll. Channeling energy and moving a room. You'd be shocked! Nobody knows. I've opened for The Killers, Muse, Chris Cornell. I just did a tour with The Pretenders. I've earned my stripes because I've been at it now for six years.

It's interesting watching you talk about this in person. I can tell you're excited about the movie, but your face absolutely lights up when talking about music.

Well, the difference is the music is all me. Do you know what I mean? I bloomed it from the ground up, so it's really rewarding. Also, because there's so many stakes involved that I didn't know... I would start every show not knowing if anybody was going to come. That's the thing: CDs don't sell anymore, so it's really about your connections in your live show. It's the last untouchable medium. You can watch something grow and it's really gratifying.

I've always wondered about this. You played Audrey Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. When you sign on for that, do they tell you up front, "If we do another one, you won't be back"?

Oh, yeah, I think it's all the kids are always different. The kids grow up.

I do think that Dana Barron, who played Audrey in the first movie, came back for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure.

Oh, really? That's cute. Isn't that funny?

So I wondered if that was part of the initial contract or something.

Oh, no. I was 15 and I was happy to just be getting such a good gig. And then now they play it every Christmas. It's hilarious.

Did you have any idea you'd see that movie every year?

No, I had no idea. That's good, I like it.

[Top photo: Andrew H. Walker/WireImage; performance photo: Mark Venema/WireImage]

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