Joan Jett: Kristen Stewart Did "Amazing Job" Portraying Me in The Runaways
Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
I'm as excited about The Runaways as the rest of America seems to be -- the biopic about Joan Jett and Cherie Currie's legendary band earned $800,000 at the box office this weekend and I have been playing Joan Jett and the Blackhearts non-stop in my office. Fortunately, we were able to catch up with the 51-year-old rock legend (responsible for such classic gems as "I Love Rock And Roll" and "Cherry Bomb") at the film's premiere on March 17 to get her take on its runaway success. Here's what she had to say:
UsMagazine.com: How was it seeing yourself portrayed on screen? Is it thrilling? Or weird?
Joan Jett: I think Kristen -- well both of them, really -- did an amazing job.
Us: I heard you met with Kristen and Dakota [Fanning, who plays Cherie] to try to help them understand what it was like and how to capture your characters.
JJ: Yeah, but they really didn't need much help!
See what Kristen looks like as a comic book character!
Us: Do you see yourself in Kristen at that age?
JJ: Absolutely. I really do.
Us: What kind of advice did you give her about playing you?
JJ: She didn't really ask anything too specific. She was more or less into small details -- "How would you say this?" "How would you do this?" "How would you start this chord?" Most of the other stuff I just dumped on her right away. When we first met, I talked and talked and talked at her for hours. About The Runaways and told her stories I'd never told anyone else. I thought it was important. I gave her tape of me talking at age 14 so she could hear the way I was... I wanted her to know Joan and not Joan Jett. You get so used to the hair and the makeup and the leather jacket as opposed to the person behind that and I wanted her to know the person. I think we really did get down to that.
Read Us' review of The Runaways.
Us: How was it working with Kristen in that context?
JJ: I was impressed...by her.
Us: And that kissing scene! Did you give Kristen any advice about that scene?
JJ: They are professionals so they didn't need their hands held.
Check out other female costars getting steamy on-screen!
Us: But that was a pretty steamy scene, and those girls are still so young.
JJ: I think it was just another scene, as part of the story.
Us: You were so famous at such a young age, do you worry about Kristen and Dakota in the spotlight so young?
JJ: No. They're very level-headed. They are grounded.
--By Ian Drew for UsMagazine.com. To read more of Ian's blog, click here and don't forget to follow him on Twitter.
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7Looking forward to seeing this great biopic of a great rocker.
@Tina Now let's talk about your superiority complex and the fact that you're a mind reader. As far a "voice doctored" is concerned, even pro musicians/singers have their voices enhanced often. She's not a pro and that's why it's called acting. Maybe if you smoked a little "dope" you wouldn't be such a turd licking b!tch!
Tina: Wow--pot smoking ruins rock and roll vocals! LOL Too bad countless singers since the beginning of R & R did a little something--or a lot worse--than a little weed! LOL And how interesting that you know Joan Jett personally to comment on what she's like--and to know joan is in charge of Kristen's personal life. Yep--someone's narcisstic alright.......Try to stay in YOUR teeny tiny world going forward.
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Never heard of the Runaways. Looks like they should keep running
Amazing movie! Instant winner. Kristen did very well. Dakota and Michael too. Kristen looked like a child somehow,that made a movie more true.. LOOOOOOOVVEDDD it!
The movie is awful a total waste of time and money kind of like The Runaways really were! Kristen may be singing but I gurantee her voice has been majorly doctored. All that dope smoking has ruined her voice. By the way this is the second Runaway premeir where Kristen is majorly drugged! That is so disrespectful to Cherie Currie who has straightened her life out and is a drug counselor. Of course Joan Jett doesn't stop Kristen from showing up that way she probably helped her get that way. Both Joan and Kristen have the same narcissistic personality