Kate just learned to grin and bare it
Kate Hudson isn’t anything like her uptight “You, Me and Dupree” character, Molly – which is good, because the actress admits that there’s “a lot of naked in this movie.”
“I never had body issues,” says Hudson, who appears in lingerie and a skimpy bathing suit in the new comedy. “As long as it’s not totally exploitive, and as long as I feel it could either be funny or fun or is appropriate, I really have no problems with it.
“I remember that when I read the script for the first time, I was like, ‘God, I’m kind of half-naked throughout the whole movie.’ … But I think Owen probably had it worse than I did.”
In the film, newlyweds Molly and Carl (Matt Dillon) have just returned from their honeymoon when Carl’s best man Dupree (Owen Wilson) shows up after losing his job, car and apartment.
It’s bad enough that he’s a slob who’s always underfoot, but he also tends to bare more skin than necessary in mixed company.
Hudson has seen her share of “Dupree”-like houseguests, thanks to her musician husband Chris Robinson, lead singer of The Black Crowes.
“I love Duprees. I’m not like Molly at all,” she explains. “I’m totally available for weird, interesting, bizarre characters.
“As far as the vagabond musician friends that wander in and out of our house all the time, there’s two in particular – they’re twins, believe it or not – who I’ve seen their genitals one too many times. And it’s very harmless. It’s actually more just they’re comfortable with themselves. But you know, I’m OK with it. I can deal.”
In the film, Carl also is trying to impress his demanding boss, who also happens to be his father-in-law (Michael Douglas).
While Hudson’s father, Kurt Russell, wasn’t overprotective, she acknowledges that his film roles – such as his tough, eye patch-wearing character in “Escape from New York” – may have been unnerving to her suitors.
“Someone asked me if people found him intimidating, and I’ve never thought about the fact that my dad is actually like, you know, Snake Plissken,” she says.
“(T)hat must have been really difficult for certain guys to come in and go, ‘Oh Kate, that’s her dad. And he’s going to kick my (behind).’ “
He and her mother, actress Goldie Hawn, have been partners for nearly 25 years.
“They just have a blast together,” Hudson says. “No matter what, through everything they play. That always keeps them passionate and enjoying each other as sort of these two playful people.”
As for Robinson, she says: “I knew what I was getting into with Chris. … I remember one of the first things I said to him was, ‘Tell me everything that you think I’m not going to like about you.’ And he went on for about an hour and a half. Then I still married him.
“Relationships are so hard,” Hudson adds. “They’re crazy. But you just have to respect and love and have a good one.
“I feel really lucky. I got a really good one. I got one that keeps me on my toes.”
The birthday bunch
Singer Ruben Blades is 58. Dancer Michael Flatley is 48. Actress Phoebe Cates is 43. Actor Will Ferrell is 39. Actor Corey Feldman is 35.