Interview

Nicholson: Okay, so you’re on the plane and you’re looking at the country below you . . . What’s that like?

Jones: I was excited to start my life—to start seeing the world and living life. It’s that feeling when you’re young and starting out and there’s no fear . . . I couldn’t do it now, just pick up and move. But back then, it felt exciting. It was my way to get somewhere. I did some work in some magazines—enough to pay rent—and I got to travel a little. When I finally got to Manhattan, when I was in my place, I got a little nervous. The modeling agency put me in this apartment near the Empire State Building, so I went down to a pizza joint to get food for dinner, and I ordered an orange pop. The guys at the pizza place looked at me like I was crazy because in New York, people don’t say “pop.”

Nicholson: I bet they were real sweet about it.

Jones: They were like, “You want a Fanta? Because we don’t sell sounds.” [both laugh] I was very naïve and talking to everybody. And then I very quickly learned to shut down.

Nicholson: You figured it out.

Jones: I figured it out. Then I went to Paris for a little while and learned how to shut down even more. That’s when I got into my introspective, moody period, writing in my journal and going to visit Jim Morrison’s grave.

Nicholson: Jim Morrison’s grave is at Père-Lachaise cemetery. Who else is there with him?

Jones: A lot of famous people, but I didn’t get to see them all. There are people there who I’d go see now.

Nicholson: Something to look forward to.

Jones: The next time I randomly go to Père-Lachaise cemetery . . . [laughs]

Nicholson: So you said something earlier about fate. Do you have a big belief system?

Jones: Well, I feel déjà vu a lot. Someone said that means that you’re living your life the right way because maybe you have foresight, because then, when something actually happens, it feels like déjà vu. I like to think of it that way.

Nicholson: There are a lot of explanations for it.

Jones: I just feel like there have been so many moments in my life where I’ve had like three dollars to my name, and just before I’m going to call home and say, “I need to come back,” something happens—something falls in my lap. Even up to five years ago, that’s happened. The minute I think L.A. is beating me down or I’m not going to get another job, something wonderful happens.

Nicholson: What was your first acting meeting?

Jones: It was with the casting director Mali Finn, who has since passed away. It was for Wonder Boys [2000] with Michael Douglas. I had just come to L.A., and I met my manager within a week through a commercial agent. I was very lucky because I was naïve, and I could have met someone terrible who would have put me in the wrong rooms. But he’s still my manager.

Nicholson: You’re both lucky.

Jones: Very. I think luck is a big part of people who are successful in this town. I remember going into one audition . . . I wear contacts now, but I used to wear glasses just because I have an astigmatism. So I went into an audition, and this woman said, “You know, your instincts are good, but you’ve got a crazy eye.” And I said, “Crazy eye?” It crushed me. I thought, “This is it. I have a crazy eye. I’m screwed.” But I think one of the biggest steps for me was having confidence in an audition room. Walking in, feeling like I’m not going to mess things up . . .