ROMA MAFFIA: Who?!

UD: And when did Barry Levinson get involved?

RM: Well, actually, initially, I didn't know what I was auditioning for, or who was directing. So after I read for Ellen, she asked if I would read for Barry. And I thought "Barry" was her assistant. So I said sure - Barry, Larry, Harry - I had no idea. My friend Michelle was waiting in the parking lot to drive me home, so I asked her if she'd wait. Then all of a sudden I realized it was Barry Levinson... I auditioned for him and what I loved was, at one point he was holding a hand-held camera -

UD: Taking home movies. But whatever you did, it worked Because like, 6 weeks later, you were in front of a panavision camera with Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. Not bad for your first "official" supporting role - in what's clearly one of the biggest movies of this year. What was it like working with Michael Douglas?

RM: He was great. He's very generous. He tried desperately to teach me continuity. So did Julie.

UD: The script supervisor. And how was Demi?

RM: I had great fun cross-examining her.

UD: I see. Next witness.

RM: I said I had fun.

UD: And I believe you. This is going to be a controversial movie, especially because - and "Hollywood" is already taking flak for this - it's about sexual harrassment, but the sexual harrasser is a woman. Did you have a problem with that?

RM: No. What do you mean, "a problem?"

UD: Put the gun down. How's this: did working on Disclosure change your perceptions about sexual politics between men and women, especially in the workplace?

RM: It didn't change my perceptions of sexual politics. I became more aware of what sexual harrassment entails. The specifics of the term.

UD: You mean, legally?

RM: Yes. I got help from some great lawyers, who believed that Anita Hill led the way, in exposing that issue.

UD: Have you seen the picture?

RM: Not as of yet.

UD: We hear you're hot. Everyone wants to know "who is that woman?" This is going to be one of those classic overnight success stories, because most people won't have any idea that you've been working in theatre for like, how many years?

RM: 15.

UD: Overnight success. Now, somewhere in here, in your whirlwind bus tour of Los Angeles, you landed a role on that other TV hospital series. Was that fun?

RM: Yes.

UD: Come on, give it up!

RM: Chicago Hope is great fun. It's a star-studded event-

UD: Mandy, Adam, Hector -

RM: I didn't finish answering your question.

UD: I'll shut up now.

RM: Thank you. Mandy, Adam, Hector, E.G., Roxanne and Peter. What a wonderful crew.

UD: Oh! We didn't get the laundry story.

RM: Oh, the laundry story. Well, it goes like this: I had to go to Seattle to finish working on ["Disclosure"], leaving at six in the morning. I had no time to do my laundry, due to work on Chicago Hope. Adam [Arkin] suggests I pack it with me and give it to a fluff-and-puff -

UD: Fold.

RM: Whatever. So I enter the lobby of the Four Seasons -

UD: Which is like, the most expensive hotel in Seattle -

RM: Is that a question?

UD: No? Tell the story.

RM: Yes, the Four Seasons is an expensive hotel. I hand my bag of laundry to the concierge -

UD: A little attitudinal about the underwear?

RM: Who?

UD: The concierge.

UD: No. Who's tellin' the story?! No, Julie was horrified at what I had done.

UD: And then?

RM: I got a bill. For $122.00.

UD: For one bag of laundry?

RM: Yes. One medium size bag of undies. The bill came with a note, telling me my underwear was too torn and tattered. They weren't "responsible." The nerve!

UD: Did it smell good at least? I mean, at those prices...

RM: No comment

UD: And thus, the life of a superstar in the making - Roma Maffia! Any last words?

RM: Do we have to put superstar in there?

UD: You're beautiful.

---

Copyright 1994 Urban Desires