Kurt Russell: You got me. I admit it. Hey, my dad used to say to say, "Life should be staying outside and playing baseball." That sounded pretty good to me. That's all I'm doing. You noticed, huh. I confess.
Stoner: Hard Copy is scooped. But, seriously, being a pilot is almost an obsession with you. Have you thought why we have the dream of flight, what it means to us?
Russell: That's a great question, but I'm not sure I have the answer. I know that I like to wake up in the morning, jump in a plane, and be hundreds of miles away for lunch. That's what it means to me, I think--freedom to go wherever I want any time I want. It's also what I like to think about and talk about--with my friends in the business and others. Pilots talk about flying--period. I'm working with Cliff Robertson now, and we sit around the dressing room talking about flying. Travolta, Eastwood--whenever we talk, it's not about the business, it's flying. That's why the flying scenes are in Executive Decision. I suggested them, and I think they're realistic--pretty much the way my character would handle them, given similar circumstances.
Stoner: So, after showing your range as a crack mother in Losing Isiah opposite Jessica Lange, you wanted a big budget thriller? Is this a career move?
Halle Berry: I like the stretch, that's true. And, it would be good to be in a big hit, but you never know when that's going to happen. Big budgets don't guarantee big hits. But I like my character [in Executive Decision]. She's a strong woman--one who acts, not reacts. That's good for women, I think.
Stoner: There's always that duality as a professional actress in today's world--strength and beauty.
Berry: Fair enough. You don't work on strength alone. Beauty is a factor.
Stoner: You told me something interesting once--that, growing up as a woman of color, you never felt YOU could ever be beautiful.
Berry: That's right. I did, didn't I? Well, it's true. When I was growing up, all of the beautiful role models were white. I don't resent beautiful white women. I would have to resent my mother if I did. But, as a girl, I couldn't imagine that anyone would ever consider me to be beautiful since nobody on TV, or in the movies, or even in the magazines--or almost nobody--was black and beautiful. Kids notice these things. So, that didn't seem like a possibility for me. But things have changed for women of color, including black women. Now, we accept people from all backgrounds as beautiful, and that's good for women too.