How was it, working with Liv Tyler in Stealing Beauty?
She was so natural and had such a leggy beauty, like a colt, still slightly clumsy, and our feeling was perhaps she wasn’t that experienced. But as soon as we started shooting we realized she was a seasoned professional. She had a desire to do her very best, which is so American. She said, “If you’ve got any ideas, please tell me, because I want to be very good.” [Laughs] I don’t think I had to give her very much [advice]. Maybe a few more early nights. How is the attitude toward sexuality in the film different from the British attitude? The weather has a lot to do with it. We’re much more closeted up because it’s colder here. The days when you can do it in the orchard are few and far between. I think you can carry that into an emotional and mental attitude, too. Somebody once said to me, if you meet an Italian man, it’s like you come to a house, open a door, walk in and there he is, and you know him. If you meet an Englishman, you come to a house, open a door, walk in and there’s anot
