By Sean Chavel in Los Angeles

Kirsten Dunst has a casual spunk quality that was a perfect match for her "Elizabethtown" character Claire, the new Cameron Crowe movie opening on October 14th. The film had a mixed reception at the Toronto Film Festival, which prompted Crowe to make major cuts – mostly to narrow down and enhance the on-screen relationship between Dunst’s and Orlando Bloom’s character. Claire is like a mildly reckless version of her character in "Crazy/Beautiful," a vastly underrated teen movie from 2001. Dunst was in Los Angeles recently to promote her new movie.

Q: Kirsten Dunst!

KIRSTEN: Yep, that’s my name.

Q: So have you seen the shorter version of the film?

KIRSTEN: No, but I have a lot of input! [MUGGING]

Q: You should be Cameron Crowe's ghost writer perhaps?

KIRSTEN: I always felt that when I read the script – it sounded whimsical – they were supposed to cut part of the shoe which made a whistling sound as people walked. Which was kind of an annoying whistling sound anyway. Ehh-eeehhhh!! It was like a mother’s hell on Earth. It took away from the reason [Drew] was with me.

Q: We heard you're the first actor to sign onto the film. Is that a boost to your self-esteem?

KIRSTEN: Not really. I dunno. Maybe he was looking for Claire first. I think he was… well, boys and girls were reading. Come on down. He was reading boys and girls both. I got cast first, but I wasn’t [egotistical] going, ‘Yeah, I got cast first!’

Q: What was your audition process like?

KIRSTEN: I met him first. In the general meeting he told me what it was. Then I came in to read. He played me a song. I got dressed up like an airline stewardess. He brought in a camcorder and I did a few scenes from the movie.

Q: Did you feel a connection to your character and John Cusack's positive, romance-minded character in "Say Anything"?

KIRSTEN: I actually think "Say Anything" is one of my favorite movies. I definitely think there is a running theme of the man needing the woman there and she’s like this magical person and she comes in and saves the male counterpart. That positive energy has a lot of emphasis on other people and not really on yourself is kinda sad. It’s not… fun to play a positive person. It’s not what people are all the time.

Q: Did you try to figure out ways to show cracks like that?

KIRSTEN: I thought I did… You saw the movie?!!

Q: When you were coming out, did you think, "I gotta put up this front and yet play underneath the front?"

KIRSTEN: I don’t think about that too much. I’m just feeling how I’m feeling and I just – I think I was just cast for a certain reason. I think part of it is that Cameron saw that in me, the sadness but also positivity.

Q: Have you ever had one of those all night, deep cell phone conversations like in the movie?

KIRSTEN: I don’t think all-night. Not to that extent. But definitely those phone calls when you’re starting to know somebody and everything they say is funny. And you’re nervous. That sort of thing.

Q: What was the real magical moment between you and Orlando in the movie?

KIRSTEN: Um, I don’t know. You should tell me. We appreciated each other and I felt for him. I care about Orlando as a person. I hope that was expressed in all the scenes. There’s not like one special thing.

Q: How is "Elizabethtown" a different type of script for you?

KIRSTEN: It’s a beautifully written character. A lot of times you’re trying to rearrange lines and re-write things all the time. It’s not like that with Cameron.

Q: It's not as much work for you perhaps. But how is Cameron Crowe a good director?

KIRSTEN: I thought all the words came easy to me. It’s definitely a poetry of his own, his dialogue. He works a lot with music, before scenes and in the takes. It sets a tone. He is very specific. If a word here or there is [missed], he’ll catch it right away. Though behind the camera – he can be real funny – he’s like a cheerleader. He goes, ‘Yes!’ jumping up and down. I’m like to Cameron, ‘I can see you in my peripheral vision!’ It’s great that he has that enthusiasm. But it can be a little disconcerting!

Q: Having had success at a young age, have you now been prepared for fiascos that may come your way, kind of like Orlando's character?

KIRSTEN: No, I’ve been okay so far. My happiness isn’t measured by my success. I don’t have the same [vibes] that Cameron has.

Q: Do you start shooting "Spider-Man 3" soon?

KIRSTEN: January. Four to five months of shooting. We get to shoot in New York which I love, and Los Angeles.

Q: Will this be your last "Spider-Man"? We hear there are going to be six or seven of them.

KIRSTEN: Whoa. That’s a lot. I didn’t know about that one. I’m only contracted to three. We’ll see what everyone else does. I’m not going to be in it if Sam Raimi is not directing it. I’m not going to be the only one that returns. That would be my career fiasco.

Q: Is there a type of movie that you like to do that you haven't?

KIRSTEN: Yeah, something like a "Rosemary’s Baby" or a "Don’t Look Now." Really smart thriller like that, but the problem is they are not around. The versions of those are like so bad. I wish they used old film stock or light it how that was lit. Already that would make it better. That kind of quality is missing today. Yeah, horror movies that aren’t obvious scary. Played straight. Scarier when nobody believes the hero type of movie.

Q: Are there any other types, like your favorite romantic comedy?

KIRSTEN: I like "Annie Hall." I like "When Harry Met Sally," too. But I think "Annie Hall" is my favorite.

Q: Are you comfortable with your celebrity status?

KIRSTEN: Yeah, well I can’t imagine having a real personal thing like a marriage or a divorce in the public eye. I’d rather not say anything about that to the press so it can’t be thrown back at you. Um, for me, I feel like I have two different lives a little bit. I don’t think of myself as the girl on the magazine cover. I’m just a girl that does average things with my friends in my free time.

"Elizabethtown" opens in theaters October 14th.