Jennifer Aniston has been the unforgiving focus of media attention ever since her highly publicized split with Brad Pitt earlier this year. Walk into any supermarket magazine stand and it’s hard not to see pictures of her with headlines on a tabloid or celebrity publication.

But Jennifer has fought back, taking a stance by not shying away from promoting her new film, “Derailed,” opening in theaters this weekend. The first film released by the newly formed Weinstein Co., “Derailed” shows a much darker side of Aniston, as the 36-year-old actress stars in Mikael Hafstrom’s thriller about a family man (Clive Owen) engaging in a deadly game with a criminal (Vincent Cassel) after an affair with a stranger (Jennifer Aniston).

Below, Jennifer talks to the press about her new film as well as life after a change of plans.

Q: You’ve been labeled as “America’s Sweetheart” and so do you think this dark thriller will take away that label?

JENNIFER: Well God I hope so. [laughs] No, you know, the America's Sweetheart label that gets put on a lot of people - I don't really pay much attention to that. I'm not trying to shake anything. I just sort of followed my instincts in doing work that I feel is coming to me and I'm grateful for it and just trying to do my job as best as I can.

Q: How would you describe your character?

JENNIFER: I would describe her as a normal woman in a very mundane phase of her life who meet this very intriguing, lovely man on the train and succumbs to a temptation almost and they both have to figure out a way to get out of the horrible consequences that they’ve created for themselves.

Q: So how would you describe “Derailed”?

JENNIFER: This is a sexy psychological thriller. [laughs]

Q: How was working with Mikael, who has such a unique style?

JENNIFER: For me, this was such uncharted territory that I felt such a trust in everything that he said. You have that instinct; there was never a debate, there was never questioning, and for something like this, that was really important. And also having seen “Evil” and meeting with him and talking about his take on how he wanted to play this, it was just unbelievably intriguing because there’s a very uncomfortable reality. There’s a lot of discomfort watching this movie and put into the wrong hands, it could easily have gone that high concept, glossy, slick thriller and it’s just not. It’s far from it.

Q: Was there ever scary for you to take that plunge on a movie like this?

JENNIFER: Yeah, there was definitely a moment of “Oh gosh, I hope I can pull this off.” But then, I had enough people around me and Mikael, really believing in it, and thank God for directors like him, who think that it's interesting to him. It was interesting to him to take this “persona” and put it in this part. That doesn't always happen and so I really appreciated that.

Q: This “Rachel Persona?” (from “Friends”)

JENNIFER: Yeah, whatever it is, whatever the persona is that has not granted me the opportunity to do other types of roles such as this.

Q: What was it like when you first met Clive?

JENNIFER: We still aren’t talking. [laughs] No it was great. There was an instant ease and
comfort and that doesn't always happen. It was very easy to work together, and we had similar sensibilities about how to approach what it was that we were doing. One didn't have more of a different method. It was just all very easy.

Q: You have a pretty graphic scene in which you’re attacked. Was it hard to do?

JENNIFER: In terms of filming it, it was over a week so we were able to kind of block it out, and it was so choreographed, and it was so technical. It was not as hard to do as it was actually to watch now, which is actually harder.

Q: How was acting it out with Vincent?

JENNIFER: It’s not difficult at all, because again it was so choreographed, and so well thought out, and there were stuntmen around. It was very controlled. I was in such good hands, where he’s a pro and in such control of his body. That's something very important, not to be reckless as an actor, especially in a scene like that. So I felt so safe. But no, it wasn't hard. We'd cut, we'd roll, then we'd be there, and then cut, and you're out of it. Because again, it's the physicality,and it isn't that much. It isn't that graphic but it's very quick and very jarring.

Q: What are you looking for next in your career? Are you looking to do more dramas?

JENNIFER: Well I think you're always looking for just good work: dramatic, comedic, whatever it is. It sort of just came along at a perfect time, when it was just sort of fate. As far as what I'm doing next, nothing is definite. I'm probably going take just some time off truthfully, unless of course something really wonderful comes along and nothing really has yet. [I’ll] focus on developing the projects that I'm doing with Plan B [Entertainment].

Q: How do you feel about all the magazine covers?

JENNIFER: I don't look at that stuff.

Q: It would probably drive you crazy, right?

JENNIFER: No, I just don't pay attention to it. It's toxic.

Q: You talk about how this has come along at a good time and we all know what’s been happening with you, but you’ve taken the high road and we love you for it…

JENNIFER: Thank you.

Q: So how do you stay grounded when your life is “derailed”?

JENNIFER: First of all, I'm not a role model, or whatever, or poster child for how to do anything. It was my first time at this particular picnic. Great family, great support, great friends, I mean this is nothing out of the ordinary. People walk through this stuff all the time.

Q: And doing good work?

JENNIFER: Yeah, it's good to have something creative; a creative outlet, I loved having work to go to. And it was fine when I wasn't working. That was fine too, you know.

"Derailed" opens in theaters November 11th.