Tangled Magazine

What Happens in Vegas: An Interview with Krysten Ritter

Interview by Jamie Evangelista and Laura Hartley

Written by Jamie Evangelista

Beginning her career as a model from the age of 15, Krysten Ritter has successfully made a jump to from modeling to acting and is a familiar fixture on TV appearing in Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars and ‘Til Death, just to name a few. But now she is diving into movies and co-starring with Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher in the new romantic comedy, What Happens In Vegas. We talk to Krysten about whether she prefers movies or TV, her fashion style and the craziest thing she has done in Vegas,

Your new movie, What Happens in Vegas, has a strong cast of comedians, what was it like on set?

This was a very warm set and I had a blast on this film. Cameron Diaz is one of my favorites so I just tried not to act like a tool around her.

Tell us about your character Kelly?

Kelly is Jack’s (Ashton Kutcher) kinky girlfriend, who frequently gets together with him for some, you know…kinky role-playing in the bedroom.

In the movie, two people drunkenly get married, have you done anything crazy in Vegas?

I love Vegas! I’ve been twice but the only stupid thing I’ve done in Vegas is maybe gambled one too many hands of Blackjack? Nothing too crazy. I’m a pretty conservative gambler but I do love it! The other
time I was in Vegas I was underage so I couldn’t drink or gamble… Not really the same thing. I had a fake ID that worked everywhere else in the world but in Vegas they weren’t having it. My then boyfriend and
I were upgraded to a pretty amazing suite and poured a bunch of bubbles in the jacuzzi– I’ve never seen so many bubbles. That was fun.

You’ve done a variety of TV shows and movies, what do you prefer?

I have to say that I prefer films at this point. There are things that I love about TV but at the moment I’m more interested in writing and developing for TV than I am actually being on a show. But who
knows- if the right thing comes along I would jump on it. I’m all about taking things as they come. The past year I have been doing films and it’s been heaven. The medium lends itself to an entirely
different experience than TV. It’s full on, you hit the ground running and it pretty much takes over your entire life. When you are shooting a movie nothing else in your life exists—you create your character, jump in, get to know and fall in love with this new group of people, and then move on. It’s very dramatic. While I’m young and still thoroughly enjoying being a rolling stone, experiencing new things, living out of a suitcase, being on the go etc etc— this is just the perfect job for me.

You’re in a band called Ex-Vivian, when did you start playing music?

I’ve been playing music for years. As a kid I played all sorts of instruments but it wasn’t until I got to NY that I started playing for real. I met a bunch of musicians and fell in love with the lifestyle. I met a guy who gave me a beautiful classical guitar on the condition that I come over everyday and play. I consider those my most formative years. And my guitar comes with me everywhere I go.

What inspires your songwriting?

You name it… Pain, angst, beauty, my environment, love. All the good stuff.

Growing up in a farm, how was it transitioning to life in New York?

I was a teen model so starting at age 15 I was spending more and more time there. I made the official move when I was 18. I’m such a city girl. I love not having to drive and I love stepping outside and not knowing what’s going to happen or whom you are going to run into.

You have a rather unique fashion sense. What/who are your inspirations?

Well, I sort of like what I like. I don’t like to look like every other girl and I like pieces that are a little special. I’m homeless so I keep my load pretty light. I only have a few things but what I do have I love and take good care of. My style is a little bit rock and roll but a little girlie as well.

You’re currently filming Confessions of a Shopaholic, what is it about?

It’s based on the book of the same title about a girl named Becky Bloomwood who has a shopping addiction. I play the best friend who also loves the shopping but has money so she can’t relate to the debt thing—as the story moves along it becomes clearer to Suze that Becky has a real problem. My character is an amazing friend and an enabler who ultimately becomes the voice of reason. I’ve also just started production on She’s Out of My League for Dreamworks, which I am very excited about. It’s a large cast of really funny people and my character is very different from Suze in Shopaholic. My character in League is dry and bitchy- which is always fun to play. I’m so lucky to be doing back-to-back movies! Keep em coming baby!

Who would you like to work with in the future?

Oh goodness, there is a whole list and I wouldn’t even know where to start! Let’s see… Paul Thomas Anderson, Woody Allen, Tim Burton and Judd Apatow are a few notches I would love to add to my belt. I would love to do another movie with Isla… I really just want to continue working with talented people. You’re only as good as the people around you.

What Happens in Vegas opens in Australia on May 8, and the U.S. on May 9.