Emmanuel Itier: Is this the end of your experience with M.J., or do you see yourself doing 4-6?

Kirsten Dunst: This is definitely the end of this trilogy. We’ve closed this chapter. But if Sam and Tobey and I were to come back together, we’d definitely be doing another movie.

EI: Were you playing the M.J. after-storyline, not thinking about the special effects?

KD: On this one, they’re finally together and she is successful in what she’s doing, and he’s been embraced by the city of New York and getting all these accolades. It’s blown his head up a little bit. Slowly, we start to unravel Mary Jane, their relationship…they’re already ignoring things within that. It doesn’t help that he takes on this other darkness that envelopes his character and brings out all the things he’s not dealing with in his life–all his anger really heightens that.

EI: Can you get focused in your storyline and not think about Sandman’s story?

KD: Oh, I just focus on what I’m doing. It’s a surprise when I see the movie because I don’t know what half of it’s going to look like. I saw Thomas and I said, “Hey, we’re in the same movie.” We all had our separate lives and stories going on, which makes sense because that’s what it’s like in the film.

EI: Did you enjoy singing?

KD: I was just happy that she finally got a gig. I’ve always sang so it wasn’t a big deal to me. I could prerecord it and just lip-synch to it.

EI: Have you heard about the musical?

KD: Yeah, that’s amazing. I heard about it today. U2? That’s incredible. That’s the coolest ever–I mean, Julie Taymor directing? I was shocked because usually, when they do that kind of reinvention thing, they get a little cheesy. But that’s incredible.

EI: Would you like to do Broadway?

KD: I could never sing live in front of a big audience. I’m not a Broadway actress. No, no, no.

EI: Are you going to play Debbie Harry?

KD: Yeah, but it’s too early to talk about it.

EI: There’s a reprise of the upside-down kiss with Tobey. Did you kind of think, hey, that’s my kiss?

KD: I don’t want to give too much away, but yeah,. Can you imagine how hurt you would be if you had this intimate moment with the love of your life and that’s kind of duplicated in some cavalier way? That’s kind of heartbreaking.

EI: Regarding M.J.’s unraveling, she doesn’t really tell him…

KD: There wasn’t an opportunity. Also, there’s a responsibility in a relationship when someone’s doing something that’s really special. You don’t want to put your problems on them that day. Then there was that other thing that happened at the keys to the city ceremony, so it just kind of builds and builds and builds.

EI: Did you know how to do the twist?

KD: Yeah, I can do the twist. I dance. They brought me all the way down to Culver City and I was like, “Why are we here?” “Twist lessons.” “Are you kidding me? You brought me all the way down here to do the twist?” It’s not the hardest dance in the world. I did a twist lesson with James–helped him out a little bit.

EI: Was it funny watching Tobey dance at the jazz club?

KD: It was so funny, and I had to have a reaction of: “Peter, what’s wrong with you,?”but I couldn’t even do it because when I’d see Tobey, I’d laugh when he was dancing. It’s so ridiculous, and I had to be in a shocked, “what’s-happened-to-Peter” mode. Meanwhile, he’s doing all these pelvic twists and thrusts. I couldn’t watch him do it anymore.

EI: Having done three of these superhero films, is it disappointing that you don’t get to do superhero stuff yourself? Would you like to see more female superheroes in film?

KD: Honestly, I have absolutely no interest in being a superhero. I got to throw a cinderblock in this one, which was fine. That’s enough action for me. If I were to do any superhero-esque film, I’d do some werewolf avant-garde in the streets of Paris or something. Remember that movie with the vampire?

EI: “Interview”?

KD: No–like I’m going to reference my own film and act like I don’t know what it is. That would be so lame. No, it was called “The Lost Boys”. Something’s that cool like that.

EI: What about the “Barbarella” remake?

KD: No, I don’t want to wear that outfit. That’s too revealing. I don’t want to think about wearing a bikini through an entire film.

EI: Are the acting muscles you flex in making a comic book movie different from the ones you use in a regular drama?

KD: After I did “Marie Antoinette”, we did very little talking in that movie. It was a very sensorial way of working. It’s all about the way the fabrics smelled, the food tasted, how the air felt…I never concentrated so intently like that. Afterwards I realized all these things. While I was doing it, I was aware of it, but you can’t be too aware of yourself. Then, when I started to work on “Spider-Man”, I realized all these tools I had that I didn’t realize I had before. I learn new things on every movie.

EI: Do you ever go over the top?

KD: You’re in fantastical situations, but I hope I didn’t. Did I? It gets sticky when you get to the blue-screen stuff. I just forgive myself for bad acting when it comes to those things. If I’m good in that, it’s just incredible because those things are hard to do. I had no idea what was going to be in the film. And some of those lines are hard to pull off too.

EI: Is there something you wish M.J. could do in these three films that you didn’t–ideas that got shot down?

KD: Yeah, I suggested she shouldn’t be in peril in the third one.

EI: Have you, Sam and Tobey talked about this being over?

KD: No, we haven’t had that moment.

EI: See it coming?

KD: No, give us a little time please.

EI: In “Spider-Man II” there was talk that Tobey wasn’t going to come back after he was injured…

KD: I remember that time very well. [Laughs]

EI: If Sam decides to come back but Tobey doesn’t, would you do “Spider-Man 4″?

KD: No, I wouldn’t.

EI: You think your M.J. should be with Tobey’s Spiderman?

KD: Right. Hands down, yes.

EI: How different has M.J. become? How different is Kirsten doing six years of “Spider-Man”?

KD: Well, for me, I think on the first movie I was so much younger, impressionable and insecure so I didn’t have the confidence that I have as an actress today. I cared what people thought and I was performing more for other people instead of myself. We’ve grown up. With each film, we’ve become more and more collaborative, and this last one has been three individuals coming together as equal adults collaborating on a film. You’re not that when you’re a teenager–you’ve got to grow into that.

EI: Is there anything in real life you do for action or thrills?

KD: Um, what thrills me?

EI: Tobey talked about adventure sports…

KD: Alright, okay. What thrills me? Going to the movies, hanging out with my friends. I love to travel and going to new places. I like going to Sunday night dinner. I’m not an extreme sports person. I like going to the theater and see bands play.

EI: You don’t have desire to put yourself in danger?

KD: I guess I’m not an extreme sports lady, although my grandfather was a speed skater and bicycle racer and was going to go to the Olympics before World War II broke out. He was a famous athlete. My dad was really into sports, so I have it in my genes. I just haven’t exercised it.

EI: How controversial do you think “Sweet Relief” will be?

KD: It’s about a woman. I don’t think it’s about Iraq. It’s about a woman. What in this 24-year-old girl makes her want to go to Iraq on your own without security and just be there, count bodies, visit orphanages, manipulate soldiers into getting information, all on her own accord? That is a very brave and kind of a crazy thing to do. I couldn’t put myself in that position. I couldn’t imagine doing that. So I think it’s more about this woman.

EI: Have you made it?

KD: No.

EI: Will it be your next film?

KD: No.

EI: Do you know what your next film is?

KD: Yep. It’s this movie called “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People”. It’s based on Toby Young’s book. Simon Pegg is the lead.

EI: Are you a Vanity Fair writer?

KD: Yeah, I work there.

EI: Do you have a romance?

KD: You’ll have to wait and see.

EI: When are you doing it?

KD: May, June and July.

EI: Have you had experiences with a big opportunity, like M.J., then lose it?

KD: Of course, I’ve been so bummed when I haven’t gotten a role. That happened when I was younger. Now I’ve learned it’s probably for the best.

EI: What about critics?

KD: I’ve usually been disappointed. I read the New York Times and the LA Times and I’ve been disappointed before, but I’m in a place in my life where I don’t care.

EI: Do you have a chance to be friends with Sam, Tobey etcetera when you’re not making movies?

KD: James is part of my life because I introduced him to a charity I’m involved with called Art of Elysium. We put on plays and visit the hospital, and this one particular hospital, called All-Saints, we do auctions. I got him involved with that. And Bryce and I have become really close. Those are the two people I see the most. But when I see Tobey, it’s great. He’s just had a baby, but I love his fiance.

EI: Tobey had a baby, Bryce had a baby…how do you feel?

KD: I don’t know yet. I definitely want to have children.

EI: Do you want to be married?

KD: I don’t know. We’ll see.

EI: Is it weird to see your peers go into that zone?

KD: Not at all. It’s not weird–it’s beautiful.

EI: Any plans for your summer break?

KD: I’ll be working in London, but working in London is pretty awesome. I have no complaints.

EI: Are there places in the world you’d like to visit?

KD: I want to go to India, Africa…I’d love to go to Antarctica.

EI: How do you feel about critics’ opinions of you?

KD: I don’t let those things affect me. I don’t read the crap anymore. It’s not part of my life. I’m not worried about what people say or write about me. I definitely read a few reviews, and I respect them. I’m not saying I don’t value what they do, but I’m not going to personally invite them into my feelings about myself.

EI: Do you want to do charity work in Africa?

KD: I’ve been involved in Bono’s charity before, so if I was going to go to Africa, I wouldn’t just stay in some fancy hotel. That would feel awkward and weird to me. I’d want to do it on a level where I’d be a celebrity face, if that gets attention to certain causes.

EI: Have you been anyplace where your fans went crazy for you?

KD: Universal Studios because we had to open some attraction there. We went on a Spider-Man ride after. The people screamed at me. I was like, “Calm down–it’s okay.” At the premiere, they’re mellow. Even when you’re in crowds, you feel like you’re in your own space. They’re respectful of people’s space.

EI: Who brings out that fan in you?

KD: Joni Mitchell, but I wouldn’t scream in her face. Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep. Barack Obama…I’ve got a real crush on him. Jon Stewart. There are lots of people.

EI: What do you like about Barack?

KD: He’s such a dashing…I love that he lays it on the table. He wrote a book. There you go. He’s everything you want a president to be, I think.

EI: Is there some role you want to do?

KD: Yeah, I really want to make a Roman Polanski-esque “Repulsion” or “Rosemary’s Baby”, but there’s nobody making those movies. “The Others” was the closest you got to it. If I had one dream director it would be Roman Polanski.

EI: What was the hardest scene to do—the most challenging?

KD: Just walking down the stairs in high heels, trying not to fall. And lip-synching.

EI: How did you like being a redhead?

KD: It was nice. I liked the color. I like the man who did my hair, Manny. He’s a real connoisseur. I like that Mary Jane doesn’t look perfect and her hair’s grown out. Manny is specific and it’s nice to have people around that let you do your thing but are also supportive.

EI: Why is “Spider-Man” so successful?

KD: I didn’t need it to be because I lived it. I’m part of it and I know why: we never rested on our laurels. We are all passionate for this franchise. The producers, the heads of Sony, all of us want to make a great movie. Of course, it’s about box office for the studio at the end of the day, but we don’t want to produce just to produce. We really care for it. These people are so important to us. Sam was working up to the last second giving over to the film. Sam is such a hard worker.

EI: Why does the public respond?

KD: Spider-Man is every man. If he can be a hero, you can be a hero. It’s always had very relatable story lines in this fantastical world, yet Sam manages to ground it with the people he’s cast. That’s always attracted interesting actors to play our villains. It’s an international story. Who can’t relate to falling in love, getting into fights with your best friend, or feeling like your work is killing you? That’s why.

EI: Was there ever a time when the acting became a different thing for you?

KD: When I was younger, I worked with an acting coach, but how else are you going to do “Interview with the Vampire”? You can’t do that on instincts. He helped me make things seem different and seem okay when maybe they were scarier to do. I was up for it. I wanted to do it at that age. I enjoyed it. I had a great time on that film, but then I definitely have had transitions in my life where not every child actress becomes an adult actor. I continued and enjoyed it. “Virgin Suicides” was big for me because it showed me in a light where I was a young girl having these other emotions, not just being the cute kid. “Sofia” did that in such a poetic way that that opened many doors for me. Then “Bring It On” was helpful for me. It kept changing and growing. “Marie Antoinette” was huge for me. Acting has changed for me. My barometer has changed for what I want to do, who I want to work with. You spend a lot of time with people working on films. I want to work with good people who I can learn from who are nice people. There are so many different personalities in this business.

EI: MJ’s career is spiraling while Peter’s is taking off. Have you seen that in Hollywood?

KD: I’ve always been supportive of whoever I’m with in their job, and I’ve never felt threatened. I can understand when the other person doesn’t make you as confident in yourself. It has to do with how you feel about yourself.

EI: Does your celebrity make it difficult for guys to ask you out on a date?

KD: Oh, completely. I’d stay away from somebody [who's a celebrity]. Who wants to be part of that with the pictures? I live a normal life, but occasionally there’s stuff that’s not so fun to deal with. Then that person’s not meant for me. I need somebody who can deal with all the aspects of who I am.

EI: Ever considered a lawsuit?

KD: No.

EI: Has the self-confidence you’ve gained in making the “Spider-Man” films helped you assert yourself in other films?

KD: This film didn’t give me self-confidence. I gave myself self-confidence. I worked on myself as a human being. Films, money, all those things give you nothing. You’ve got to give it to yourself. I worked on myself.

EI: If you have a problem, do you speak up?

KD: Completely. I’m very opinionated. [Laughs]