Alloy Interview:"The Runaways Kristen Stewart & Dakota Fanning

How did you get into your characters? And how'd you prepare to sing in these roles?

Dakota: It was something that I've always been self conscious about and so I was really excited to do it because I knew I couldn't have done it any other way. I just would've felt weird about it. But I wanted to make sure I could do the songs justice because obviously they're so iconic and so well known. So I was really excited that I was able to do it and that Cherie supported me in doing that.
Kristen: Luckily I had Joan [Jett] on set every day and there was a lot of stuff on the internet that you can look at -- a lot of photos, not a lot of footage -- so we really did need Joan and Cherie there. It's just about throwing yourself into something that you don't necessarily know that you can do, but [Joan and Cherie] were sort of in the same boat.

Kristen, Joan Jett has said that you and she are very similar. Do you agree?
Kristen:I think she thinks we're incredibly similar because I just played her! It's so funny. When we see each other now, I'm pointing out the differences. I'm like, "See? I don't normally do that. I don't normally spit." We definitely have an energy -- I feel like I can really understand her and I feel really comfortable with her, so clearly she understands me and thank god!

What's your favorite look from this movie and did it make you feel like you were more in character when you put on the costumes?
Dakota: I think I felt the most like Cherie when I put on the corset and performed "Cherry Bomb," because that's so iconic to her. I filmed that on the second to last day but I felt most like the character when I was wearing that.

Both of you emote so well in this movie. What's your process for bringing out the painful scenes?

Kristen: She does this thing: "Pain..."
Dakota: She's talking about [my line in] New Moon. I always thought because I started acting when I was younger and I was pretending to be someone else and just playing, in a way, so I've kind of just kept that as I've gotten older. I think if you think about it too much you can mess it up and interfere. If you just know a character so well and you are moved by them or inspired by them, you just know what to do.
Kristen: I feel the exact same way and it's a weird thing because I guess that you would think that we sit down and pick out the parts that are going to effect people. But it's funny because you wouldn't only be manipulating yourself, you would be manipulating the audience, too. You have to do a lot of thinking initially and throw it out.

Were there elements of your own rebellious teen years that you drew from?

Kristen: I have a lot of aggression. It wasn't hard to do.
Dakota: I don't think I can compare anything that I've gone through to what Cherie went through.
Kristen: "Mom! I want to go! Please!"
Dakota: Yeah, I don't think anything in my life has been as big as the things that she's gone through

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