Patrick Dempsey Interview

5 December 2007

Patrick Dempsey stars opposite Amy Adams in Enchanted, a delightful film that blends hand-drawn animation with a rousing, live action, romantic comedy. The handsome and talented leading man portrays a flawed and entirely contemporary hero.The story revolves around Giselle, a fairy tale princess, (Amy Adams) who lives contentedly in a magical land, where she is about to marry her ‘true love’ Prince Edward(James Marsden). She is hurled into the middle of modern day Manhattan by the wicked Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) who casts a spell. In the colorful chaos of city life, Giselle discovers a new and very different kind of romance with Robert, (Dempsey), a divorce lawyer, who is a single parent and definitely doesn’t believe in the idea of everlasting love or neat, fairy tale endings. This is old-fashioned Disney magic with an innovative, up to date story and characters. Patrick Dempsey plays a character who is firmly based in Manhattan throughout the story. He is Robert, a cynic Manhattan divorce lawyer, who is dubious about commitments after his own divorce. When he comes across a fairy tale princess, wandering the streets of New York in a huge, glittering silk and organza wedding gown, his understandable response is not entirely sympathetic.Robert has had his heart broken, his wife has deserted him and he is raising a daughter on his own, says Dempsey. Then suddenly a fairy princess walks into his life. Of course initially he thinks she must be crazy; then he has a leap of faith and believes who she is and where she comes from. Despite some reluctance, Robert takes Giselle home to his apartment, at the insistence of his little girl, who recognizes a genuine princess when she sees one. Robert is increasingly drawn to Giselle’s charm, kindness, optimism and magnetism. Their two worlds and cultures collide comically, but as Robert and Giselle get to know each other, they learn from each other too: Giselle discovers what it takes to have a real relationship that goes beyond sugary ‘happy ever after’ sentiment, while Robert learns how to trust and how to celebrate life. Dempsey grew up on the East coast of America, where he loved performing as a child and juggling! His early films include Heaven Help Us and Meatballs 3. But he became well known around the world with the hit film Can’t Buy Me Love in 1987. Other film roles followed over the years, including Outbreak with Dustin Hoffman, Scream 3, Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Witherspoon and Freedom Writers with Hilary Swank.

He currently stars in the popular medical TV drama, Grey’s Anatomy, as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd, otherwise known as Dr. ‘McDreamy.’ His next film is Made Of Honor. Looking as handsome in real life as he appears on screen, in a classic navy blue Paul Smith shirt, he sat down for the following interview.

How excited are you by Enchanted?

It is really great. It is rare to make a movie that everyone will enjoy. I think it is wonderful to have a magical Disney film that celebrates the genre and the classic films, but at the same time is also making a little fun of the fairy tale genre. It blows the myth out of the water and in this story, the princess character is very strong. It turns it all upside down in a unique and very clever way.

Can you talk about the appeal of the film?

It’s three movies in one - a romantic comedy, with animation and a fantasy, there’s nothing like it. I think it’ll appeal to everyone: guys, kids, teenagers and grandparents. The whole motivation and appeal for me in terms of making this film, was the fact that I have a little girl myself (and I play a father in the movie). With a family of my own, I really wanted to make a family film, so this meant a lot to me. It was something I knew I would enjoy taking my wife to see, and it is also a movie that my daughter can see, with beautiful dancing and costumes and amazing sets and a lovely story. And it is such an interesting approach to a romantic comedy.

What does your daughter think about the film?

She was there on the set and she loved it, she got to hang out with the ‘princess’ all day, (Amy). I think she really loved the animation and the chipmunk and the dancing and the musical numbers particularly. I have a doll, a Robert doll and she likes the dolls my doll and Giselle’s. Actually when I saw the doll I thought ‘I wish I looked that good’.

How challenging was the role?

It was challenging, to keep the reality strong and solid because I had to stay centered and I have to make it credible that I really could fall in love with someone like Giselle, from a fairy tale world. That was important because the audience relates to my character. In a way I represent the audience.

How enjoyable was it making the film?

I thought the film was a great idea and so unique, as soon as I read the script. But while I was making the movie, to be honest, I wasn’t really comfortable at all and it was very difficult to do. There are all these different styles going on at once and it was extremely challenging.

There were times when I wanted to put the scrubs back on and go back to Grey’s Anatomy, because I kept worrying that I was too serious or not funny enough. I felt profoundly insecure throughout the entire course of the film. But then watching the finished film and seeing it in context, I see how it works. In retrospect I can see (as Kevin kept telling me) that I was hitting the right note. The character is deeply wounded and has been abandoned and he is trying to do the best thing for his daughter, whom he adores.

So in hindsight, I was actually in the right space and captured his confusion and I think it worked well. We were capturing the dynamic between the characters, but while I was on set, I didn’t know it was working.

What aspects were easier or at least fun?

I really enjoyed the musical scenes with Amy, because I admire her so much and she was so fascinating to watch, she is so talented. I was constantly blown away by how she brought her character to life. The choreographer, John O’Connell was great, he brought such a passion and sensitivity to the dance number, where each move represented something in that relationship and I really loved that.

The chemistry between you and Amy is great, what was it like working with her?

I adore her, she absolutely fabulous I think she is a phenomenal actress and I would do every movie with her if I could. She is smart and sensitive an old-fashioned movie star.

How challenging was that intricate ballroom dancing scene which comes at a dramatic moment in the plot?

It was great, but there was a funny moment in the rehearsal when Amy would not let me lead her. She is very experienced at ballet, but that is very different from ballroom dancing and she kept pushing me around. (laughs). I would say: ‘what are you doing? I am the man, I’m leading’, we started working with a dance instructor, but she would not listen and let me lead and she wouldn’t wear shoes. But I was wearing mine and I stepped on her accidentally and she ripped her toenail right off.

She was supposed to go back and she went forward. It was quite dramatic. After that, we separated for a while completely and she went off to get a fruit smoothie. And then when we started to dance again and the music came on, everything changed, we started looking at each other for the first time and then emotion came through the dance and it was amazing.

I found her vulnerability and had to take care of her and it turned everything around and changed the dynamic. For me, that day was amazing, it was one of the best and most interesting days I had making the movie. That moment developed our chemistry, because it forced me to lead her gently and respectfully. And she had to surrender to that. I really loved the dancing and that scene is one of my favorite in the movie.

You don’t sing, are your sorry about that?

No. We were joking about the possibility and I suppose it would be fun, but I really can’t sing.

Why do you think the blend of Giselle’s innocence and your realism works so well and is so credible in the film?

I think the audience starts to believe in the story early on, when the film has moved from animation in Andalasia, to live action in New York and Giselle is baffled as she is quickly discovering that New York is very different from the innocent place she left behind.

My character says ironically to her: ‘Welcome to New York’ and she says ‘thank you’ in a very genuine way, which changes the audience. They start to buy in to the story. Then there is a wonderful scene in which she opens the windows of my apartment and starts singing to the animals and people really get affected by the film, from that point onwards.

There is a wonderful scene in Central Park that is quite delightful, so uplifting with a fantastic musical number and dancing, what was that like to film?

‘It was unbelievable, I loved it. There were crowds in the park watching and we all felt that we were part of a very special movie moment, it was really magical. I had never experienced anything like it before.

What was it like working with Susan Sarandon?

It was a blast, she was lovely, really sweet; not at all self-conscious, and she threw herself into the film and was just like one of the gang. It is so refreshing to see someone like her, who has had so much success in her life, but manages to remain normal and down to earth. She is very friendly and a makes fantastic Queen Narissa.

Are you still enjoying your TV show Grey’s Anatomy?