If they weren’t two of the most high profile actresses in Hollywood, one might mistake Shirley MacLaine and Jennifer Aniston as stand-up comedians. They recently unveiled their two-woman show to a group of journalists in Pasadena, where their latest film, “Rumor Has It,” is set. Whether it’s on or off screen, the two women — 35 years apart in age — clearly share the bond of good humor.
QUESTION: Jen, there’s been a lot of press lately that you have baby news. What’s the deal?
JENNIFER ANISTON: You guys, with all of this, I should have 10 children by now, married five times, maybe with women and men (laughs)... Good God.
Q: Shirley, your personal life has been covered like Jen’s is now. Any thoughts?
SHIRLEY MACLAINE: If I was her, I would slug most of you. (Laughs). Now, the real truth as opposed to the rumors, because all of you guys for the last week have been asking what is the nastiest rumor, here’s the truth: Vince Vaughn prefers older women. (Laughs)... The truth is I’m basically having a ball and she’s the one taking all the gaff. q: Jen, are you OK with that?
JA: Oh yeah, we worked that out a long time ago. q: Shirley, how much of your role was in the script?
SM: Oh, I made up all of the lines. None of that was in the script. Rob (Reiner) is so grateful. (Laughs). I don’t know, some of them I remember doing, some I don’t. I don’t remember much of anything more. You should all respect that state of bliss. (Laughs). q: Shirley, how do you feel when Rob Reiner calls you an icon?
SM: Oh hell, they are calling Paris Hilton an icon. It doesn’t mean a thing. It’s because I’m still walking upright and haven’t fallen over and haven’t succumbed to some disease or killed myself or ended up with some mogul. q: Do you think the press of your break-up with Brad Pitt will die down soon or does it have a life of its own?
JA: I don’t know. I would have thought it would have (died down). There are so many magazines now and I think they are just so desperate to fill them. The demand is greater and they are just going nuts, taking anything, rehashing stories. q: Jen, did Jessica Simpson’s divorce take the heat off of you?
JA: It did. Isn’t that disgusting?
SM: Maybe we can get Elton John to divorce David Furnish.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 23, 2005. Read the original PDF.