Leelee Sobieski's new film, Walk All Over Me, is a sweet little movie about dominatrixes, stolen gang money, kinky sex and the chipped charm of Vancouver's underworld. Just in time for Christmas!

If only people would stop asking her if she's Helen Hunt's sister.

You're very funny in Walk All Over Me - a departure from your usual dark roles.

Yes, but I love comedy. It was a challenge for me to play somebody that is so naive. Since I was born in New York and I've been working since I was 11, it was not easy to play someone from a small town who is new to everything.

Naive would be hard, given that you're from a family of artists.

Ha! It was kind of difficult for me! But it's a nice way to look at the world, because you start to see things for the first time that you've seen many times before. After I finished the film, that positive energy stayed with me for two more films!

It's refreshing to see a film about sex workers that avoids moralizing.

I think everything is a case-by-case basis. I wouldn't want to generalize about that work, but in this film it seems totally cool. The dominatrix in the film is very choosy about her clientele, and for her it's not so heavy.

You often play heroines and tough women. Was it difficult for you to play vulnerable?

Do you think it was difficult for me to play vulnerable?

Maybe …

Did you think Alberta [her character in Walk All Over Me] was vulnerable?

Yes.

Is that a vulnerable question?

I … don't … know … any more

I like to show strong female characters, I find that exciting. And I think it takes an enormous amount of strength to show your vulnerability.

Walk All Over Me is set in Vancouver and is about prostitutes. The Pickton trial must have been in the back of your mind.

Sorry? [Lengthy discussion of Pickton case.] I had no idea about that! Oh my God! We weren't really talking about that. And it was public information at the time we filmed? Interesting. I was not aware of it, and I'm not sure if the director was aware, either.

Well, never mind. Was Kubrick the unholy terror he was reputed to be?

Oh my God, no! He was completely the opposite. I was 13½, and he couldn't have been more warm and sweet and inviting. The most open director ever. I worked on it for two months, but they worked on it for two years, and he sent my mother and me boxes of chocolates during the filming. He was even cuddly! I remember when I first met him, he had these warm chuckling eyes, the kind of eyes you'd want Santa Claus to have.

One doesn't hear "Santa Claus" and "Stanley Kubrick" in many sentences.

Ha! No! Well, you know, I was 13½.

After that film came out, you were on the cover of everything. Are you glad your, shall we say, Maxim days, are over?

Oh, I don't know about Maxim! I was never on the cover of Maxim. I think that maybe when there was that "sexy" emphasis, I was still under 18, so most of it was muted and tame. Maybe this is me being egotistical, but I don't think that I ever got attention other than for the reason I was doing a good job. When everything happened to me, I was not aware of it. I didn't realize it until much later.

You made a film with Catherine Deneuve. I would be terrified to even look at her.

She is very private, but once she realizes that you're okay, then she becomes very inviting and funky. She gave me my 19th birthday party, at an Indian restaurant in Montreal. My best friend, Anthony, who is an opera singer, was visiting me and she told him he had to sing for me. But the restaurant didn't have any sound equipment, so the owner went home and got his stereo and Anthony sang.

That is the power of Catherine Deneuve.

Yes - when she says sing, you sing. You have no choice!

Rating:  2

Leelee tries to be coordinated wearing green mary janes with her all green dress. But it's not really a dress to drool for but thanks for the effort Leelee.

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