[2001]

Her latest movie, 3,000 Miles to Graceland, is an ultraviolent thriller that sandwiches her character, Cybil Waingrow, between two dueling, Elvis-impersonating criminals, played by Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. Cox, who got her first big break when she was pulled out of the crowd to dance in Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" video, lobbied hard for the role. She's clearly eager to stretch out and test her talents beyond the confines of one of television's most popular shows.

The sweet-natured Cox recently sat down for a quick chat with Mr. Showbiz in Los Angeles. With just a hint of an Alabama accent highlighting her speech, Cox talked about Elvis, all those Friends rumors, and the blissful state of her marriage.

Young Elvis or old Elvis?
Young. Because he was so cute.

Sideburns or no sideburns?

I'm not a huge sideburn person, so I'd probably say those short ones that he had. I think that's old Elvis with the sideburns, wasn't it?

What's your take on the high level of violence in 3,000 Miles to Graceland?

This movie reminds me of a video game because it starts off that way — it starts off as a cartoon and it ends with the fantasy. I think you have to look at it as fun. Yes, there's a lot of shooting. I just think it's more of a crazy ride; I mean, who really thinks they're Elvis' kid? I just see them as quirky characters. It's just a movie.

You've got some pretty racy love scenes with Kurt Russell.

Those love scenes are so kind of "out there," you know? The hardest part really is kissing, because you want to look right when you're doing it, and our scenes are much more kind of "woo-hoo," anything goes. But it's funny, because they don't mean anything when you're doing them. It's the least turn-on, doing a love scene in a movie.

The outfits in this movie are really a scream. Is there a rhinestone jumpsuit hiding somewhere in your closet?

No, I don't have one, but David [Arquette] does.

When does he wear it?

He was Elvis for his niece's birthday this year. And I'm sure I'll see it some other time. He actually bought it from the movie and had it studded. I think he sent it to Memphis, I'm not kidding. And he has a lot of costumes.

Since we're talking about clothes, are you ever tempted to pick his clothes for him?

David is just that. That's who he is. He's so creative and he's such a unique person, I love that he dresses that way, because it's not like he's contrived. He goes in his closet and he spends hours trying to think what would be really cool and he just puts it on. This is David: We wake up in the morning — he wore, let's say, whatever he wore to sleep, some sort of outfit [Laughs] — and before he goes to get coffee, he actually puts on another entire outfit. A certain pair of slippers, maybe a hat, socks, like, a whole thing. So then after that, he'll go back to take a shower — before the day starts — and he puts on another complete outfit. Can I tell you about the laundry? [Laughs]

Are the reports of your marital trouble true?

I don't know where it comes from. I heard that I filed for divorce and that I kicked him out and he's a bad boy.

How did it start?

It started in England, it was a very small little thing in a paper. I don't know which one it was, but it was like an inch big, just a little blurb. And then it just went off.

Does it bother you?

It doesn't really bother me that much because it's just stupid.

But, generally speaking, it must be difficult living under the media microscope.

I'm glad I'm from Alabama, I just think maybe it makes me really normal. You know what I mean? Normal in a good way.

Do you think being from the South helps you in your acting?

It definitely helped with my character, Cybil. I think people are easy-going down there and she's easy-going, so it helped in that way. She's easy and she's easy-going.

Do you find that your Southern accent will sometimes give you away?
Not so much, but there are certain words that I'll never be able to say. Like, I say "poe-em," and I know it's "poem." I know from playing Monica; they're always saying to me, "Oh, Courtney, can you change the word 'ruined'?" Because I don't say "ruined" the way a New Yorker would say it. There are certain words I can't help it; I say "y'all." I guess I sound Southern sometimes, but it's more of the phrases and little words.

What sorts of things from your childhood have you held on to?

I have things, but not clothes because I don't keep so much of that stuff. I do have my Madame Alexander dolls and they're hanging in my bathroom. We have one bathroom in my house that's all dolls. It's really freaky.

So, I guess that makes you a doll collector then?

Well, David took that ball and ran with it. I was just going to put the little women up, but you wouldn't believe the dolls we have now.

OK, changing channels here, what's happening with Chandler and Monica's wedding?

I don't know, I imagine something will happen soon. But I really don't know. It's weird, they don't tell us what's going to happen. And I'm not even being coy, I just don't know. Hopefully, it's a cliffhanger. The only thing I hate about cliffhangers is that we have to keep our hair exactly the same.

Speaking of hair, what's the story with the intro to the show? It's been the same for seven years. Don't you get tired of those '90s dos?

Well, they put in clips from other shows, so we have the dancing and the '90s hairdos and then we have clips throughout time. Usually from the season we're doing at the time is what else they've replaced the old clips with. But personally, I think, "Let's don't switch a good thing. I don't want to have to fly to New York and have to do some kind of promo. What if I had to get in that fountain again? Good God, let's just use the footage we have, OK?" [Laughs]

With all the stars that pop up on Friends, is there a chance that Brad Pitt will pop up anytime soon?

He'll probably do an episode for his wife at some point; I don't know when, though. Not this year.

What's the most gratifying thing about having done the show for seven years?

The most gratifying thing is having a job for seven years that I was consistent. As an actor, consistent work is really hard to find. It's really taught me comedy. I feel really confident, like I know how to make a joke work, or I know what's funny. So when I do another project, I feel comfortable that I know the timing of things.

What's the story on The Shrink Is In?

That's a movie that I produced. It's a romantic comedy with David and David James Elliot and it's a really fun script. It was great doing it. I'm not sure what's happening with it, but hopefully something good will, because it's a really funny movie, it's quirky. I want to change the title, though, to Quack.

Branching out?

Yeah, it's nice to control things.

Have you faced the same trouble transitioning to film that so many actors do?

[3,000 Miles to Graceland] is something I really fought for. I had to work hard. I had to audition with Kurt [Russell] and read with him a few times. People don't assume I can play this.

When you look back at the "Dancing in the Dark" video that you did with Bruce Springsteen, do you ever freak out?

I don't like seeing myself dance. For some reason, when I watch that, I don't like my hair that short. I felt like it did not work for me. I look like a little boy. I didn't know how to do it right. And then, when I danced, I was like a little jock.