Chloë Sevigny: The Q interview

Queen of the indie flicks, Chloë Sevigny, 29, skulked into view 10 years ago in Kids, which was co-written by her then boyfriend Harmony Korine. She has avoided big budgets ever since, preferring art-house work such as Last Days of Disco. She received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Boys Don't Cry but was less well received for her work with Vincent Gallo in The Brown Bunny. Her latest film is Dogville, directed by Lars von Trier. Sevigny lives in New York.

We've been seeing you more on the celebrity circuit. Are you going mainstream?

I'm kind of sick of being in this independent movie rut that I've been in for a while. Not that I regret it - it's fine, but I want to make movies more people can watch. It can be really frustrating when people don't see your work.

The bigger the film, the more famous you become ... are you worried about losing your privacy?

I know that fame and recognition would come with working on larger films, but that's fine. I can deal with it now. I'm more comfortable in my own skin: before, I was more self-conscious.

Does the attention ever bother you at all?

Sometimes, when you want to be private and people are looking at you. Thank God I haven't become one of those people who refer to themselves in the third person. If it comes to the point where I start speaking like "Well, Chloë doesn't want to," then I'll get really scared for my life.

Is it true that you just fell into acting?

Acting was something I wanted to do as a child but I didn't know how to go about getting into the business. It seemed like really removed or improbable or like an impossible task. I got a lucky break when I met Harmony Korine - but that seems to happen to people a lot these days.

Are you getting used to watching yourself on the big screen?

I find it very difficult... I am very critical of myself. Not really of my performances, but more of my appearance. But isn't everybody? I find it difficult to judge my films. I like to watch other people in their scenes, but when it comes to me I think, "why didn't they use another take?" Or just, "what the hell am I doing there? What was I thinking?"

How far would you go to change your appearance for a role?

I don't know. I would gain weight if somebody asked me to or if it's a really good part.

Would you worry about losing it again?

I lost 20lbs for Boys Don't Cry - I was really skinny. I just ate two meals a day instead of three.

Do you stay fit?

I'm not one of those fitness fanatics. I was never physical, even as a kid. I've always been really lazy. I hated playing sports. I'd always do my best to get out of them at school.

What other ambitions and aspirations do you have?

I've always wanted to direct a film about Dracula, because that was my favourite book as a kid. I was obsessed with it and read it, like, five times. There have been so many Dracula films made, but I don't think anyone has ever really made a real Bram Stoker one. I didn't really like Francis Ford Coppola's one. It was too cartoonish. I think if I did a version, it could be real scary and sexy.

What's the biggest lie you've ever told?

I don't really lie - well, everyone tells white lies. But I've never told a really big lie. I was raised Catholic and I have some sort of Catholic guilt. I can't really lie. I guess I've never had to. I've lied about cheating on boyfriends and things like that, which wasn't very nice, but you'd rather not hurt the person.

Are you an avid reader?

No. I'm an avid sewer. I like to make my own clothes ... I should have been a fashion designer. But you know, I don't want to talk about fashion.

I see. Who would be your ideal male co-star for a romantic film?

Sean Penn. I'd be available for him.

'Dogville' opens on 13 February