Jessica Simpson talks Dukes of Hazzard

Will you be performing with Willie Nelson?

Jessica Simpson: That started out as a rumor and something I wanted to do and I didn't know if he wanted to do it but he asked me on-set the other day to sing with him. So, we're trying to find the best song to do, and we'll be recording that.

Did you work together on the theme song?

JS: No. He did that by himself. He doesn't want me on the theme song.

Did you find jumping into acting in films different from the TV show?

JS: You know I thought it was going to be a lot harder but I think just the atmosphere, the cast, Johnny and Sean, and the director, Jay, and everybody has really made me feel very comfortable. They're crazy anyway, so it's okay if I mess up and it's cool for your first movie to go in completely open to just fall on your face. That's the personality that they have and what makes them so good at what they do.

Why did you want this part?

JS: It was important for me to not go so far away from my persona and what people already knew me as and eventually I go there in acting but for my first role I just didn't want it to be too farfetched and I just thought it was an amazing character and I wasn't alive when Dukes of Hazzard was around (on TV), but I did see all the reruns and I'm from the South and the accent sort of came natural and it's something that as an all-American girl I wanted to keep.

With cameras all around you all the time, did your experience on your TV show make it a lot of easier to do this film?

JS: I don't even notice a camera anymore, so that's one of the positive things as far as having a crew around all the time. They'll be in your face and you don't even notice that they are there, which is scary but it's good as an actor.

As an actress, what did you do to prepare for the role?

JS: I shoot on Thursday and I don't even know what my lines are so I'm better at just going in and sit in my hair and makeup trailer and while I'm getting my hair and makeup done, just memorizing my lines right there. That way I don't rehearse them too much and it doesn't sound like I'm acting and it's more on how I say it instead of thinking of when and where to say my lines. It gets too confusing and that's when I think it starts to look contrived.

Do you have any desire to drive the General Lee?

JS: Well, Daisy never really was in the car. She pretty much stayed in her jeep and I think Bo doesn't let many people drive it. I did go to driving school. I guess I just did it for fun because I really don't do any car tricks or stunts or anything in the movie, but they wanted me to feel comfortable driving so I went and learned how to do a reverse 180 and all sorts of stuff and they said I caught on really quick.

Are you and Enos going to hook up in this movie?

JS: I definitely tease Enos a little bit. It's sort of how I get my cousins out of a lot of situations.

Isn't that cruel?

JS: Is it cruel? No, because she really does love him and has a place in her heart for him.

She doesn't love him?

JS: I don't know. Maybe in the sequel? When it was first written, they had Enos and Daisy kissing but I haven't read that in the new script.

So you don't think it will happen? 

JS: I already had my big scene with Enos. Most of them are in bikinis. Thank God those are over.

A pretty good interview all and all especially for you Jessica fans! Dukes of Hazzard is set in present day, the story follows the adventures of "good old boy" cousins, Bo (Seann William Scott) and Luke (Johnny Knoxville) Duke, who with the help of their eye-catching cousin Daisy (Jessica Simpson) and moonshine running Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson), try and save the family farm from being destroyed by Hazzard County's corrupt commissioner Boss Hogg (Burt Reynolds).