The Early Show

Uma Thurman Just 'Cool'

By Tatiana Morales

March 1, 2005 / 1:59 PM EST / CBS

The last time Uma Thurman teamed up with John Travolta, they danced their way to Oscar nominations in the cult classic "Pulp Fiction." Now, they're back dancing again in the sequel to 1995's "Get Shorty," titled "Be Cool," based, again, on a novel by Elmore Leonard.

Accepting the role was in no way difficult, she tells The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. She had worked before with the producers, Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, and David Nicksay.

"I love them. I trust them. I know they have great taste," she says.

In the film, Thurman plays Edie Athens, a sexy Angeleno with a top-notch tan, great style, and a failing indie record label. She is the wife of a gunned-down music executive.

Of Travolta, she says, "John and I have a really good time working together, and I think [director] Gary Gray completely won me over, regardless of the rest of the cast, too. As each person came aboard, it was one person more special."

The all-star cast also includes Vince Vaughn, Cedric the Entertainer, André Benjamin, Steven Tyler, Robert Pastorelli, Christina Milian, Harvey Keitel, The Rock, and Danny DeVito.

Asked if she felt passed over by the Academy for her work in "Kill Bill, Vol. 2," she says, "No, I didn't. When we cut the movie in half, it sort of makes sense, in a way. The Golden Globes were so nice to consider the performance in both cases; but, you know, it's two halves of a character, two halves of a story."

Next for Thurman is portraying Ulla in "The Producers: The Movie Musical" with Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane.

"I don't sing, but I'm taking a whack at it here," Thurman admits. "I have to say I'm having a wonderful time. I sing and I dance, and it's filled me with absolute joy."

Asked if it is scary knowing she has two serious numbers in this musical, she answers, "As I said to someone the other day when we did a read-through: 'It's hard to sing when you think you're going to throw up because you're so nervous.' But luckily in my case, I don't have to work through the performance anxiety of live singing first off. I could calmly go back with a wonderful music supervisor and work in the studio and sing when I'm relaxed, and I know I am not going to be humiliated."

She is also working in "Prime" as a career-driven professional from the Upper East Side who is wooed by a young painter from Brooklyn, who also happens to be the son of her psychoanalyst (Meryl Streep).

"Working with Meryl is a lifetime dream," Thurman says.

Some Facts About Uma Thurman

Uma Karuna Thurman was born in Boston, Mass., on April 29, 1970

The daughter of a Columbia University professor and a model-turned-psychotherapist, she is named after a Hindu goddess

She began her career as a Click model

Thurman began acting in 1987 with the independent feature "Kiss Daddy Good Night"

In 1988, she received wide attention as the virginal victim of John Malkovich's seduction in "Dangerous Liaisons"

In 1994, Thurman first teamed with Quentin Tarantino in "Pulp Fiction"

In 1997, Thurman co-starred with Ethan Hawke, whom she later married, in "Gattaca"

In 2002, she received positive reviews for her role in the HBO film "Hysterical Blindness"

In 2003, after her high-profile separation from Hawke, she returned to the screen under the direction of Quentin Tarantino in "Kill Bill, Vol.1." Thurman also appeared opposite Ben Affleck in the John Woo-directed sci-fi thriller "Paycheck."

In 2004, she revisited the role of the bride in "Kill Bill, Vol. 2." Thurman's bride is a nameless woman beaten and left for dead who arises from a coma to wreak ultra-violent vengeance on her betrayer and his martial artist minions.

Thurman has finished production of "Prime." She has also just begun production on the musical "The Producers" with Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane.

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