Christina Ricci in Penelope Courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Can you tell us how long it took to put on the pig nose every day?
It took about an hour and a half to put the prosthetic on then I would go over into regular hair and make-up and then get normal sort of beauty make-up put on over that.

Did that get a little old after a while?
Well, generally the hair and make-up trailer in the morning is actually kind of fun. So the only thing that got old was that I had to not talk at all while the nose was being put on my face because you can't move your mouth with something being glued to your face…so sometimes being silent that long, I had a problem with because I am a compulsive talker.

Did you ever wear the pig nose out in public to see what kind of reaction you would get off-set?
I didn't. They were trying to keep the pig nose a secret in the beginning, but then ultimately they decided that wasn't the best approach. I didn't really walk around with it on. Every once in awhile, we'd be on location in London, and I'd say, 'Why don't we walk over to Starbucks? Oh... because I have a prosthetic pig nose on.'"

What was is it like shooting in London? And how did that come about that the United Kingdom was chosen?
I think we chose to shoot in the London because of finances but also because the way the movie looks, they felt there were people who were much better at creating that look in London than in the United States but I am not sure. It would probably be a better question for Mark or somebody. But it was great. I have made a couple of movies in London now, and it is one of my favorite places to spend any amount of time in.

Has the movie or the script changed the way you view people at all?
I think in a way it has. I don't think it was the movie or the script but I think it is more people's reaction to the movie that has changed my opinion about the world in general and what people are hungry to see. You always fear that when you are making a movie that has a moral to the story that people are going to reject the idea that you are going to reject the idea of being taught a lesson. Or you worry that people are going to somehow fear that they are being talked down to or that it is cheesy to make a movie about self-acceptance, but I found that all the press I have talked to — and I have been all over the world promoting this one — and everybody seems to be sort of grateful in a way for a movie that has this theme in it, a movie that sort of celebrates being an individual, being different. And, you know, it made me feel that people are kind of hungry not to have to live up to standards that don't apply to them. I was really happy about that people are really ready to celebrate being a very specific different person. I am so thrilled to know that the world is ready to accept and celebrate the individual.

In the film, Penelope is chased by photographers. What do you think about the paparazzi and tabloids and the gossip trades?
I think it is a little bit sick in a way. I am definitely am guilty of having picked up those magazines and I read them on planes. But at the same time, I think that they can be really cruel. And I think that one thing that people don't really understand about gossip about actors is that it can actually have an effect on their career. And I think people tend to take an actor's career and it doesn't seem as real as somebody's job at a big company or their career as a CEO or any other thing. But the fact is that sometimes when people are really mean or really slanderous are hurting the way in which somebody supports themselves and their family. In a way, it is kind of a little bit irresponsible.