Meg Ryan, Annette Bening and Eva Mendes appear self-conscious, standing tall in stiletto heels and designer outfits as they pose for their PARADE cover shoot.
What I'm witnessing in a room full of star power is hardly diva-like behavior. The co-stars of the new movie, The Women , in theaters September 12, are having an informal reunion; having worked closely for months, they are relaxed together, and the girls' real selves come peeking through their legendary images.
"Where should I put my hands?" Eva asks seriously.
"Just pretend they're someone else's," Jack Guy, the photographer, jokes.
"Meg, your bangs are in your eyes," Eva calls out.
"Look at those shoes Annette is wearing," Meg says.
"They're amazing, but how could any one really walk in them?" Annette responds.
"We've got to get serious — stand up straight and suck it in," Eva directs.
The smiles are genuine as they tease each other, but at the same time this is business, and they know just what to do to make the picture work.
Bening, so composed when seen on the red carpet, is positively giggling. "I'm not worried. They know I'm a clown."
Mendes gets them all dancing to the music that she brought.
Meg jokes, "Now remember, we want to look approachable."
Later, when I talk to each of these accomplished women, they give me insight into their unique ways of dealing with the perceptions that don't necessarily match the way they see themselves.
Meg Ryan's life has come together in an unexpected and wonderful way. She has a three-year-old adopted daughter, Daisy, who is the delight of her life and a teenage son, Jack, who was used to being an only child.
"But," Meg laughs. "As soon as he figured out how hilarious Daisy is, they developed an incredible relationship. I found out he's a very paternal cat. And I wouldn't have known that until he had his own kids. I am so grateful for both of them."
Bening says, "With four children, there's a lot of at-home time and a lot of car-pool time. Quite frankly, I don't really care that much what people's picture of my everyday life is. But every once in a while when I'm confronted with peoples thoughts about how I live versus what it's actually like, I shake my head."
Strangely enough, work becomes the vacation for Bening.
"My children love to stay close to us. That's the ideal part. Acting for me doesn't feel like work. That's what I'd wish for anyone — meaningful relationships and something you'd rather do than anything else."
Bening also cherishes her long-time female friendships.
"Those friends are so precious. I've always been a person with a small group of intense friendships. You can be authentic with your friends. Your history gives you a very deep understanding. Now more than ever, just to maintain your sanity as a public person, you have to keep out of the public eye and you don't have to explain all aspects of yourself. There's a propensity to feel like you owe the public some sort of inside view, and that can be dangerous."
Eva Mendes, who is the least experienced of the three when it comes to hurtful headlines and prying photographers, learned a strong lesson when she chose to check herself into the Cirque Lodge rehab at a time when none of her behavior suggested that she was in trouble.
"I am so glad there are so many opinions about why I went to get help. It's better that I don't get too specific. Media people can speculate all they want. Let me tell you it would be awful if they got it right because that means they were truly snooping into my private life and not guessing and telling lies," she teases.
The gorgeous actress, who has locked lips on screen with Nicholas Cage, Will Smith and Joaquin Phoenix, plays the temptress in The Women — and chose to play it with full out fun. The Women may center around females, but all of the actresses think it's important not to bash the guys.
"Guys will understand. Sure they're on another planet," Ryan grins. "But what's great is how we can enjoy the differences and the mix in each of us. Love is the whole story, and for me that encompasses my creative life too, I find tremendous joy in my work and I get a great kick out of my children."
So will the women dish about each other?
Mendes declares, "I want to have my high heels always on the ground like Annette. I want the sparkle and glow that Meg has. There's a scene where we have to wear sexy underwear, and Meg made it a riot."
Ryan is grateful that her cast members taught her how to use her iPhone and were such good sports.
"Don't kid yourself — both Eva and Annette have a wicked and bawdy sense of humor."
And Bening, who insists comedy is hard work, sums it up.
"Meg is unflappable, and she knows her way around a movie set. Eva is high energy and earnest. You'll never hear her complain. If you want to hear about baloney on the set because of someone keeping someone waiting or getting their hair done, it just didn't happen. In my experience, it's not always the women who are in their make-up trailer when everybody else is ready — often, it's the men that take all the time!"
As the photo shoot nears its end, the gals decide to fool around with the flowers decorating the set. After throwing them up in the air, Eva says, "Wait a minute, some of these flowers are real and some are fake."
Annette deadpans, "Just like acting!"