Kirsten Dunst back as Mary Jane in ''Spider-Man''

Kirsten Dunst was a teenager in 2001 when she landed the role of Mary Jane Watson in "Spider-Man." Now at age 24 and with an impressive list of credits to her name, she is still just as excited about "Spider-Man 3," the latest chapter of the franchise as she was as a teenager… and with good reason. Question: Why do you think the "Spider-Man" films appeal to so many movie fans?

Kirsten Dunst: Even my girlfriends who don''t like big movies or action movies say their favorite movie is "Spider-Man." I think that is because the film has a heart, thanks to Sam Raimi (director). Sam loves Spider-Man, so he does it so honestly. He knows he has a huge responsibility toward everyone that sees this film. Before getting involved in this film, I fell in love with this character and the way it was written. I knew it would be something special with Sam directing and Tobey Maguire, who had just come off "Wonder

Boys" and "Cider House Rules," playing the role of Peter Parker.

Q: How is the ever evolving romance between Mary Jane and Peter?
Kirsten: In this one it looks like the two characters are finally getting married, but nothing runs smoothly in the Spider-Man world! In the first film it was their first time in a serious relationship. Then they had time off and then they got back together and then they had more time off and then they really committed. This is for real now. Even though the action and special effects are important, Sam Raimi knows the heart of the movie is the relationship between Peter and Mary Jane.

Q: What happens to Mary Jane in "Spider-Man 3"?
Kirsten: Mary Jane is a young girl and always searching; which I like. She has a strength to her even though in the first movie she was weak. In the second film it was about finding out what she loves and not being afraid go for what she loves - even though she''s terrified. That ending was an open ending, which I liked because it was an ending of hope. Now in the third film she has her career going well and she''s living her dream. But the confidence and happiness she finds is only from her work and that''s not the best way to live. In this film we break her down and it''s really about Mary Jane becoming a woman and finding out what means most to her in her life.

Q: What do you think of her struggle as a career woman?
Kirsten: She loves what she does and puts all her passion into performing. But she''s only putting all her efforts into her career because she doesn''t have the support that she needs from Peter.

Q: Can you relate to that passion in your own career?
Kirsten: Of course I can relate to Mary Jane. She''s a girl searching to be a woman and I''ve told that story in many beautiful ways; I''ve done it in "Marie Antoinette" and in "Virgin Suicides." I''ve done it in "Spider-Man 3" and I have no idea how many more movies I''ll do it in before I figure out what I''m searching for. But Mary Jane loves what she does and puts all her passion into performing, so it is definitely a part of me too.

Q: In this role, how important was the hair, makeup and costume for you?
Kirsten: It''s the fabric of the person. You look at a person walking down the street and you can understand who they are and what they''re into by how they look. So you use hair, makeup and clothes to tell the story. I felt we finally got it all right in this last film, from the hair color to the makeup to clothes. It was creating a look that was vintage; that looked like a girl who dresses professionally and is ready for auditions but can''t afford designer clothing so she goes to the vintage store to put that look together.

Q: How did you feel in the film''s opulent opening scene as Mary Jane is singing on stage in a glamorous gown?
Kirsten: The film''s costume designer James Acheson designed that dress. It was my first day of shooting. I had to walk down the stairs on that stage, not being able to look down at the stairs, wearing very high heels and a long dress and at the same time performing and lip synching to my own voice! It was a big challenge! But it was great to see MJ in her element, doing what she loves. And it gives the audience the picture that everything is roses for her and Peter.

Q: You are single and one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. How would you describe this time in your life?
Kirsten: I''m really enjoying life right now. The universe has given me a key and I''m very happy to use it. I''m taking my mother on the press tour for this film and I am taking my best girlfriend to Tokyo to do publicity for the film. And because it''s my birthday (April 30) and my grandma has the same birthday, my whole family is flying to New York for the premiere. (Opening across the Philippines on May 1, "Spider-Man 3" is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.)