McShane, Jenny - model, actress

By: Dominick A. Miserandino

Jenny is a stunning blonde model, actress, and musician who's starred most recently with Keanu Reeves. Here, she tells us a little bit about herself and a little 'girl talk' about who she's dating, and why Quentin Tarrentino was fascinated by a cockroach.

DM) So what is going on in your career lately?

JM) Well, after recently finishing the movie, "The Watcher", I did a movie called, "The Outlaws"with Michael Madson, and Damon Whitacre (Forrest's brother), and William Forsythe and Jeff Fahey. Michael plays a hit man who was formerly a cop, and the transition isn't a good world to go into. My character's a con artist; it's actually a really cool role. She has sugar daddies and sugar mommas! (laughs) It's hard to explain; she's like Lolita. Through the whole movie, I wear these heart-shaped rhinestone sunglasses that are out of control. And I have blue/pink hair down to my waist, and I'm wearing rubber ducky barrettes. It was so much fun, though.

DM) And what are you doing next?

JM) I'm up for the next Cameron Crowe project, "Vanilla Sky", which I'm hoping for... and I've just been really busy lately. I saw Quentin Tarrentino the other day.

DM) You saw Quentin?

JM) It was really funny. I was doing a photo shoot for a magazine, and I ran away from the set in my curlers. I was walking to get something to eat, and the location magazine person, a girlfriend of mine, was with me. When he came over, I was like, "Be really cool right now because Quentin Tarrentino is coming over to us." Well, she told him how I had just finished "The Watcher" with Keanu Reeves, and this magazine is doing a layout on me. Then he turned to her and asked what she does, so I said, "She's the location manager." He instantly responded, "What does that mean?" I said, "It's like when cats crawl into the photography studio, they're usually called the location manager. I said, "No, she's really suffocating a cockroach slowly." So Quentin came into the studio to check out the dying cockroach. I know this isn't all that funny, but it's just another day in the life of me.

DM) It sounds like he had ulterior motives in looking at this cockroach.

JM) Not really; you know Quentin, he's just really into the bizarre. He's really sweet. He goes, "Don't you just love Michael? I love Michael so much."

DM) That is bizarre, I'll give you that.

JM) It gets even more bizarre, though, because the following night we all had to go to dinner with the publicist, and the same location manager who dates the photographer was invited to the dinner. And John Travolta was two tables down, so then she runs over to Travolta's table and said as loud as can be, "Is there any movie that you haven't danced in?" (laughing) Oh my God! Me and my publicist left immediately. He left the table as well; in fact, he left the restaurant.

DM) He was that upset?

JM) Yeah, he was that upset.

DM) And why did she do this?

JM) I don't know. That photography world is a whole other world.

DM) Where do you find your friends? (laughing)

JM) (laughing) It's not my friend. It's somebody I just worked with. I know, isn't that crazy, so I'm staying home for the next couple of nights.

DM) Do you normally hang out with that normal crowd?

JM) The location manager's definitely not normal. I hang out with a variety of people. I play the piano, guitar and sing, and I'm working with a rock band a little bit on the side right now. One of the lead singers is from the movie "Virgin Suicides."

DM) What's his name?

JM) His name is John, but I don't know his last name. I just started working with him.

DM) You don't know his last name?

JM) I know, isn't that terrible? I'm just not star-struck. He asked me if I knew his movie, and I was just like, "I'm here to play guitar and sing." It could turn into something, as they were just signed to Warner Brothers. They want me to come on board and play guitar and sing. There is no name yet, but I told them that if I'm going to be the keyboard player and the singer, I'm going to need to have a part of the name. I want to name it "The Bikini Barbarellas."

DM) What?!?!? (laughing)

JM) (laughs) That's exactly what they said. What's wrong with that name? I thought it was cool. You've got to think of something cool to get people's attention.

DM) I'm sure they might be a little worried that you'll pull the focus away from them.

JM) They are.

DM) But why would you?

JM) Exactly; that's why I was like, "Why do you think I'm here?"

DM) Now that must be pretty scary, but he wants a blond on the keyboard, that's it. I mean, Bikini Barbarella! That's just wrong! (laughing)

JM) (laughs) No, it's not wrong. It's showing these guys that they're not going to take advantage of me coming in and making them look good. I have to get some attention here.

DM) Are they good musicians, though?

JM) They are amazing, I'm serious.

DM) Is this something that you're avidly pursuing?

JM) Not avidly, but if it happens, it happens. My three youngest sisters are in Nashville right now recording a country album.

DM) What's their name?

JM) You don't know them yet, but you will. They're 18, 19 and 20, and they're down there working with the brother-in-law of the Dixie Chicks. This guy is the lead guitarist on all of the Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain's albums. He's considered the best session guitar player in Nashville.

DM) And you said I don't know them yet but that I will. Are you that confident of their success?

JM) Yes, they're amazing. They have amazing voices, all three of them.

DM) So if your sisters are going to find their fame with the music, where will you find your complete and utter fame and fortune?

JM) Hmmm, it's not fame and fortune, but I'm happy doing the acting. I'm really content. The thing about music is--I don't know if you know anything about the road, but I don't care to be in a bus and driving around the United States every day. I'd rather be in a hotel and fly around first class, do my movies and run. That's the big difference, I know what the road is. I did a movie with the singer Taylor Dayne, and she asked me to go on the road, but I don't like this very much. It's really tough; you go from gig to gig; it's a tough life. The other thing about being a musician on the road is that it's really hard on relationships, too.

DM) Are you in a relationship now, then?

JM) No, I'm single right now, until somebody can meet my match.

DM) And what is the match?

JM) I obviously want to eventually settle down, but I want the person to be an equal. I've seen a lot of actresses date people, and they get put in the background because of the relationship. Does that make any sense? I'm a very free person and I think it will happen when it's supposed to happen. I've met a lot of people that I thought of dating, but it's just not happened yet. There's somebody, though...but I'm not seeing him yet; but I probably will eventually. I can't say the name, but I might soon.

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