Q 1

PLAYBOY: Your latest film, The Skeleton Key, is a horror thriller. This is a big change for you -- you're known mostly for your work in romantic comedies. How was the experience different from what you're accustomed to, aside from your needing to scream more?

Kate Hudson: It's not a screamy movie. It's a "What's behind the door?" movie. It has more psychological elements than most horror movies that come out now. I scream maybe once. It didn't hurt that I'd just had a baby when we shot it, because I was breast-feeding and had actual tits. In every thriller there has to be a girl running through the house or the woods with no bra on, and I could actually do that. If we shot it today, that would be impossible. I had a very different body at the time, and my breasts really helped my character. Who woulda thunk it?

Q 2

PLAYBOY: You play a nurse in the movie. Please tell us you wear a revealing, low-cut nurse outfit.

Kate Hudson: No, sorry. I actually play a hospice worker. I wear more of a nurse overcoat -- it's nothing guys would be too excited about. You're thinking of Jenna Jameson's version of The Skeleton Key. That should be coming out soon, and it'll be fantastic.

Q 3

PLAYBOY: We hear you got a lot of bruises on the set. Did you do your own stunts?

Kate Hudson: Some of them, yeah. It was the first time I'd done a film that was so physically demanding. There was a lot of heaving and running and being out of breath. The wonder of filmmaking is that they make everyone look much more graceful in the finished product than you feel in the actual moment. I had to climb up a two-story trellis that was breaking, and I slashed my hand. But it was so much fun. It brings out the athlete in me. You get to go home and show off your scars.

Q 4

PLAYBOY: Most of your characters have been cute, lovable, happy-go-lucky women. Were you consciously looking for a script that didn't require you to smile?

Kate Hudson: It was nice not to smile. I don't think I smile once in the movie. By nature I'm a happy person, but in terms of acting it's nice to breathe heavily rather than giggle. So many times I'll go to a looping session for a film and the script will say, "Reel 20: Giggle." And I'll think, Oh great, another giggle. I mean, I'm proud of the movies I've been lucky enough to do, but I also think it's nice to be able to feed yourself as an actor and switch things up a bit.

Q 5

PLAYBOY: You're frequently described as bubbly and cheerful. We'd like to give you a chance to change that perception. What's the meanest thing you've ever done?

Kate Hudson: [Laughs] That's a horrible question. I would never consider myself a mean-spirited person. I encountered a lot of mean people growing up, and it's hard not to be affected by that. Believe it or not I've done a few things I'm not proud of. I don't think I want to admit to any of them. I don't regret what I've done, but I'm not necessarily proud of it. I'll just say they usually involved men.