Ashley Olsen Interview

Mary-Kate Olsen: We played soccer a lot with our friends and at school. We weren't on an official team or anything, but we'd definitely be up for it in gym or in after-school pickup games where we live.

Question: How do you like soccer compared to playing other sports?

Ashley Olsen: Soccer is so great because it is so different. Not being able to use your hands makes it different and harder to adjust to than most other sports. Once you get the hang of it, it's just the best, though. [Still,] all that running can get a little exhausting. It's like basketball times ten.

Question: Mary-Kate, you're usually the tomboy, and Ashley, you're usually the fashion lover. Did you have fun reversing your roles in Switching Goals?

MKO: I usually do get the tomboy parts in the movies, which is kind of like me, but not totally. I like to shop as much as Ashley, but she is a little more of a "girlie-girl" than me. As far as role reversal, we play the parts pretty much as they're written, so if we think it's cool, we'll do it.

Question: When you switched places with each other in the movie, did you two actually switch places, or just pretend to play each other?

MKO: We just pretended.

Question: How much soccer did you play each day, before and/or during the shoot?

AO: We did do some practicing with trainers for a few hours a day before shooting; and we also [worked out] with the Women's World Cup team. That was amazing -- to train with the best team in the world. We were really honored when we got named Teen Ambassadors to the 1999 championship U.S. National women's team.

Question:What position does each of you most like to play in soccer?

AO: We don't really have favorite positions. Its mostly just playing the game that we love.

Question: What was the hardest thing you had to do while filming Switching Goals? What was the most enjoyable part?

MKO: There wasn't any one thing that was hard to do. Getting in shape for the soccer scenes was work, but mostly, just being away from your friends a few weeks -- that was hardest. The best part was the food. There are some great Italian restaurants we go to whenever we are in Toronto, so the eating was a definite highlight.

Question: What was it like meeting Alexei Lalas (who appears in the movie)?

AO: Alexei was great! He is so much fun. He just taught us basic stuff like kicking and blocking. We are using them with our friends next time we play!

Question: Is there anything new you had to learn to do Switching Goals?

MKO: We learn a little bit from each new movie we make. We paid a lot more attention to how a movie is directed this time. Because of all the sports scenes, there was a lot more action in Switching Goals, and it was really neat to compare how it was shot, and then how it was all edited together to make it look really exciting.

Question: Tell us about your Australian shoot. That's where you are now, right?

MKO: Yes. We're Down Under making a new movie. Everyone calls us "mate." We both really love it here. It is so different from home.

Question: What's the title of the Australian video? What are some of the exotic sights and exciting new things you're seeing and doing Down Under?

MKO: We don't know the final title yet, but it is a mystery adventure and you're going to love it. Australia is so cool that it's hard to even know where to start describing it. The beaches are beautiful; so is the weather. Not too crowded. Great food, great music, really nice people. It must be a lot like Los Angeles was many years ago.

Question: You've been to Paris and now Australia for your videos. Are there any places you've always dreamed of going that you can turn into a video shoot?

AO: We want to go back to Europe, to Venice maybe or to England to make a video. It would also be cool to go to South Africa. It all depends on the script.

Question: s there anything you'd like to be doing that you aren't? Do you feel like your career enables you to fulfill a lot of your dreams?