Kim Basinger’s story
is classic Hollywood stuff, a tale about a shy, small-town girl who quickly
rose to fame and fortune as a high-priced fashion model and A-list actress,
only to have her name smeared by a Tinsel town scandal that ultimately left
her bankrupt. Her financial troubles started in 1989, when Basinger headed
an investment group that purchased the town of Braselton, Ga., for $20
million. A few years later, she was sued by Main Line Pictures for backing
out of an agreement to appear in the ill-fated film, Boxing Helena.
Basinger was ordered to pay $8.1 million in damages, rendering her bankrupt
and forcing her to sell her share of Braselton for $1 million. However, in
typical E! True Hollywood Story fashion, the blonde bombshell bounced
back in 1997, winning an Oscar for her performance in L.A. Confidential.
Of course, in between all that, she starred in films like 9½ Weeks,
The Natural, and Batman, as well as appearing nude in Playboy.
In addition, she was romantically linked to The Artist Who Formerly Had A
Career, voiced her concerns as an animal activist, married actor Alec
Baldwin, had a baby, and publicly admitted to suffering from agoraphobia, a
condition that caused her to remain housebound for six months until she
received therapy to combat it.
Basinger currently stars as Kuki Gallmann in I Dreamed of Africa,
a true-life film about a woman who had the courage to escape from her
comfortable yet monotonous life in Italy to start anew in the wilds of
Africa. To prepare for the role, Kim, her husband Alec, and their
2½-year-old daughter moved to Africa to experience life in the bush.
drDrew.com spoke to Basinger about the experiences of the wild and how she
tamed her life.
drDrew.com: Talk about being devoted to your art—you moved to
Africa?!
Kim Basinger: My husband and myself made a conscience decision to
pack up and go into the bush. We wanted to be away from what many people say
is civilization for six months.
drDrew.com: What was your biggest concern about making this move?
KB: I had so many fears about doing this. My biggest one was whether
I could do my work and take my [baby] daughter into the bush to live. It was
pretty treacherous because everything in Africa has teeth.
drDrew.com: Can you recall one of the oddest things you first came
across?
KB: Once I got over there, I learned that a puff adder--that’s a
snake curled up on a porch--is as natural as seeing a golden retriever in
Central Park.
drDrew.com: What was your work schedule like?
KB: I worked seven days a week. On the seventh day, I tried to face
some of my fears--like learning how to handle snakes, trying to learn to
drive a jeep with a left-hand shift, and trying to make myself be convincing
as an equestrian. It was a magnificent journey.
drDrew.com: How did Africa change you?:
KB: You’re never the same. We lived in the bush with very little
electricity, no water on most days, and without a lot of the bare
necessities. The thing that really happened to me over there was that I
befriended my fears. I was beginning to not only love it, but [also] wanted
to be a part of it. It was such a gift.
drDrew.com: Was it tough to leave?
KB: We all held hands. My husband, my [daughter], and I all cried
like babies. My husband had tears running down his face. Till this day my
daughter, who is four now, has vivid memories of everything that happened in
Africa.
drDrew.com: Why did you move to London for a month after filming
wrapped?
KB: I just couldn’t come home. I didn’t want anyone to ask me
questions about Africa. I couldn’t even speak about this movie. I had so
many requests a year ago to talk about this movie, and I couldn’t even
describe my experience until now.
drDrew.com: You’re very outspoken about your feelings for animals.
Did you get a better understanding about them from seeing them in the wild?
KB: I don’t need a confirmation of this in any way, shape, or form,
because I just don’t believe animals belong on chains or in cages. It’s
always wonderful to see them in their own natural habitat. That’s where
they belong.
drDrew.com: Much has been written about some of your past personal
problems—how did you deal with that?
KB: I’ve had my downs, but with a little faith and a big sense of
humor, you can get though them. It’s truly a gift to visit the bottom
because then you know how much to appreciate coming out of that and not
wanting to go back there. There’s a great lesson to learn on the other
side of the tunnel, and you really come out stronger.
