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Variations of Feeling
Davidson: Why do women identify with you so much in these roles?Ryan: Because the romantic comedies are such fables. 'Cause they're generally about a kind of deep belief in the power of love.
Davidson: And the possibility of finding true love?
Ryan: That yes, it's out there, and there's a lot of hopefulness. Because the world can beat that out of you, you know?
Davidson: Do you still believe in romance?
Ryan: Oh, yeah. I believe in it, but my life is so different than it's ever been, and I'm so happy about the way it looks. It's the first time I've ever said, "Okay, this is really right."
Davidson: At some point do you see yourself having a partner again?
Ryan: Right now I'm happy to be alone. I've never been alone. I'm sure there'll come a time when it'll get old, but right now I like it.
Davidson: Are you closer to women than men right now?
Ryan: Probably more women. They don't get bored talking to you about the same thing. Like you call up and go, "I'm not over this yet. I might sound like a broken record but you gotta..." I think women have more patience with each other.
Davidson: What does your life look like now?
Ryan: I have a lot more energy for myself, which I haven't had for a really, really long time. I'm taking more pictures; I write more; I'm taking a lot more time deciding what kinds of movies I want to do. I'm working on this part right now that requires so much research.
Davidson: Can you tell us a bit about it?
Ryan: I'm doing this movie [Against the Ropes] about one of the few women who have successfully managed a boxing champion. She has succeeded in a world where it's very unlikely for a woman to ever succeed. I'm learning how to box; I have to understand the boxing world, and I've got to understand her.
Davidson: You actually learned to box?
Ryan: Oh, yeah. It's fun. I can't believe it -- it's really fun.
Davidson: You mean it's fun getting hit?
Ryan: I don't get hit. I just spar and hit the other glove. I don't know what it must be like to get hit. And at night I sit at home and watch boxing movies.
Davidson: You've gone through many transitions in the last couple of years. How old were you when your parents divorced?
Ryan: Sixteen? Fifteen.
Davidson: Did that influence your decision about your divorce?
Ryan: First of all, it was long in coming. Dennis and I wanted to make sure Jack was well tended to, so maybe we overdid it. His emotional health was so important to both of us. And he's great right now and able to articulate himself. I'm sure he'll be resentful down the line or something, but right now I think we did, so far, a really good job.
Davidson: You seem to have made the transition from being married to being partners in raising a child. How did you manage to do that without the acrimony that usually comes with divorce?
Ryan: Well, believe me, there's some acrimony. But it's not overwhelming. And I guess we're just both so in love with our kid, and his innocence is important to both of us, that we really wanna preserve that for him. And there's a lotta love still all around, everywhere, but you know, it wasn't working. They say that 90 percent of how well [kids] adjust has to do with the relationship that the parents have with each other. So you're required to work on your relationship in order for them to have some emotional health during all of it. Jack's not just happy or sad. The guy knows a lot about the variations of feeling. It's really been hard, but there's a lot of great stuff that's come along too.
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