Sherry Lansing, Hollywood's first female studio boss is releasing her biography and is talking about some of the biggest Hollywood stars.
Lansing was the head of Paramount Pictures for two decades and was responsible for movies like Forrest Gump, Titanic, Braveheart, Fatal Attraction among others.
Excerpts from the book called 'Leading Lady' talk about Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise.
When asked about her relationship woth Tom Cruise, Lansing says, " I've known Tom since Taps. I knew his family. He was at that time one of the most gifted actors — you could see right away. He's one of the kindest, most decent people I've ever worked with."
When questioned about his connections to Scientology, Lansing says, "I know he's a Scientologist, but I never saw him do anything that made anybody uncomfortable. I think everyone is entitled to their belief system."
In the book there is a passage about Cruise getting angry with Paramount president John Goldwyn having made negative comments about Scientology in his divorce filing when he split with wife Colleen Camp.
Cruise apparently demanded a meeting with Lansing and Goldwyn, and she recalls how the actor said to the producer: 'Why have you treated me so disrespectfully? Why have you said such bad things about my faith?'
Goldwyn, whose brother is famed actor Tony Goldwyn, went on to marry famed hotelier Jeffrey Michael Klein.
One of Lansing's biggest successes was the release of 'Tomb Raider,' but she reveals that at the time, it was a difficult sell getting Angelina Jolie on board because of her admitted history of drug abuse.
Lansing said she was warned about her fragile state and ways by both Jolie's father Jon Voight and close family friend Jane Fonda, but was reassured after the actress told director Simon West: 'Look, I want to do it, but I know what my reputation is, and I'll do anything you want to prove that I'm worthy. I'll be reliable, and I'll turn up, and I'll work hard.'
Jolie then added: 'I don't care if the studio wants to drug test me every day.'
The actress passed the tests, which were done by drawing blood and not from urine.
According to an excerpt from the book despite the tests, the studio and producers were concerned enough to talk about keeping an eye on their star. "We would put a team around her for two purposes," said a member of the production crew. "One really was practical: to get her into great shape for the movie, not only in terms of appearance but to do what she had to do onscreen. Then there was this notion that we had to give her spiritual and psychological support."
That's when the real problems began. West suggested hiring Bobby Klein, a former photographer and therapist who he believed had the right kind of experience. "There were issues with the studio and producers being very nervous about Angelina," he said. "There was a discussion with the group: 'We're looking for someone to oversee or keep an eye on her because we're all making the film.' That guy Bobby Klein came up as somebody who had worked in that world of psychotherapy or drug management or whatever. He was brought in to supervise Angelina."
Relationships that had been tense became strained to the breaking point, and producer Larry Gordon, who had battled the studio over money and the script, bristled at Klein's presence. "Simon West comes with this guy, Bobby Klein," said Gordon. "He's dressed all in black. He's a weird-looking guy with a white beard and white hair. He's very esoteric and gives me a thing that if you wear it, you can't get cancer, some bullshit thing. [They said,] 'He's going to be a big help, and he's going to do all these great things,' and so on and so forth."
As preproduction got underway in England, Klein asked to be placed in charge of Jolie's physical preparation, even though a stunt coordinator was already working with her. After Klein insisted on employing a health expert who had been investigated by Scotland Yard, the production team balked. "[The expert] wanted her to have milk baths and started talking about yoga and meditation and wanted to be the point person in charge of Angelina's training," said Lloyd Levin, who produced the film with Gordon. "It was just this bullshit. It seemed like spiritual hokum."
This eventually led to Klien being fired.
With Klein out of the way, Jolie was a dream. "In the dailies, she was riveting," said Lansing. "She took what might have been a cardboard character and added a layer of mystery and emotion and humanity."
Only at the end of the long, turbulent shoot did an accident occur, when the actress fell and hurt her foot. "It's to be expected," said Jolie. "After all the big stunts, I ended up hurting myself on a smaller stunt. A big jump over a statue, and I landed badly on my ankle. A partial tear, and I came back to work with a cane. Not very Croft."
Tomb Raider made $275 million worldwide when it opened in June 2001, enough to warrant a sequel. Lansing had launched a new franchise at minimal cost to the studio and helped turn Jolie into a major star.