In "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," she's a hot-to-trot drunken driver terrifying Steve Carell in the passenger seat; in "Knocked Up," she played Paul Rudd's wife; and in Apatow's latest, "Funny People," he's written Mann an even bigger role — the one-who-got-away from Adam Sandler's character. "He's growing up and learning more about women so he's able to write better female parts," Mann said in a recent interview, referring to her husband.
But Mann quickly reconsidered that statement, amending that Apatow has always written good female roles, though he's generally improved as a writer. There's some sensitivity to the issue because the co-star of "Knocked Up," Katherine Heigl, famously criticized the movie for being "a little sexist" and claiming it painted women as "shrews."
"I kind of don't know what she was talking about," said Mann, who praised Heigl's performance in the film. "I'm an actress reading scripts and I've seen what's out there and it's slim pickings. Judd does write great female parts."
After several years concentrating on her family — she and Apatow have two young children — Mann is taking on more work.
In "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," she's a hot-to-trot drunken driver terrifying Steve Carell in the passenger seat; in "Knocked Up," she played Paul Rudd's wife; and in Apatow's latest, "Funny People," he's written Mann an even bigger role — the one-who-got-away from Adam Sandler's character. "He's growing up and learning more about women so he's able to write better female parts," Mann said in a recent interview, referring to her husband.
But Mann quickly reconsidered that statement, amending that Apatow has always written good female roles, though he's generally improved as a writer. There's some sensitivity to the issue because the co-star of "Knocked Up," Katherine Heigl, famously criticized the movie for being "a little sexist" and claiming it painted women as "shrews."
"I kind of don't know what she was talking about," said Mann, who praised Heigl's performance in the film. "I'm an actress reading scripts and I've seen what's out there and it's slim pickings. Judd does write great female parts."
After several years concentrating on her family — she and Apatow have two young children — Mann is taking on more work.
