NEWSWEEK: Why did you want to be in a John Waters film? PATRICIA HEARST: Well, when I was in high school I was in plays and I really liked acting but, you know…

Then you were diverted, shall we say… PH: Yes, certainly I was derailed. [Wry laugh] Then he asked me [to be in 1990’s “Cry-Baby”]. I thought he was kidding. But when the script came, I just thought, well, should I be afraid or should I go for it and just be flattered and give it a shot? JOHN WATERS: She doesn’t think what happened to her was funny but she has had a sense of humor to survive it. PH: I got invited to that silly party Time gave [for its 75th anniversary] last year. When I got the letter I thought it was a joke because it said something like “we’re having a party honoring you for your accomplishments.” I thought, how insulting is this? My accomplishment! I wonder who else got an invitation. Charles Manson? The Lindbergh baby? People were actually amazed I didn’t go. I had friends who said, “You’re not going? This is the biggest party of the year.” I said, “You’re really missing the problem with this.” It says a lot about fame in America.

So how did the plot of “Cecil B. Demented” come to you? PH: Yes, how did you ever think of the story? I think I should sue for copyright infringement [laughs]. JW: [Laughs] I wanted to do a movie [in which] people were as radical as they were in the ’60s about politics but about movies.

Patricia, what did you think of the script when you saw it? PH: It’s very naughty. So delicious. I thought it was hilarious. Did you have any reservations? PH: Not a moment’s hesitation. [Laughs] I consider this film to be your homage! Having done it and seeing people’s reaction to it is very funny. I feel like I have cinematic immunity now. I’ve been inoculated. JW: There’s good bad taste and bad bad taste. She doesn’t do anything that happened to her. She’s not playing a kidnap victim. It would have been bad bad taste to have her play Melanie’s part–and she wouldn’t have. PH: [Pause] I don’t know that I wouldn’t have done it.

What will your next collaboration be? JW: Well, the next movie is about sex addicts. It’s called “A Dirty Shame.”

And she will be in that? JW: I hope [laughs]. She hasn’t played a bad girl. PH: I haven’t–and I should. JW: That kind of part is next for her. I don’t know what yet, but a darker character.