Simpson makes saucy ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ film debut

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Singer Jessica Simpson makes her film
debut this week in “The Dukes of Hazzard,” a movie version of
the 1970s TV show, as the voluptuous Daisy Duke in a role many
of her fans will enjoy from top to bottom.

Simpson pours herself into her role and into bikini tops
and tight, short-shorts in the car-crazy, brainless, good ol’
Southern boy romp. And she is keen to continue her movie career
– but Hilary Swank and Cate Blanchett can breathe easy for
now.

“I’m not really into the deep drama roles,” said Simpson,
who takes her wholesome, blonde bombshell persona seriously and
is on the lookout for comedy material.

Hopefully she will find more comedy than offered in
“Hazzard,” which strains to squeeze some raunchy fun in between
a steady drone of car chases, car spins, car jumps and car
caresses by Bo Duke, who loves his souped-up orange Dodge
Charger best of all.

The movie that stars goofy Seann William Scott (of
“American Pie”) and zany Johnny Knoxville (“Jackass”) as
cousins Bo and Luke Duke, with a supporting cast that includes
Burt Reynolds and Willie Nelson, opens on Friday.

Smiling and posing fetchingly through it all is Simpson,
who soared to exalted U.S. celebrity status with platinum hit
records fueled by the MTV reality series hit “Newlyweds: Nick &
Jessica” about her marriage to singer Nick Lachey that
catapulted her to become one of America’s hottest pop icons.

“I wanted to see myself up on the big screen,” said
Simpson, 25. Fans get to see a lot of Simpson as the
rough-and-tumble — yet virtuous — Daisy. She is a member of
the Duke clan, whose business is moonshine (home-made hard
liquor) and who are at odds with the corrupt local law.

“When I found out they were making the movie, it was a
dream role for me. I wanted people to know that I’m a strong
woman. I went after this role as hard as I could,” Simpson
said.

And that meant a lot of work preparing for the part.
Simpson said she worked hard to get into shape for the role.

“I went straight to the gym. I had to look good in a
bikini,” said Simpson. “When I found out I got the role, I
hired a trainer, a dear friend from high school, and trained
six days a week for two hours a day.

Simpson insists the role runs counter to her personality.

“I’m definitely shy. I don’t even walk around in my bathing
suit at the beach,” she said.

“So it was definitely acting for me to drop the coat and be
in a bikini and try to get my cousins out of trouble by using
my body. That was definitely acting,” she said about a scene
where she seduces a deputy sheriff named Enos, who is often
called “Anus” for comic affect.

Simpson said there was a lot of trial and error in the
design of her denim cut-offs, which were popularized by actress
Catherine Bach in the TV show and in pin-up posters, and became
known as Daisy Dukes.

“I had to feel comfortable. I had to be proud, had to walk
confident,” Simpson said. “But they didn’t get too short. My
butt cheeks were never hanging out.”

She also contributes some musical talent to the movie, as
she teams up with Nelson on a version of Nancy Sinatra’s 1966
hit “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.”‘

Simpson, who is coming out with a new record of mostly her
own compositions in November, said she would like to pattern
her career on country singer and actress Dolly Parton.

“Dolly Parton is my favorite. I love Dolly so much as a
woman, as an entertainer, as a personality,” she said, also
mentioning Goldie Hawn and Lucille Ball as role models.

Simpson wears a dark wig as part of a disguise in the movie
but does not think she would ever switch her hair coloring.

“I’m such a blonde. It just doesn’t make sense for me to
have dark hair,” she said. “I don’t think people would take me
seriously. They take me seriously as a blonde.”