Few Hollywood legends have lived as many lives as Jennifer Tilly.
But at this point in my life, I just want to do things that are fun.
Fun is certainly the world to describe TillysReal Housewivestakeover this year.
Photo: Courtesy of Bravo
Four episodes in, and viewers are already obsessed with her glamorous fashions ($33,000 Louis Vuitton bags!
), unexpected lore (she owns a stake inThe Simpsons!
), and eccentric personality.
Photo: Getty Images
It’s not like anything you would ever imagine, says Tilly.
But in a weird way, I enjoy it.
I feel like I have a front row seat at the Super Bowl.
Photo: Getty Images
Vogue: Fans are loving you on this year ofReal Housewives of Beverly Hills.
I was curious: What first excited you about joining this universe?
Theyd been asking me to be on the show for about three years.
Photo: Getty Images
I thought, well, how many people at my age have the opportunity to be onReal Housewives?
So, I agreed.
Youre a friend right now versus a full-on cast member.
Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Tilly
Does that make it more fun?
I have realized, though, that its kind of weird for me to be a supporting player.
Im always like, Hey, Im over here!
Photo: Getty Images
Ive been loving your fashions on this seasonyoure certainly bringing the glamour.
Were always going to these fabulous parties and restaurantsand we like to dress in costume.
We had a cowboy party, so I wore my Chanel double-gun necklace, and studded cowboy boots.
I also had a caviar and caftans party.
I love Charles Loloma jewelry, who was Hopi.
I haves several of his bracelets and a necklace; I also have a beautiful beaded Sandra Okuma bag.
Lifes too short to wear torn jeans and a white tee.
I’m kind of like a female drag queenI love anything campy and over the top.
One of my favorite moments this year was when Erika Jayne was admiring your $33,000 Louis Vuittonboat purse.
Oh gosh, yes.
I had no idea they were going to put the price of it at the bottom of the page!
I didnt even remember how much I paid for it.
I love that boat so much.
You know whats cool about Erikas style?
Shes similar to me in that she has a lot of fun with clothes.
She’s not looking around to see what everybody else is wearing.
And she knows her stuff.
A lot of people assume that the housewives have stylists.
But, at least per your style, it seems to me that you all craft your own looks?
Some of the girls have stylists, and you’re able to tell.
In some instances, the girls will even show up in the same dress.
Or some of the stylists will even bring in fake designers clothes.
But I dont have a stylist.
I have a very strong sense of what I like, and I have relationships with the designers.
Did you work with one when you were nominated for the Oscars, in 1995?
When I got nominated for the Oscar, I knew that you could borrow things.
But he wanted it back afterwards!
I was really disappointed I didnt get to keep it.
Its kind of wild to think of a time when Oscar nominees didnt have stylists.
I love to look at pictures from the seventies, when people are all wearing their own clothes!
Now, you see all the people going down the red carpet in looks from the five same stylists.
I don’t like everybody so impeccablethere’s no personality!
Theyre not wearing the dressthe dress is wearing them.
I want to pivot for a second and talk a bit about your enduring role as Tiffany in theChuckyseries.
Did you ever expect that franchise to be what its become?
But when I read the script, I really liked it.
I liked my character.
She’s wistful and melancholy, and she’s also campy and strange.
Now, 25 years later, Ive done fourChuckymovies, and three seasons of theChuckyshow.
I love that your Tiffany doll makes a cameo inReal Housewives.
I have my own Tiffany doll, the actual one we used in the movie.
Jean Paul Gaultier even made her an outfit with the bullet bra.
Dolce & Gabbana said theyd make one for her, too.
I have to negotiate them down, thoughitisjust a doll.
I know people are saying $5,000 for a dressfor a doll?
Im like, thats cheap for a haute couture outfit!
Part of what makes Tiffany so iconic is her voice.
Actually, as I become more prominent onHousewives, Im going to need a bit of a disguise now.
When youre onHousewives, people think theyre your friend.
Lets get back to fashion.
I know you have an impressive archive of designer clothes.
Whats some of your prized possessions?
I have things that I can’t even fit into anymore.
I recently went in the garage and I found stuff that I thought had disappeared.
I used to be obsessed with Tom Ford Gucci.
I found this denim skirt, and it has Lesage rose embroidery all over it.
That was my prized possession.
It was very expensive.
They told me, Jennifer, only five people in the United States have this.
Of course, it could fit around one of my legs now.
I would have the most fabulous wardrobe!
I have these Vivienne Westwood dresses that I had custom-made for me.
I also have the John Galliano dress that Drew Barrymore wore on the cover ofItalian Vogue.
Where do you keep everything?
I am a bit of a hoarder.
It this the house you said was haunted?
My Malibu house is haunted, yes.
By an old guy.
But this guy doesnotknow that he’s dead.
We hardly ever go there; Nobody ever wants to go there.
My house keeper once saw a man standing in front of her on the sofa.
I once also heard my doorknob turning, but nobody was home.
Hes a friendly ghostbut I just dont want to hang out there myself.
Are you a collector of anything in particular?
Back in the 80s and 90s, I was obsessed with the twenties.
I bought a lot of beaded dresses and bags.
I probably have around 300 Cloche hats from the twenties.
(I have a giant head.)
I also have a lot of Fortuny gowns.
I also read that you own a lot of memorabilia from fellow famous people.
I have some pieces from Marlene Dietrichs auction.
I have a Pucci dress that she had, and a swimsuit of hers.
I also have a charm bracelet that belonged to Joan Crawford.
The little charms were given to her by her lovers.
Lastly, we cant end this chat without talking about your poker career.
You are a championship-winning player.
How did you ever enter this world?
My dad had a poker problem.
Ive always loved poker.
When we began dating, I won a gold bracelet at the World Series.
Its very coveted: All the poker players measure their worth by how many gold bracelets they have.
That was the beginning of my poker career.
I find it interesting that youre made it a whole lucrative career.
So always am putting on a show.
I will wear a glamorous dress.
I like to play a character called Lady Gambler.
Ill wear my big diamonds and jewelry and a low-cut top, and a feather boa.
Im going to Vegas this week.
Any tips for a first-time poker player?
You have to disengage yourself from the money, and just think of it as chips.
Because can lose a huge amount, and then win it back 20 minutes later.
You may think people are better than you, but I guarantee you they’re not.
Its all about trying to figure out what the other person is afraid of, and then representing it.
And just be prepared to lose money!
