TV

Michelle Rodriguez, Evan Rachel Wood, Ruby Rose and more at An Evening With Women

Over the weekend, I attended The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Annual Gala, An Evening with Women, and hit the red carpet on behalf of AfterEllen to chat with Michelle Rodriguez, Margaret Cho, Evan Rachel Wood and Ruby Rose. The fundraiser was hosted by Margaret Cho and featured performances from Evan Rachel Wood, Milla Jovovich, and 90’s karaoke staple 4 Non Blondes. Michelle Rodriguez and Rumer Willis guest DJ’d and AE fan favorite The Fosters received A Special Board of Directors Award.

First to saunter down the red carpet is Michelle Rodriguez, looking sleek in black St. Laurent. While waiting to chat with the Fast and Furious star/Cara Delevingne paramour, I’m faced with a startling but very welcome site: Michelle’s abs. After gushing about her trainer, Tracy, Michelle Rodriguez offers proof vis-a-vis lifting up her shirt to reveal the beginnings of a six pack. Being flashed by Michelle Rodriguez flashing her stomach startled me into a solid minute of utter speechlessness. How long is it polite to stare at Michelle Rodriguez’s abs? I did not know, and it took all every ounce of my journalistic integrity not to snap a picture for you, sweet readers.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

ERW: Chopped! Chopped. I can’t go to sleep without watching it. It’s an illness.

AE: What’s your pet peeve?

ERW: You know when you’re waiting for an elevator, it opens, and people get in without letting the other person out? I don’t know why, but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. People who get in before the other people get out.

She laughs and I feel victorious.

Ruby Rose walks down the carpet hand in hand with her new fiance, Phoebe Dahl.

Phoebe is tall, blonde, and the granddaughter of my beloved author Roald Dahl. Enviable gene pool on that one. I’d actually seen the celesbian power couple at one of my favorite bars just a few days before.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

Evan Rachel Wood’s polished countenance finally melts into a sunny smile.

ERW: Chopped! Chopped. I can’t go to sleep without watching it. It’s an illness.

AE: What’s your pet peeve?

ERW: You know when you’re waiting for an elevator, it opens, and people get in without letting the other person out? I don’t know why, but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. People who get in before the other people get out.

She laughs and I feel victorious.

Ruby Rose walks down the carpet hand in hand with her new fiance, Phoebe Dahl.

Phoebe is tall, blonde, and the granddaughter of my beloved author Roald Dahl. Enviable gene pool on that one. I’d actually seen the celesbian power couple at one of my favorite bars just a few days before.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

AE: Dystopian?

ERW: Yeah. It’s basically about two sisters trying to survive alone in the woods. It’s kind of a thriller because they get hit with every obstacle.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

Evan Rachel Wood’s polished countenance finally melts into a sunny smile.

ERW: Chopped! Chopped. I can’t go to sleep without watching it. It’s an illness.

AE: What’s your pet peeve?

ERW: You know when you’re waiting for an elevator, it opens, and people get in without letting the other person out? I don’t know why, but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. People who get in before the other people get out.

She laughs and I feel victorious.

Ruby Rose walks down the carpet hand in hand with her new fiance, Phoebe Dahl.

Phoebe is tall, blonde, and the granddaughter of my beloved author Roald Dahl. Enviable gene pool on that one. I’d actually seen the celesbian power couple at one of my favorite bars just a few days before.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

AE: As a bisexual, do you feel involved in and accepted by LGBTQ community?

Evan Rachel Wood: I do. I’ve certainly felt shamed by both sides at times, but for the most part the LGBTQ community has been amazing and accepting.

AE: Are you working on any new or upcoming projects?

ERW: Ellen (Page) and I are going to be working together on a movie called Into The Forest sometime this year. It takes place in the distant future, after there’s been a complete collapse of society. No gas, no running water, looting, illness…

Evan appears to be searching for the right word and I, forever the smart ass, help out.

AE: Dystopian?

ERW: Yeah. It’s basically about two sisters trying to survive alone in the woods. It’s kind of a thriller because they get hit with every obstacle.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

Evan Rachel Wood’s polished countenance finally melts into a sunny smile.

ERW: Chopped! Chopped. I can’t go to sleep without watching it. It’s an illness.

AE: What’s your pet peeve?

ERW: You know when you’re waiting for an elevator, it opens, and people get in without letting the other person out? I don’t know why, but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. People who get in before the other people get out.

She laughs and I feel victorious.

Ruby Rose walks down the carpet hand in hand with her new fiance, Phoebe Dahl.

Phoebe is tall, blonde, and the granddaughter of my beloved author Roald Dahl. Enviable gene pool on that one. I’d actually seen the celesbian power couple at one of my favorite bars just a few days before.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

AE: Who do you want to see on the AfterEllen Hot 100?

Margaret Cho: Fortune Feimster. She is the hottest and so hilarious. I just did a pilot with Fortune for Tina Fey and she is just the hottest girl. She’s so fun and funny and my number one crush.

AE: What’s the status of your Tina Fey pilot, Cabot College?

MC: I don’t know. This is a weird time in show business where we just wait and see.

AE: What’s the pilot about?

Margaret Cho: It’s about a women’s college that’s going coed and admitting men for the first time. It’s a familiar topic for me because I’ve spent a lot of time at womens schools and doing a lot of women only events. When you add men, it really adds a different element and changes things.

AE: In your opinion, what elements change with the addition of men?

MC: There’s different expectations that women and gay women have about men, and so all of those are turned into great humor.

AE: I’ve personally observed that gay men are more represented in the media than gay women, and generally seem much more visible. For example, if you go to West Hollywood on any given night, you’ll see a row of gay bars filled with gay men and not gay women. Why do you think that happens?

MC: I don’t know, there really isn’t enough visibility and there really hasn’t been the kind of visibility that we need to have… I even think that our visibility has lessened because there used to be The L Word and The Real L Word, and now I don’t feel there is that same kind of social awareness or inclusion. I always feel very left out of the gay community because I’m bisexual, so my own status within the queer community is always a little bit ,”Are you straight or are you gay?” and I feel like I’m both.

Evan Rachel Wood arrives on the red carpet with freshly dyed locks: white with black tips. Evan’s smile is broad and white and fixed in place for the majority of our interview. A youthful Hollywood veteran, Evan Rachel Wood has mastered the art of talking through her teeth. As someone who struggles to hold a smile for longer than 60 seconds, I’m exhausted just looking at Evan’s perfect smile. I was exactly 13 when Thirteen (Evan Rachel Wood’s breakout role) hit theaters, and my perception of the world and my place in it was forever altered. I do not tell this to Evan Rachel Wood.

AE: As a bisexual, do you feel involved in and accepted by LGBTQ community?

Evan Rachel Wood: I do. I’ve certainly felt shamed by both sides at times, but for the most part the LGBTQ community has been amazing and accepting.

AE: Are you working on any new or upcoming projects?

ERW: Ellen (Page) and I are going to be working together on a movie called Into The Forest sometime this year. It takes place in the distant future, after there’s been a complete collapse of society. No gas, no running water, looting, illness…

Evan appears to be searching for the right word and I, forever the smart ass, help out.

AE: Dystopian?

ERW: Yeah. It’s basically about two sisters trying to survive alone in the woods. It’s kind of a thriller because they get hit with every obstacle.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

Evan Rachel Wood’s polished countenance finally melts into a sunny smile.

ERW: Chopped! Chopped. I can’t go to sleep without watching it. It’s an illness.

AE: What’s your pet peeve?

ERW: You know when you’re waiting for an elevator, it opens, and people get in without letting the other person out? I don’t know why, but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. People who get in before the other people get out.

She laughs and I feel victorious.

Ruby Rose walks down the carpet hand in hand with her new fiance, Phoebe Dahl.

Phoebe is tall, blonde, and the granddaughter of my beloved author Roald Dahl. Enviable gene pool on that one. I’d actually seen the celesbian power couple at one of my favorite bars just a few days before.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

AfterEllen: You’ve been asking fans on Facebook to help you choose your next role. Any set projects coming up?

MR: Yeah, well it’s about time. It’s been 14 years since I’ve been a lead in a movie and it’s usually because I’m picky and I say no to everything, but I’m getting older now and decided it’s time for the next franchise.

AE: The AfterEllen Hot 100 is coming up. Who are your picks for this year’s hottest women in entertainment?

MR: Hot women? Hmm… there’s a bunch. Jennifer Lopez is looking amazing at 44. There’s a bunch of sexy women out there, but I think I’ll keep them to myself.

Michelle flashes one last sexy smirk before moving along. Before I can properly mourn her abs, Margaret Cho arrives. The hysterically entertaining and unapologetically outspoken comedian looks youthful in bright red lipstick and loose capris.

AE: Who do you want to see on the AfterEllen Hot 100?

Margaret Cho: Fortune Feimster. She is the hottest and so hilarious. I just did a pilot with Fortune for Tina Fey and she is just the hottest girl. She’s so fun and funny and my number one crush.

AE: What’s the status of your Tina Fey pilot, Cabot College?

MC: I don’t know. This is a weird time in show business where we just wait and see.

AE: What’s the pilot about?

Margaret Cho: It’s about a women’s college that’s going coed and admitting men for the first time. It’s a familiar topic for me because I’ve spent a lot of time at womens schools and doing a lot of women only events. When you add men, it really adds a different element and changes things.

AE: In your opinion, what elements change with the addition of men?

MC: There’s different expectations that women and gay women have about men, and so all of those are turned into great humor.

AE: I’ve personally observed that gay men are more represented in the media than gay women, and generally seem much more visible. For example, if you go to West Hollywood on any given night, you’ll see a row of gay bars filled with gay men and not gay women. Why do you think that happens?

MC: I don’t know, there really isn’t enough visibility and there really hasn’t been the kind of visibility that we need to have… I even think that our visibility has lessened because there used to be The L Word and The Real L Word, and now I don’t feel there is that same kind of social awareness or inclusion. I always feel very left out of the gay community because I’m bisexual, so my own status within the queer community is always a little bit ,”Are you straight or are you gay?” and I feel like I’m both.

Evan Rachel Wood arrives on the red carpet with freshly dyed locks: white with black tips. Evan’s smile is broad and white and fixed in place for the majority of our interview. A youthful Hollywood veteran, Evan Rachel Wood has mastered the art of talking through her teeth. As someone who struggles to hold a smile for longer than 60 seconds, I’m exhausted just looking at Evan’s perfect smile. I was exactly 13 when Thirteen (Evan Rachel Wood’s breakout role) hit theaters, and my perception of the world and my place in it was forever altered. I do not tell this to Evan Rachel Wood.

AE: As a bisexual, do you feel involved in and accepted by LGBTQ community?

Evan Rachel Wood: I do. I’ve certainly felt shamed by both sides at times, but for the most part the LGBTQ community has been amazing and accepting.

AE: Are you working on any new or upcoming projects?

ERW: Ellen (Page) and I are going to be working together on a movie called Into The Forest sometime this year. It takes place in the distant future, after there’s been a complete collapse of society. No gas, no running water, looting, illness…

Evan appears to be searching for the right word and I, forever the smart ass, help out.

AE: Dystopian?

ERW: Yeah. It’s basically about two sisters trying to survive alone in the woods. It’s kind of a thriller because they get hit with every obstacle.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

Evan Rachel Wood’s polished countenance finally melts into a sunny smile.

ERW: Chopped! Chopped. I can’t go to sleep without watching it. It’s an illness.

AE: What’s your pet peeve?

ERW: You know when you’re waiting for an elevator, it opens, and people get in without letting the other person out? I don’t know why, but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. People who get in before the other people get out.

She laughs and I feel victorious.

Ruby Rose walks down the carpet hand in hand with her new fiance, Phoebe Dahl.

Phoebe is tall, blonde, and the granddaughter of my beloved author Roald Dahl. Enviable gene pool on that one. I’d actually seen the celesbian power couple at one of my favorite bars just a few days before.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

Michelle Rodriguez: My trainer does some crazy shit. Look at that. That’s her workout. I was like yeahhhh hook me up.

Michelle Rodriguez is having a total sporty dyke moment. When a reporter mentions Cara, Michelle’s face clouds and she replies, “I have nothing to say about that” in clipped tones before quickly stepping to the next journalist. I regretfully conclude that asking Michelle about Cara Delevingne will result in a swift end to the interview. Michelle inches forward on the red carpet until finally arriving in front of me.

AfterEllen: You’ve been asking fans on Facebook to help you choose your next role. Any set projects coming up?

MR: Yeah, well it’s about time. It’s been 14 years since I’ve been a lead in a movie and it’s usually because I’m picky and I say no to everything, but I’m getting older now and decided it’s time for the next franchise.

AE: The AfterEllen Hot 100 is coming up. Who are your picks for this year’s hottest women in entertainment?

MR: Hot women? Hmm… there’s a bunch. Jennifer Lopez is looking amazing at 44. There’s a bunch of sexy women out there, but I think I’ll keep them to myself.

Michelle flashes one last sexy smirk before moving along. Before I can properly mourn her abs, Margaret Cho arrives. The hysterically entertaining and unapologetically outspoken comedian looks youthful in bright red lipstick and loose capris.

AE: Who do you want to see on the AfterEllen Hot 100?

Margaret Cho: Fortune Feimster. She is the hottest and so hilarious. I just did a pilot with Fortune for Tina Fey and she is just the hottest girl. She’s so fun and funny and my number one crush.

AE: What’s the status of your Tina Fey pilot, Cabot College?

MC: I don’t know. This is a weird time in show business where we just wait and see.

AE: What’s the pilot about?

Margaret Cho: It’s about a women’s college that’s going coed and admitting men for the first time. It’s a familiar topic for me because I’ve spent a lot of time at womens schools and doing a lot of women only events. When you add men, it really adds a different element and changes things.

AE: In your opinion, what elements change with the addition of men?

MC: There’s different expectations that women and gay women have about men, and so all of those are turned into great humor.

AE: I’ve personally observed that gay men are more represented in the media than gay women, and generally seem much more visible. For example, if you go to West Hollywood on any given night, you’ll see a row of gay bars filled with gay men and not gay women. Why do you think that happens?

MC: I don’t know, there really isn’t enough visibility and there really hasn’t been the kind of visibility that we need to have… I even think that our visibility has lessened because there used to be The L Word and The Real L Word, and now I don’t feel there is that same kind of social awareness or inclusion. I always feel very left out of the gay community because I’m bisexual, so my own status within the queer community is always a little bit ,”Are you straight or are you gay?” and I feel like I’m both.

Evan Rachel Wood arrives on the red carpet with freshly dyed locks: white with black tips. Evan’s smile is broad and white and fixed in place for the majority of our interview. A youthful Hollywood veteran, Evan Rachel Wood has mastered the art of talking through her teeth. As someone who struggles to hold a smile for longer than 60 seconds, I’m exhausted just looking at Evan’s perfect smile. I was exactly 13 when Thirteen (Evan Rachel Wood’s breakout role) hit theaters, and my perception of the world and my place in it was forever altered. I do not tell this to Evan Rachel Wood.

AE: As a bisexual, do you feel involved in and accepted by LGBTQ community?

Evan Rachel Wood: I do. I’ve certainly felt shamed by both sides at times, but for the most part the LGBTQ community has been amazing and accepting.

AE: Are you working on any new or upcoming projects?

ERW: Ellen (Page) and I are going to be working together on a movie called Into The Forest sometime this year. It takes place in the distant future, after there’s been a complete collapse of society. No gas, no running water, looting, illness…

Evan appears to be searching for the right word and I, forever the smart ass, help out.

AE: Dystopian?

ERW: Yeah. It’s basically about two sisters trying to survive alone in the woods. It’s kind of a thriller because they get hit with every obstacle.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

Evan Rachel Wood’s polished countenance finally melts into a sunny smile.

ERW: Chopped! Chopped. I can’t go to sleep without watching it. It’s an illness.

AE: What’s your pet peeve?

ERW: You know when you’re waiting for an elevator, it opens, and people get in without letting the other person out? I don’t know why, but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. People who get in before the other people get out.

She laughs and I feel victorious.

Ruby Rose walks down the carpet hand in hand with her new fiance, Phoebe Dahl.

Phoebe is tall, blonde, and the granddaughter of my beloved author Roald Dahl. Enviable gene pool on that one. I’d actually seen the celesbian power couple at one of my favorite bars just a few days before.

AE: Maybe this is weird but I recognized you two at The Grind, my monthly Silverlake party of choice. Do you live in LA?

Ruby Rose: Yeah, I just moved here!

AE: What are some of your favorite spots?

RR: Los Globos! And The Grind is fun, who doesn’t love ’90s? I really don’t go out a bunch because I’ve just got here and I’m just getting into doing gigs.

AE: Pride is coming up. Any chance you’ll be performing?

RR: One of them, although I can’t say which yet.

AE: What are your guilty pleasures?

RR: All kinds of popcorn: caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, chocolate popcorn, rainbow popcorn, every kind of popcorn. And picking my nose. But doesn’t everyone pick their nose?

AE: I guess so, but they just don’t talk about it.

RR: Exactly. It needs to be talked about.

AE: Picking your nose is the new homosexuality: lots of people do it but no one talks about it.

RR: Yes! Nose pickers might be a minority, but we affect the majority. Everyone knows a nose picker, everyone’s seen a nose pick.

Our rather surreal conversation ends when I run out of witty comments to make about nose picking.

AE: So you’re officially engaged?

RR: Yes I am, and my fiance is going to kill me because she told me to stay in one spot and here I’ve moved over to you. So if I get dumped, I get to break the news through you.

AE: Just blame me, not AfterEllen.

RR: OK, just you.

AE: One last question: At this point, you’re very familiar with the AfterEllen Hot 100. If you wrote the AfterEllen Hot 100 list, who would make the top 3 spots.

RR: My fiance would be number one, Evan Rachel Wood for number two, and Michelle Rodriguez at number three.

AE: You seem pretty familiar with those two. Do you, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ellen Page ever hang out?

RR: Yeah, pretty much. That’s thanks to Evan, who is just amazing and actually invited me tonight. She’s friends with Ellen and invited my fiance and I to her house for an amazing housewarming party.

To summarize the night: Ruby Rose, Phoebe Dahl, Ellen Page, and Evan Rachel Wood are hanging out without you.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button