MARIA ANGELICO

Maria talks about her favourite Meet Cute from the James Cameron blockbuster True Lies, and why it changed her understanding of love.

It became clear, almost immediately, that the real reason Maria and I loved this action comedy so much was not because of the phallic bombs, explosions, quippy one liners, or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ridiculous biceps (OK, maybe it was the biceps a little bit). It was, in fact, the films unassuming femme fatale; Helen Tasker, played superbly by Jamie Lee Curtis.

Helen’s story arc saw her transition from, as Maria so aptly put it , “mousy housewife to hello honey,” and had women and girls alike contemplating whether or not they too could pull off her enviable short 90’s wet look hairstyle. The answer: probably not.

Listen close as we discuss this incredible film, the conflicting need often found in long term relationships for both intimacy and safety as well as passion and excitement, as well as the enduring effect of the most iconic strip tease in cinematic history.