Christina Ricci Tries Romance

At the young age of 23, Christina Ricci is already a 13-year film veteran, with such diverse films as "The Addams Family," "Sleepy Hollow," and "The Opposite of Sex" to her credit.

In her latest film, "Anything Else," Ricci plays a free-spirited woman who drives her boyfriend crazy with her fickle emotions.

Ricci tells The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm her character is a very typical Woody Allen heroine.

Ricci explains, "She's a ball of neurosis and insecurity, emotions and self-absorption. On top of that, I had all of this fun stuff to play with her because she smokes constantly, she's a slob, she drinks and eats nonstop and she is very, very neurotic."

As Amanda in "Anything Else," Ricci is unable to stay faithful to her boyfriend, Jerry Falk (Jason Biggs). Ricci explains her character is a nightmare of a girlfriend, who is incapable of loving anyone because she is emotionally immature.

But Amanda's indiscretions don't scare Jerry away. Surprisingly, it makes him more committed to make the relationship succeed. Ricci concludes that Amanda's free-spirited nature makes her unattainable and more desirable to Jerry.

Working with Allen, Ricci says was a wonderful experience. She says, "He is really a wonderful director. He's very smart in that he is very careful with his casting. And then he is so respectful and assumes that you're going to do what he hired you for and only when you don't do it does he criticize or, you know, try to correct the problem."

Working with a well-known director is nothing new for Ricci. In the past, she has performed for directors other actresses would envy working with — such as Ang Lee, John Waters and Tim Burton.

But Ricci says she was grateful to have a director like Allen who knows what he wants, and who is direct and honest.

She notes, "He's been working for 30, 40 years, so it felt very the kind of old school to me. You're here to do a job and no one is going to pat you on the back for things you haven't done. So many times when you're making a film today, people are congratulating themselves before you're even finished filming and I'm always the downer. I'm always like, 'Well, we're not done yet, guys. Let's see what happens.' I loved working with him because he's exactly the same way."

"Anything Else" also allowed Ricci to work with Biggs, who, she says, was really funny and comforting on the set. The two had previously collaborated on the soon-to-be-released "Prozac Nation."

Ricci notes, "'Prozac Nation' is a very dark, extreme film and he only worked a couple of days. So when we met again on this film, it was like neither of us could do anything that would embarrass ourselves in front of each other. So it was great to already have that relationship and have that sort of level. And, you know, we were both so nervous to work with Woody, that it was wonderful to have someone to talk with."

Some Facts About Christina Ricci