Courtney Love Talks Rockers, Regrets and New Career Beginnings

‘I have a lot of regrets, of course I do… but I did it my way.’

‘I have a lot of regrets, of course I do… but I did it my way.’

Courtney Love is an artist who needs little introduction. As, to quote the Rolling Stones, ‘the most controversial woman in the history of rock’, her reputation kinda precedes her.

Now 51, an in-demand actress, and a bonafide 90s fashion icon, Courtney’s telling Girls star Jemima Kirke about her rollercoaster life, in the new issue of HUMANITY magazine…

Courtney Love On… The Difference Between Being An Actress And A Rock Star ‘In rock ’n’ roll it’s really about being as vulnerable as possible and giving them what they want. But onstage it’s about pausing, about internal life, it’s about internal triggers—that’s one of the reasons I’m really challenged to do a play.’

Courtney On… Regrets ‘I have a lot of regrets, of course I do. I shouldn’t have married that one, I should have taken that part; I should have maybe married that one, I don’t know, but I didn’t. So I am what I am and I’m pretty confident that I can break in. I think what I have to offer on film and on television is honest and I’m more disciplined than I was ever before.’

Courtney On… Her Darkest Days ‘I mean, even when I stepped out from doing films and had a dark period, I never did anything dark on a set, so I never made enemies on a set. I never was a bad girl on a set; I always considered films a really sacred space, so when I had my problems, I had them very much away from the film community.' 

Courtney On… Her 90s Persona ‘It’s coming undone—it’s definitely going away.’

Courtney On… Sexism In Rock ‘If you’re in L.A. and you listen to KROQ, they don’t play a lot of chicks. They play me a little, they play Paramore a little, they play No Doubt a little, and that’s sort of it. I’m the last chick on alternative radio that they’ll play, and it’s really kind of stupid. It’s so hard for rock ’n’ roll right now—it’s so hard.’

Courtney On… TED Talks ‘I got asked to speak at TED—they want me to speak on ‘reputation.’ I’m thinking, rather than speak on it, why don’t I just prove it? You know what I mean? Rather than discuss it out loud in front of the world, why don’t I just prove it and then maybe speak on it after I’ve proven it? Take a bad reputation and turn it into a good one, take all those things that were hideous and turn poison into medicine. So that’s my answer to that.’

Courtney On… Her New Role With James Franco ‘I’m basically a hooker who is his [James Franco’s wife]; he’s a moonshiner and I run like his brothel, so the first time you see me, I’m doing something sexual with a sailor. It’s pretty dark.’

Courtney On… Miley Cyrus ‘Miley Cyrus asked me to come and have a drink with her at the Chateau, so I went and had coffee with her. I ended up taking her over to Brett Ratner’s, who’s basically my best friend in town. I have not made any music with Miley Cyrus. I don’t know that that would be a good match, but she’s really put together and smart. I liked her a lot.’

Read more from Courtney Love’s interview in Citizens Of Humanity’s HUMANITY Magazine.