Oh, she’s so cute, adorable in fact, just an All-American girl from an All-American state and she’s got our great country wrapped right around her little finger.  Well, not quite yet, but damn, Marisa is quite a delicious package of brains, curves, innocence, curiosity and just enough tease to make you think twice before you imagine Reese Witherspoon skipping in slow motion across a field of daisies in a see-through sundress. 

The Marisa I speak of works remarkably well in such satisfying male fantasies, as she has as Tom Green’s lady in “Freddy Got Fingered”, opposite Christina Ricci in this summer’s “Pumpkin”, in Kevin Williamson’s short-lived miniseries “Wasteland” and his big screen directorial debut, “Teaching Ms. Tingle”.  She’s set now to star in the feature “Dry Cycle” with Pumpkin co-star Samuel Ball, apparently reaffirming the notion that the pick up scene at your local Laundromat still beats any Taco Tuesday any day of the week. 

The reason we love Marisa is because she’s as lost in her own insecurities as we are, an actress without all the answers, a soul just trying to step in as few of life’s little shit piles as she can.  Heck, our Marisa is vulnerable, and how many babes who have made the cover of STUFF will cop to that?   But that’s not all Ms. Coughlan divulges, not by a longshot.  After all, she was once held captive by Mario Van Peebles.  So adorable indeed. 

Let’s start with the obvious – what in the world made you decide to come out to LA (from Minnesota)?

Ahh, you start by dissin' my home state.  Well, I did some acting out there, but it was some pretty slim pickings as far as jobs were concerned.  A movie production did come through town – “Untamed Heart” with Christian Slater. 

He has a baboon heart, which made him more sensitive and romantic, right?

Something like that.  I got a day player role which helped me decide to make the move to L.A.  But mostly I was dead set and determined and I applied to go to college out here so I could audition and go to school at the same time.  So I went to USC, got an agent, and hit the pavement.

So how do you approach an audition?

I’m much more of an intuitive actor than anything.  I auditioned for “Teaching Ms. Tingle” by doing this exorcist thing where I’m demonically possessed and throwing myself around the room.

Sounds, um, painful.

Well, in that case it helped that I just did what I felt.

Who are some of your influences?

People who thrive in the comedic world, like Christopher Guest and Catherine O’Hara; people who are gifted and kind of kooky.  I love people who make me laugh, and the further along I go, the more I value being able to make people laugh.

Do you feel more at home doing comedies?

I do, but on the same hand I love actors like Robin Wright Penn, someone who tends to do more dramatic stuff.  I really haven’t explored that side of myself that much, but it is certainly something I’d like to do.

Are you attracted to dark comedy, or do you find yourself more suited for straight ahead roles?

If the writing is great I’d be interested, but I find that I do better staying clear of the dark stuff.

Got the itch to write and direct?

It’s something I would love to do.  In fact, most directors I work with tell me I should direct because I get so bossy on the set.  But I’m doing a little writing now, and I’m just getting started.

How do you deal with the down time and the insane hours and schedule of making a movie?

I hate it.  I’m kind of a workaholic at heart, which is not a great type to be in the feature world, because you are either working or you aren’t.  The downtime is fabulous if it’s only a week, but if it’s more it’s difficult.  That’s why I’m writing now and looking into other things like television and producing. 

Was Wasteland (the short-lived television drama) something you would’ve liked to see continue?

That show was really in the limelight when it came out, and we were just finding our legs as a show, so it was difficult. 

I’ve heard the cast was really close.

I’ve had great luck in finding people that I really love.  “Wasteland” was a great example of that, it was such a blast doing the whole thing together. 

Did you have the same expectations of the Super Troopers ensemble before you started the project?

They had a reputation of being these wild guys, and when we had our first meeting in NY I was so nervous about meeting these five guys all at once and doing a read through.  They were all silent when I met them, and as it turns out they had made a pact to not be overwhelming because they didn’t want to freak me out.  As it turns out, they kind of freaked me out doing the opposite.

Freaky no matter how you slice it.  Talk a bit about Pumpkin.

I originally passed on the script because it just seemed too risky.  It’s about a sorority girl who falls in love with a physically challenged young man, and the repercussions of that in her empty headed sorority world.  I just didn’t want to run the risk of being in a movie where jokes were being made at the cost of a disabled character. But they called me back and explained that they movie wasn’t black and white, and I understood their vision better.   

And what about your character?

I play the most hypocritical bitch in the whole movie who coordinates this service event for her sisters to mentor these Special Olympics kids.  Then I freak out when one of my sisters starts to treat this one kid normal.  It’s horrible what I say, but it’s also great because it points out a lot of hypocrisies that exist.  The film ends up being thought provoking if nothing else. 

How was it different than other projects you’ve done?

It was interesting in that it was a pair of men who wrote and directed it together, so it was my first experience like that.  It was a good experience to play a darker character like that. 

So if that’s the “good”, then what’s the worst experience you’ve had?

I was pretty innocent when I came out here.  I was naively unaware of how difficult it all could be.  The difficult thing is finding a balance between doing things that keep your integrity intact and working.  

Like a Mario Van Peebles movie?

Which I did.  I did a movie called “Fist of the Northstar”.  I played a girl locked in a cage. 

Now we’ve really stumbled onto something.  Tell me more – please.

It was so bad, I watched it once and I never watched it again and wouldn’t let any of my friends watch it either. 

But now your secret is out.  You’ve professed to being one of “Mario’s Girls”.  Would you categorize that as your lowest point as an actress?

Oh God, no, it was during pilot season and I’d keep all my clothes in my car and change for each role.  It was insane the outfits I had in that trunk.  So I’d audition and audition and audition and I didn’t get one job.  I was so depressed and I was writing an evil vindictive screenplay about an actress who couldn’t get work.  I just felt that I couldn’t get arrested. 

Wow – did your dog desert you too?

Please – he’s my biggest fan.  I have a close group of friends from college and my parents who have been amazingly supportive.  I mean, I almost went to college nearby in Chicago and that all changed to acting in LA and they stuck by me during that time. 

Now that  you’re here, what do you like to do in the city?

It makes me sound like I’m about 100, but I just bought a house so my day consists of me putting on my sweatpants and painting my walls.  I go to the dogpark, or Home Depot.  I’m a little slowed down for someone my age.  I live in the valley and you kind of forget about the whole “scene”. 

I’ve always been curious -- What does a 100 year old actress look for in a guy?

I’ve got a boyfriend who is also from Minnesota and he’s a writer and director and actor.  I dated more than my fair share of actors, so I guess I’m drawn to other creative people. 

Fair enough.  How about traveling, seeing the world?

I think it would be wonderful to shoot a movie oversees. 

Do you like doing interviews?  Are we having fun?

Not really.  I don’t mind it when we are just chatting, but I’m usually tortured when I read them.  I usually get reprimanded thoroughly by my publicist because I always make myself sound bad. 

Don’t worry, we’ll include your measurements just to make sure no one gets the wrong idea.   

It’s just that I always sound kind of lame.  But I’m working on that.

I don’t know why, but for some reason the Stuff interview comes to mind.

Well, that was torturous because I was so afraid they were going to ask me what positions I liked.  Even if you say I love riding my bike, they make it out like you have whipped cream all over you while you are doing it.  It’s very atypical of me to do something like that, with the pictures and everything.

How did you approach the photo sessions?

If I hear one more time that I’m too sweet or innocent looking, I will kill someone.  It gets frustrating when people start to see you a certain way, and that’s it.  Sometimes it opens things up.  I guess we’ll see.

Hmmm, so you must love Peter Paul and Mary. 

Not too far off.  I run the gamut.  Anything from Jewel, Simon and Garfunkle, The Beatles, Pete Yorn…  What else?  Oh yeah, Peter Paul and that girl. 

First concert?

AC/DC.  My friends and I all dressed in trashy outfits to fit in.  We stuffed our bras.  We were this intimidating group of about twelve girls who must’ve looked like complete idiots with our fake boobs and teased hair. 

Look into your future for me and tell me what you see.

I’ve learned there are no rules in this business.  I’ve got nothing definitely set for the rest of this year.  I’m keeping everything open. 

I see you buying four inch flathead nails and a soldering iron at Home Depot.

You don’t need a crystal ball to predict that.