OnlyOnAOL: Kirsten Dunst cuts both ways on 'Fargo'

BY DONNA FREYDKIN

In "Fargo," Kirsten Dunst is a beautician who kills a mobster, stashes the corpse in her meat freezer and later stabs another man in the back with scissors. Throughout, her style remains impeccably weird -- berets, furry earmuffs and cuddly coats. The role has earned Dunst, a veteran of "The Virgin Suicides," "Interview with a Vampire" and "Bring It On," some of the best reviews of her career -- and a Golden Globe nomination (the finale airs Monday).

"What does it mean? It's just so nice to be recognized for your work. My family is so proud of me, and my friends. It makes Christmas even better," says Dunst.

Her resume is among the most varied you'll find, and she attributes her longevity and choices -- some of them winners, some not -- to her own inner compass. And being part of Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" franchise as Mary Jane Watson didn't hurt her bottom line.

"The older I get -- I wait. If I have to wait a year to find something, I believe in to work on, I'll wait a year. Luckily, 'Spider-Man' and certain beauty campaigns have allowed me the luxury of not working. Every choice isn't going to be stellar, but I think it comes down to taste," says Dunst.

For someone who was named best actress in Cannes for Lars Von Trier's searing "Melancholia," Dunst is giddy and loose in person. She's thrilled that her nutty, colorful turn in the second season of "Fargo" not only found an audience, but resonated with viewers.

"I guess television is the best place for women to work, it just is. If I had a great television show, I'd do TV again," says Dunst, who's a fan of Showtime's twisty "The Affair" and Maura Tierney's divorced mom in particular.

"I'm not even a mother yet and she's so relatable. I love her on that show," she says.

Next up, you'll see her in a film she shot with Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the founders of the brand Rodarte -- Dunst frequently wears it to events.

"They won't want me to talk about it yet. It's going to be a trip, for sure. I thought 'Fargo' was the hardest thing I'd ever done and no, this was hard," says Dunst.

But it was all worth it. Dunst is vocal about her needs, but also, knows when to sit back and trust those around her.

"It's not my job when it comes to negotiating. I have a great team of people around me. I'm not afraid (to speak up)," says Dunst. "I wasn't so sure I wanted to do TV. I had a few agents call me and tell me to read this. I really appreciate it. It's one of the best things I've ever done."

See more Rodarte here.