Film Newcomer Gets to Work With the ‘Biggies’

For someone who has not been in the movie business long, Penelope Ann Miller has worked with some big names.

She made her film debut three years ago in “Adventures in Babysitting” and since then has done “Miles From Home” (Richard Gere), “Dead-Bang” (Don Johnson) and “The Freshman.” Her co-stars in the new film are Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick. Coming up are “Awakenings” with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams and “Kindergarten Cop” with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“I’m the romantic love interest in ‘Kindergarten Cop,’ ” she said. “I’m also a suspect.”

She has great admiration for Schwarzenegger. “He’s smart and funny and great,” she said. “I was impressed with him. I think it fantastic that he has taken what he has and gone through the roof with it.”

“Kindergarten Cop” is both comedy and mystery. “Awakenings” is “heavy-duty drama,” she said. “It’s about a man who returns to consciousness after 30 years and resumes life.”

She is thrilled to have worked with Brando in “The Freshman.” “It was a tremendous opportunity to work with Brando. I feel very lucky about that.” She is thrilled to have worked with Broderick, with whom she appeared in the stage and movie versions of “Biloxi Blues.”

Miller did stage and television before she did movies. She hopes to continue doing stage. “I think it’s important to keep up your momentum as a film actress, but there is nothing like working in front of a live audience.”