HOPE DAVIS / ACTRESS

In the fertile New York indie film scene, Hope Davis is becoming the actress of choice for sad, vulnerable characters breaking out of their shells. She stars in Brad Anderson’s “Next Stop, Wonderland” and in the madcap ensemble of Stanley Tucci’s upcoming “The Impostors.” Davis, 31, is also breaking into the studio world, and last year she was on Broadway with Kevin Kline in Chekhov’s “Ivanov.”

CRACKIN’ UP: “We laughed so hard on ‘The Impostors.’ For one scene, Stanley wanted me to stare at Tony [Shalhoub] for 25 seconds and I couldn’t do it, just broke out laughing. Every scene I was sweating not to laugh because everyone was so funny. Couldn’t look at Steve [Buscemi]. Couldn’t look at Dana Ivey. Couldn’t look at Alfred [Molina].”

CREATIVE CRONIES: “A lot of these people have scripts they’re developing. Stanley is working on a bunch of things. Campbell Scott has something. I imagine Steve will be directing again. I’m one of the actors, not an auteur, though Stanley thinks I’ll direct one day because I’m so bossy.”

MAKING THE MOVE: “It’s like I’m innocent no longer, crossing over to studio films. I did one [for Polygram] called ‘Arlington Road,’ with Jeff Bridges and Joan Cusack, a political thriller. And I did a great Lawrence Kasdan film [for Polygram] called ‘Mumford’ that I think will be out next spring.”

NO ACTION: “I got an offer for an action picture--not to be the gun-toting babe, but the biologist who gets swept up in the action. It was hard to turn down. They do pay well. But I need a break . . . . And I’d look really silly holding a weapon.”

TITANIC PROPORTIONS: “There’s a plethora of love stories floating around now. I wouldn’t mind a real good love story, a real tear-jerker. There’s nothing like having a good cry--especially one where I can wear a corset, not as much for a predilection for corsets as for historical pieces.”

ROLE MODEL: “I’m really looking forward to ‘One True Thing,’ the Meryl Streep film with Renee Zellweger and Bill Hurt. When I was becoming an actress, there was Meryl’s yearly film that I couldn’t wait to see, and I’m still that way. She’s an inspiration to every actress my age.”

SOMETHING IN THE WATER?: “Mira Sorvino and I grew up across the street from each other [in Tenafly, N.J.]. Paul Attanasio, a great writer [“Donnie Brasco,” “Quiz Show”], was also from there, and Tate Donovan. Don’t know what it was. The proximity to New York, my mother would say--the cultural hub of the universe.”