Sienna Says Slam On 'Burgh Is BogusPOSTED: 7:14 am EDT October 6,
2006 PITTSBURGH -- Sienna Miller isn't exactly a household name.But that's not the case any longer -- at least, not around here.In the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine, she refers to the city as a word that starts with the letters "sh" and rhymes with Pittsburgh."Can you believe this is my life?" Miller asked the writer of the article. "Will you pity me when you're back in your funky New York apartment and I'm still in Pittsburgh? I need to get more glamorous films.""It's a beautiful city obviously, but the interaction with the common folk and the people of Pittsburgh, I think she would have had a different opinion, but she's entitled to hers," Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said."I think we are pretty used to hearing criticism, but if we bring you here and have the opportunity to show you what's happening, you are going to change your mind," said Beverly Morrow-Jones of Visit Pittsburgh.The UK-based actor has a role in "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," the movie version of Michael Chabon's book, which is being shot in various locations around western Pennsylvania.Miller was in London on Friday morning, although she was expected back in Pittsburgh later in the day.UPDATE: On Friday afternoon, TMZ.com posted a story in which Miller had much kinder things to say about Pittsburgh.The Web site attributed the following quotes to a statement that it said was released by Miller through her representative:"I want to apologize for my comments which seem to have been misconstrued and taken out of context. I was referring to the fact that we are shooting almost all night shoots on this film and none of us have had an opportunity to fully explore the city."What I have seen of it is beautiful. I came once before to visit the Andy Warhol museum whilst researching a film and found both the city and its inhabitants warm and gracious. My father is from Meadville and is in town to show me round this weekend. I sincerely apologize and hope people realize that conversations can be easily manipulated in print." It sounds like Sienna hasn't taken in all of what Pittsburgh has to offer.Before her movie wraps up and she splits town, what do you think she should see or do that could change her opinion of the 'Burgh?Here's what you're saying so far:OMG! Is she kidding? I've been to England, and while London and Oxford are beautiful, there are definitely some "fugly" cities there. Birmingham and Manchester look like Pittsburgh did back in the 30's! In 2006! Heck, some parts of London are too industrially ugly for words.Look around dearie, go to Coca Cafe for breakfast, walk around Lawrenceville, have a drink at Brillobox if you're so homesick for "cool and funky". These places are just as good as those trendy spots in Chelsea and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The art, the funkiness is cooler when you have to look for it, it's not just shoved in your face like something in Times Square.Been here five years (originally from Richmond, VA) loving it more all the time.- Jenee Trust me , Sienna Miller does not speak for everyone in Hollywood. Last summer I worked on the film Graduation , we shot in Pittsburgh and the cast had a great time!
Maybe Miss Miller should talk to Nick Nolte who was a wonderfully kind visitor when he made Lorenzo's Oil in my childhood neighborhood over 10 years ago. I think Pittsburgh should stand up to Hollywood and let them know no one disses the 'burgh and gets box office gold from it! I would rather sit at home and read the book!!!!- Emily, Green Tree What, you ask, should a pretty, 24-year-old movie actress do or see while in Pittsburgh?Well, for starters, she can get over her unattractive self-pity, get out of her boring hotel and take a walk outside. Obviously, Pittsburgh isn't as glamorous or exciting as London or New York. But, just as obviously, our city has many places where a "bohemian" might find some excitement. Try the Southside, the Strip, Shadyside. And how about Lawrenceville, Bloomfield or Mt. Washington? If she requires security, can't the Film Office or her production company find a guide to take Ms. Miller around? Or is she to be left to whine and mope in that hotel room, drinking cheap wine and running up her transatlantic phone bill for two more weeks?This reminds me of the Denver newspaper writer who visited last year when the Steelers played the Broncos. He trashed Pittsburgh then had to recant when his first published piece aroused the ire—and the pity--of many Pittsburghers. He was forced to admit he hadn't taken the time to look around, and when he did so, the city was a pleasant surprise for him. Pittsburgh is more like a book than a movie; it doesn't simply unfold itself to a passive audience, it requires a bit of time and effort to discover its delights. So, Ms. Miller, you can stay holed up in that hotel or drop the attitude and go take a look. It's up to you.- Sandy, Regent Square It's unfortunate she has such a bad opinion of a city that has so much to offer. Maybe she should go check out a play in the Theater District and get a taste of what "classy acting" is all about. Sounds like she needs to learn a thing or two.- Tricia, Fairmont, WV (works in downtown Pittsburgh) We would like an apology, Miss Miller. Pittsburgh has so much to offer. We have immense culture, lots to do, gorgeous landscapes, incredible antiquity and the nicest people. She needs to open her eyes, walk around and stop acting like a diva. To trash Pittsburgh shows no class. I think we need to trap her in South Side Sunday night and let the Steeler fans get a hold of her! I HEART PITTSBURGH!- Jodi from West Mifflin and ‘burgh lover The burgh is an up-and-coming happening place! She sould head to the Southside Works w/ its groovy new shops, She should head to Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside with its new age dining and chic shops, and finally she should see the view from Mt. Washington from a table at one of its many fine restaurants. From the arts angle, she should see a show at one of the many theaters, such as the Byham, Benedum, or Cabaret!- Chris Top 10 Things for Sienna to see and/or do in da 'burgh.10. Go to Primanti's about 2 30am tomorrow morning, tell the cook you don't want all "that stuff" on yer samitch.09.Go ride the incline, by yer self during a very bad electrical storm, call someone from this "horrible" city for help08.Tell someone on a Sunday around 1pm around the North Side "That ain't real Football" Soccer is.07.Make a turn onto a bridge ramp on your motor bike, hit a car, residents of this horrible city will call the car driver to thank them.06.B.Y.O.K. Bring Your Own Ketchup05.Ask about the amentities at the Edison Hotel04.Get hit in the back of the head with a Gus' ice ball from the Park in the North Side to knock some sense in ya.03.Go back to your Big Ben in the UK, we got our own.02.Make fun of the Pirates, no wait we all do that.01.Get on the PA system at Heinz field for the next Stillers home game and publically apologize and afterwards, in your best british accent say...........ALL THE IRON YINZ WANNA DRINK is on ME, DOUBLE YOI!- GaryTR from WORSHington.................. Who gives a ‘S---ienna’?- Christine, Wexford Poor Sienna. I can understand how she must feel. Pittsburgh is not a place where you can hang out with other celebrities and be seen. How disappointing it must have been for Ms. Miller to realize that WE DON'T CARE.We don't care who you are. We don't care what movies you're in or who you're dating. We don't care which New York coffee shop has the best latte, which London pub serves the best pint or which award party is the hottest in L.A. These are not the things that Pittsburghers think about.We care about our city, though. We care about our homes, our neighborhoods, our local businesses and our local government. We care about our jobs, our economy, our schools, our kids and our families. And we care about each other.The best advice I can offer to Ms. Miller is this: get out. Get out of your hotel, and take a walk through the North Shore. Get friendly with the locals on the South Side. Go to Mount Washington and have dinner. Go see a show or go hear Pittsburgh Symphony.There's lots to do Sienna. It's just that no one's going to watch you do it.- Mickey, Pittsburgh I’m a newcomer to Pittsburgh. Just a few things that I quickly discovered are the friendly people, the beautiful landscape – including rolling hillsides, rivers, lakes and the variety of places that you could call home. Pittsburgh has everything any larger city has – theatre, music, nightlife, exceptional universities and medical facilities. Has she been to the south side, homestead, the strip district, or Shadyside? What about a drive to Seven Springs, Cook Forest, Nemacolin, the Zoo, or any number of walking and biking trails? Has she taken the incline to Mt. Washington or taken a boat tour of our rivers? Has she been to any of the museums? What about a baseball, football or ice hockey game?I’ve lived in Europe, traveled the world – including most European countries, South America, Africa, India just to name a few and you know what? I wouldn’t live anywhere else. You can have New York, London, Paris and the south of France. I’ll stay here where neighbors welcome newcomers, people stop to help when your car breaks down and people care about their community and are proud of who they are and where they come from. It means something to say you're from Pittsburgh and you know what – I’m from Pittsburgh.So Siena, either go home or open your eyes and get to know Pittsburgh, get to know us.- Susan I was born in Westmoreland County and spent as much of my younger life in Pittsburgh as I possibly could. Oh my, what a beautiful city. It was even beautiful when the steel mills were there and operating, and remember the street cars? All one has to do is walk, anywhere and open your heart and eyes. The beautiful bridges, many are old yes, but such craftsmanship, walk along the river, downtown, look at the older buildings, such as Allegheny General Hospital. These places, plus the new, Heinz Field, PNC Park and so on are what Pittsburgh is all about. Just allow the young immature actress go home, that's where she needs to be.- Faith, Danville, VA Since this is a public forum and, thus, I must be polite, I will not share what my first reaction was.However, Pittsburgh has so many things to offer as noted by others. The diversity is remarkable. We've got country bars -through - a world class symphony orchestra and ballet company. Pahleeze. I'm not too concerned about what she thinks. And, quite frankly, the powers-that-be on this film should put a muzzle her. They are attempting to do something cool in and for Pittsburgh and she's bad-mouthing it? Not the brightest bulb in the pack is she?- Laurel I am a born and bred resident of Western Pennsylvania and my "Momma" taught me these things:1. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything. 2. Pretty is as pretty does.Recently, a friend of mine came to town and had nothing but glowing things to say about:1. Heinz Field, she took her family to a pre-season Steeler game (I cannot believe how nice the stadium is and the fans are just so intense). 2. Station Square. (That was just "cool"). 3. The Pittsburgh Mills Mall. (Beautiful, much nicer than Buffalo Malls) 4. The people. She was downtown with her family and got kind of lost (who hasn't in this city, of the one way streets). She asked for directions and the person told her "just follow me, I am going to Route 28, I will get you there" and they did!!At that moment, I was very proud of our city and the people who dare to drive in it.- Sherri, New Kensington I doubt anything is going to change her snotty opinion of our gorgeous city. Go back to London.- Christianne Perhaps it’s not really Pittsburgh that she is not fond of. Maybe it is the role she is playing. There have been some pretty terrific movies made in Pittsburgh. If she spoke to some of the actors who have had successful movies made here, maybe she would change her mind. Pittsburgh is a wonderful city.- Barb What really irks me about Ms. Miller's statement is that she took the job (presumably she was really excited about landing any job since she's not very famous to begin with) and then once she's here all she can do is trash the 'burgh! I'm tired of people who vie for the opportunity to come to the 'burgh for work, school, etc., and then do nothing but complain about it when they come. If you don't like it GO HOME!!! I love it here!Top 10 things to experience in the 'burgh:1) Primanti's 2) The view from the USX Tower and/or the view from the Cathedral of Learning 3) The confluence 4) Daylight 5) Mount Washington 6) Market Square 7) A walk along North Shore Park 8) Trilogy 9) Primanti's (it's worth a second trip for the pastrami sandwich!) 10) Anything outside her hotel room and the local bar- Paul, Brighton Heights Sienna who????? Never heard of her. I guess she's not that good of an actress, is she?- Gail Dear Sienna, We’re sure you must know what you’re talking about regarding our lovely city, what with you being such an excellent judge of character and all. (Insert rolling eyes smiley here). Get over yourself or go home.Peace, Dana, Proud Downtown Resident I think she needs to go home now!!!! Pittsburgh has lots to offer all you have to do is look around and you will see plenty!!! Evidently she has blinders on!!- Deborah What Sienna (whom I’ve never even heard of until now) really needs to do is go to one of the fine restaurants on Mt. Washington and then go to one of our overlooks and take in the magnificent view of our beautiful city at night. It doesn’t get any better than that! And if she still isn’t “impressed”, maybe she should just go home!- Terri, Pittsburgh I’m a proud Detroiter who’s been to your town & found it a gem. Why do you care if this actor likes your town? I say good riddance when she leaves. If she hasn’t the spirit or motivation to seek out what your cool town has to offer (or at least have her assistant do the research for her) than she shouldn’t be a worth a care to you. In my book, she’s simply an actor who gets too much PR for all the wrong reasons (the goings-on of her private life).- PJ, Detroit It's really too bad she didn't get out of her hotel except to work or leave. Hook up with some of the regular people from the set (lighting, sound, etc.), sure they know of the best places to have a great time. Loosen up Ms. Miller, Pittsburgh is a great place, and we are very friendly and kind people, except if you are from Cleveland and now Cincy!!!!!! Hope It Gets Better For You :)- Denise, Pittsburgh Pittsburghers are a loyal crowd. Her movie would have sold a lot of tickets here just because we love seeing our city on the big screen. Now she has alienated a large percentage of those people. Good luck to what's-her-face. She's going to need it.- L. Robinson, Pittsburgher by choice Related Links: More Allegheny County News Copyright 2007 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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