Well, it all happened so quickly, at least for the “Civil War” part of it, that was really establishing everything. I didn’t want to shut myself down in reverence. I kept meaning to, but I guess I ultimately felt like it was more useful to not. Had you seen the other “Spider-Man” movies? And then I found out afterward, mostly, the elements that were really important to keep was that she was the home fire and very intimate with him. I didn’t really know where she was coming from. And then I was told about Aunt May, and I said, “The only aunt I really want to play is Auntie Mame, because I love her and revere Rosalind Russell as the broad that I can really get behind.” It took me a while to understand the concept of who she was in the Marvel universe and how much of a blank slate there was going to be in terms of her attitude. But there was a concept of Spider-Man being in high school. It all happened pretty fast before “Captain America: Civil War” was shooting. Was there a script when they offered the part to you? I don’t even know what that means in the scheme of things.

And then when I saw the parasol and the high-Victorian collar, I was like, “Is she just loony?” I think they were trying to pre-empt my terror, which didn’t work, because I was like, “Why do they keep saying that?” It’s not like that one quality is a character. I think they were trying to disarm me, because how would they know if I’d seen the comics. Is it true that Marvel pitched her to you as a sexy Aunt May? They are really happy and their standards are very exacting. I think the most gratifying has been the reaction from the super fans. How has the reception been to your “Spider-Man?”

Aunt may actress