Cox delves into murky tabloid world

By Peter Bowes
BBC News, Los Angeles

Courteney Cox's new role is far removed from Monica in Friends

Former Friends star Courteney Cox says her latest TV role, as a tabloid magazine editor in the US drama series Dirt, has made her a greater target for real-life paparazzi.

In Dirt, showing on digital service Five US, the actress plays Lucy Stiller, a hard-headed editor who will stop at nothing to get the story.

"I'm pretty ruthless," says Cox.

"It's a racy, outrageous, fun show. There's betrayal and deception and a lot of sex and there's jealously and drugs - it's pretty salacious in every way."

Dirt is Cox's highest profile role since Friends. The show is co-executive produced by her husband, David Arquette.

Lucy Stiller fits the mould as a determined tabloid editor who makes a living out of prying into the lives of celebrities. But, according to Cox, the character has a conscience.

"I'm an outrageous editor but I strive to always tell the truth or uncover the truth but the lengths that I will go to get the truth are maybe questionable."

Tabloid target

As a celebrity with plenty of experience in dealing with the tabloids, Cox says the TV role has opened her eyes to the world of paparazzi journalism.

"I understand how competitive it is," she says.

Cox says she and David Arquette have a happy, scandal-free marriage

"But at the same time it's really weird - when you look at paparazzi it's almost like sometimes they cut off their moral code.

"It's their jobs, I understand, but it's just a very fine line between work and hurting people."

Cox, who is happily married with a three-year old daughter, Coco, points out that her life is "not that dramatic" and free of scandal.

But the former fashion model accepts that the tabloids will always be interested in her life.

"You know that if you're going to be an actor on something that has become the zeitgeist or a part of pop culture you have to expect that you will be a target for paparazzi.

But Cox says a recent encounter with the paparazzi went over the top. She was getting into a car outside a restaurant when the vehicle was surrounded by photographers.

"My daughter was in the back seat and that was really scary because Coco was like, 'Mommy why are they taking my picture?'

"It was kind of hard to explain that mommy is on a TV show and I'm not sure why they're that interested... I'm not wearing anything outrageous, I'm not doing anything crazy - it does seem like times are pretty tough if that's what people are finding interesting."

Friends factor

On another occasion Cox says she was unnerved by the attentions of a man who had been following her car.

"I pulled up to a meeting and I looked behind me and there was a guy in a car and he bent down for what I later (discovered) was his camera - but you just don't know.

"For that spilt second you think - crazy or paparazzi? You're just not sure - sometimes it's a little freaky."

Cox says she has been a focus of the paparazzi ever since her days on Friends.

When she was pregnant there was a "frenzy" of activity. But she says, interest in her life has never been more intense than the present time.

"Since I have been doing Dirt I have been more of a target for paparazzi, than I used to be. There's usually someone outside of my house every day."

But the actress remains philosophical about the unwanted attention.

"I have friends that 10 photographers are sitting outside their house and so in retrospect it's not so terrible."