People: Mar. 13, 2006

Q&A MACAULAY CULKIN

Grownup child star Macaulay Culkin's semiautobiographical, stream-of-consciousness novel, Junior, comes out this month.

Who will read this book?

Voyeurs. Teenagers. I'm not exactly sure.

It's a little odd. Have you considered that readers may think you're insane?

People have been telling me that. I've led a very isolated existence since I was 6 years old. It's kind of been me and my mind. I hope people don't think I'm crazy because I'm not. I might be feeding into it.

Your book includes many lists, including people you hate. Explain.

My therapist suggested making lists. Some names are blacked out, 'cause my manager was like, "I'm not sure you should put that there." Like Steven Spielberg. I like him. He makes great films. But the man has a formula. Here's how you arrange the scene, and you're gonna cry at the end. That's why he was on the list.

With Pinochet?

But it comes from a good place. All people are flawed.

How do you see yourself in Hollywood today?

I don't know where I fit in. I don't know what people want from me. I'm the most out-of-work actor I know. In the last two years I've basically taken meetings for a living.

Did you consider doing something else?

I thought about sports management. As a 4-year-old, I didn't say I wanted to be an actor. Acting found me. I thought maybe I should try to find it again. We'll see.

Have you been in touch with Michael Jackson since he left the country?

We talked on the phone once. He's doing O.K. I mean, yeah, he's a friend, but the kind of friend you talk to twice a year.

Are you and [That 70s Show's] Mila Kunis engaged?

Not yet. We've been together four years. I enjoy cooking for her. I do a really good shrimp scampi. I lead a simple life. I feed the fish. I walk the dogs. I cook dinner. Occasionally I take a meeting.