Part Time Player
Polish born Los Angelean Joanna Krupa has been declared the Sexiest Woman in the World by an assortment of magazines recently, so we thought we’d jump on the bandwagon and declare her the Sexiest Woman in the Universe. With hearts pounding and glasses steamed up, we at Bluff Magazine navigated our way through the small puddles of drool that seem to surround her wherever she goes, and risked cardiac arrest to bring you this interview. You see, Joanna loves poker – and so do we… Oh, we have so much in common, already.
Jonnna, how’d you get into poker?
I was on the cover of a magazine called Trump World and they had me come in for a special appearance at the Trump Tower. They were having a million-dollar charity event with a poker tournament. I had no idea that I was going to play in the poker tournament. So it was all the people from the magazine, and the cast of The Apprentice, and me. And I was basically playing – what do you call it? Tight. And I actually ended up winning. That was the first time I’d ever played. It was funny… beginner’s luck.
So you’ve caught the bug?
Definitely. But I have a hard time finding the time to take it seriously, because I travel so much with my job. I play online a lot at Titanpoker.com. I’ll play live if I’m in Vegas with friends, but because of work, most of my access to the game is through the internet.
What is it you like about the game?
It’s fun. When I’m on location working, there can be some hanging around, and it’s a nice way to fill the time.
Do you have a poker nickname?
Um… “Boo Boo.” My boyfriend calls me “Boo Boo,” so I use that as a screen name.
That’s way too fluffy. You need a fearsome nickname like “Krupa The Destroyer.”
(Laughs) Yeah. I’ll have to think of a fiercer one.
Do you think you have an unfair advantage at the poker table because the gentlemen are… um… distracted by your looks?
Well, if they are, then that’s an advantage for me, but it’s not something I can confirm.
Oh, we think they probably are…
Well, I think I’m good at being tricky with my facial expressions. I don’t give much away. Acting and modeling help with things like that.
Who’s your favorite player?
I met Antonio “the Magician,” but I wouldn’t say I have a personal favorite. I like Jennifer Tilly, too. She has a good poker face and cool sunglasses.
Hmm… Why is it that every beautiful woman we talk to seems to have met Antonio? You’ve been named the world’s sexiest woman. That must be a weird feeling.
Well, it’s obviously very flattering, but there are so many beautiful women in the world. For a magazine to say that – it’s wonderful, but I kind of laugh at it. I would never consider myself the one and only. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s something you have to live up to. You have to keep yourself in the best shape possible to keep your fans happy.
What’s the worst thing about being a model?
You’re constantly living out of suitcases, but at the same time, you always have to look your best. You can’t pig out before a shoot. It’s hard if you’re the type of person who doesn’t have a very fast metabolism – and I would be in that category. You have to be really strict about your diet and the way you take care of your skin. There’s constant pressure. Maybe one day you’re not feeling that great, but you have to make it come out on camera that you are. It’s not as easy as a lot of people think; there’s a lot of hard work involved.
Tell us about this movie you’re shooting at the moment.
It’s a psychological thriller, which is my favorite genre. So I’ll be living the kind of thing I like to watch.
You don’t die in it, do you?
(Laughs) No, I survive.
Phew! We hear you’re a big animal rights campaigner, too.
I’m doing an international Peta campaign against fur. I recently saw a Peta video about the fur trade in dogs in China. I have three dogs at home and I’m a really big believer in treating your animals well. It really makes me sick that some of these people are so heartless and cruel.
