ANALYZE ME: When a casting agent called me and said, “Bob De Niro thinks you’d be great in his next movie,” I thought, “Yeah, right!” Later that night, when a script for a movie called “Analyze That” was hand-delivered to my home, I thought it was someone’s idea of a joke. But when the agent called back and urged me to come in to read with De Niro, only then did I realize the offer was real.
So I dug through my closet for my best “Marilyn” dress and red leather pumps, rummaged through the makeup case for that old tube of “Cherries in the Snow” lipstick, practiced my best on-the-set tantrum, grabbed my Tom Cruise “Risky Business” shades and . . . Voila! The next Michelle Pfeiffer.
Luckily, I came to my senses and banished the script to the attic next to my wedding dress. The part – MY part – eventually went to the talented Kathy Moriarty. This buxom blond bombshell, explosive in her portrayal of De Niro’s goumata in “Raging Bull,” can play the tough, beautiful Italian damsel in distress like nobody else. (I hope “The Sopranos’ ” casting director is reading this).
But these days, Moriarty isn’t caught up in the klieg lights and Hollywood glamour. Her idea of the perfect role is acting out “Barney” videos with her three toddlers in “Mommy and Me” classes.
“I’m doing what I always wanted to – mothering my children – twins Kathy and Joe, 2, and Annabelle Rose, 1,” Moriarty told me from the Southampton estate she shares with her banker husband, Joseph. “I love being home. I love spending time with my family.” She loves it so much that, when we did this interview, she paid little attention to the “Analyze That” premiere that night and instead was looking forward to leaving early the next morning for Hershey Park with the family. No, she doesn’t need De Niro’s shrink, Billy Crystal. I’m happy to report that Moriarty is just bitten by the “mommy bug.”
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER: People magazine’s recently-published “most eligible bachelor” list is fast diminishing. “20/20’s” John Miller and Men’s Health magazine editor Dave Zinczenko were among the chosen few, but their days of babes, black books and bachelorhood are over! Miller was recently wed to Emily Altschul and I can reveal Zinczenko has been “seriously” dating actress Rose McGowan.
Miller and Zinczenko were lunching at Frescos last week with Law & Order’s Emmy award-winning producer Dick Wolf and fellow TV ideas man Bill Stanton, reminiscing about the past and looking toward the future. For Miller, that’s leaving “20/20” and heading west to help buddy Bill Bratton get a handle on the LAPD as its new commissioner.
Judith Regan, one of New York’s most eligible bachelorettes, was also on hand. Regan recently enlisted the help of Howard Stern to launch a public personal-ad campaign to find her a suitable suitor – and I’m told there are many!
Hmmm. Tall, dark and handsome prospects can also send their résumés to The Post, c/o ME!
DOCTOR’S ORDERS: On the heels of undergoing angioplasty, super sleuth and security expert Bo Dietl celebrated his 52nd birthday at Sparks Steak House last week. But Dietl’s doctors, hell-bent on getting him to adapt to a healthier lifestyle, may be upset with one of the gifts he received. Mike Piazza, Steve Whitcoff and Charlie Carmello presented Dietl with a huge bottle of robust red wine. Dietl, a wine connoisseur, struggled for most of the evening trying to uncork the expensive vintage.
THE NEED FOR SPEED: He may be as fast as lightning, but Giants running back Tiki Barber says his impressive speed on the field pales in comparison to that of his firstborn son. Antrim Jr. was in such a rush to climb the Barber family tree that Tiki’s wife, Ginny, was in labor only 25 minutes. “I’ve never been happier than when I’m spending time with my son,” Tiki said. Although he’s had a great season, Tiki says the highlight has been racing home to romp around with Junior.
VICTORIA’S SECRET: Kim Cattrall was toning her fabulous bod last week at Sports Club L.A. After she did two reps of “fanny squats,” a club regular whispered, “Wow, I thought celebs bought their perfect body parts!”