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Kirsten Dunst on the film “Civil War” and how sons helped in “harder days.”

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Kirsten Dunst is used to her films making headlines.

“I remember there was some controversy about 'Interview with the Vampire,'” recalls the actress, who was just 11 years old when Brad Pitt kissed her on screen in the 1994 horror drama. Anne Rice, the book's author, famously bought an eight-page supplement for Variety containing her detailed review of the film.

But that's nothing compared to the buzz surrounding “Civil War” (in theaters Friday), set in the near future in a devastated, divided United States where party lines and ideologies are kept vague. Dunst plays a hard-bitten photographer named Lee who travels to Washington with an aspiring photojournalist (Cailee Spaeny) to follow rebels in their attempt to capture the White House and a despotic president (Nick Offerman).

The harrowing thriller was welcomed by critics but also caused a stir on social media as people debated whether it “is”irresponsible” or “fearmongering” for filmmaker Alex Garland to depict violence and secession in an already polarizing election year. Dunst remains diplomatic about the film, which is both apolitical and anti-war.

“I’m very proud to have played Lee and that people feel that way about this film,” she says. “We took a big risk.”

Spaeny says she hopes “the hysteria” has an impact on “people buying tickets. I think once they sit down and watch this film, it's very moving. The only answer to all this polarization is conversation.”

“Civil War” is a big-screen reunion for 41-year-old Dunst and her husband Jesse Plemons, who has a small role as a barbarian soldier. The actors share two sons: Ennis, 5, and James, 2. The Oscar nominee, who was “just cleaning up Easter stuff and toys” before answering the phone, tells us about the film and more:

Kirsten Dunst is open to more Marvel films: “That would pay for my child’s college!”

Question: What was it about Lee that made you feel like you had to play her when you read the script?

Answer: I didn't even think about the role. I just read the script like I was watching a movie. It was so gripping and thought-provoking. I had never read anything like that before. Alex is a brilliant writer, so I was pretty impressed and scared.

They said that Jesse would play drunk in The Power of the Dog Film video of you going out for a drink. Did he help you prepare for this film?

No, because I started the film before he joined the cast. When we were rehearsing, the actor who was supposed to play this role stopped and said, “Well, Alex, Jesse's here!” Jesse is very busy with research. It was his idea to wear glasses in this scene, so he went around vintage shops in Atlanta and tried them all on for Alex. But on set, the whole scene is so intense that everyone left each other alone because it's so emotional. We respectfully gave each other space to film it.

How would you relax after filming particularly traumatic sequences?

My (youngest) son turned one during Civil War, so I just came home and put the boys to bed. When Jesse wasn't there, my son Ennis slept with me and we ate barbecue chips in bed. I have a funny video of him helping me with my lyrics. I would just say, “Say this, say that.” (Laughs.)

What scenes were those?

Oh, I don't read anything intense. Obviously not a dark dialogue! Your life and work merge a bit, but it was nice to just have the comfort of sleeping in bed with my son on harder days.

Last fall, Sofia Coppola said how much it meant to her that “Marie Antoinette” finally found its audience after a box office failure. Did you notice that too?

Yes! Back then, the people who loved the movie were younger and our age – not the older men who were reviewing it, you know? It was a more progressive and risky film, and I think that as a woman Coppola may have felt threatened by her and her vision.

What do you think is your most underrated film?

I mean, The Virgin Suicides was a very special film and I don't remember it doing that well. This was a real arthouse indie. I feel like a lot of the films I made back then are all popular today because I believe I made them for audiences my age and not for anyone else. (Laughs.) Now that everyone's grown up, we're like, “We like those movies!”

Is there something you most want to show your children when they are older?

Aren't children ashamed that their parents are actors? I mean, my older son liked Jumanji and now he's done with it. He doesn't want to see it anymore. And then my other son likes the first Spider-Man, but he just wants to watch the wrestling scene over and over again. I guess if I were to pick something for our kids to watch, I would show them the second season of “Fargo” and say, “This is where your parents met!”

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