Wednesday, Mar. 31, 2004 | 4:29 PM

It took a long while but I am now head over heels full on obsessed with Company. Last night I had rehearsal and then I went home and worked on stuff for four hours. And then I dreamed about the show. And I�ve been thinking about it all day.

I have an enormous amount of compassion and empathy for my character, She�s very near and dear to my heart and I�m basically playing a side of myself. It�s much easier to play this role than Fraulien Schneider in Cabaret. I�m not saying I like this part more�Fraulein was just as good, but in most ways she was so different from me, and of course there was all of that research into the Weimar period and the hours and hours I put into learning the accent etc. Also, it was my first role in seven years.

But �finding� Joanne has been a piece of cake. She lives in me and I spent years getting to know her. I think my interpretation of her is far more openly vulnerable and messy and sexual than she�s usually played. She�s like a giant infected wound with a barbed tongue and I can certainly relate to that as I spent years of my life that way. She�s too smart for own good, terribly guarded, and terribly hurt. And she�s funny.

God I love this show and I love this role.

Oh�I twisted the living shit out of ankle last night at dance rehearsal and now I�m walking like a gimp. Hopefully this will improve.