Newtons Law

Thandie Newton's first name is short forThandiwe—a Bantu term for "loved one." Appropriate, since she plays Sally Hemings, the president's mistress, in Merchant Ivory's Jefferson in Paris. Later this year, 22-year-old Thandie— pronounced "Tandy"—stars in The Journey of August King and Anna (Jane's sister) Campion's lowbudget debut, Loaded. "I'm always looking for the alternative to the big American movie," she says. "Hollywood is exciting for a time, but it's partly a yucky experience." Before majoring in anthropology at Cambridge, she sparkled in the small Australian gem Flirting, then managed to be the prettiest victim in her small role in Interview with the Vampire. Come June, she'll graduate and turn to acting full-time. "In this business, keeping one's head is important," she acknowledges, "but I think that might make me less groovy."

MICHAEL J. AGOVINO