Robert Crane cornered the less-than-bashful Family Ties star Justine Bateman at her home in the Hollywood Hills. He reports, "Justine wore a black miniskirt and a black tank top. The outfit brought tears to my eyes. She confessed that she would eventually like to be a magazine editor, though she doesn't actually know what an editor does. She would love to observe. I was able to cajole Playboy's Articles Editor, John Rezek, into showing Justine the ropes--what he does and how he does it. The logistics are being worked out."

Q 1

PLAYBOY: In what ways are you like and unlike Mallory, your character on Family Ties?

Justine Bateman: Mallory is in me somewhere. It's really a relief to play her, because she has almost no worries; she grew up with an older brother and a family that had nine-to-five jobs. It's a protected environment. She loves life, and just everything's groovy with Mallory.

On the other hand, I had a higher grade-point average than she did. I'm much less open when I meet people. We dress differently. We look the same; that's about it. Mallory is much more concerned with looking absolutely correct. I'm more into letting the clothes reflect how I'm feeling that day. I wear black a lot.

Q 2

PLAYBOY: What would be your dream exit on your last episode of Family Ties?

Justine Bateman: Mallory is comparing her relationship with Nick with that of Alex and whoever he is with at the time, and she says, "The great thing about Nick and me is that I feel so comfortable with him. I don't have to think when I'm with him. It's like we have one collective mind." Alex says, "Who's using it tonight?" Mallory says, "God, I don't know."

Q 3

PLAYBOY: Sports car. Home in the hills. Have you gone Hollywood?

Justine Bateman: If you had $50,000, you'd buy a Porsche, too. I always ask my business managers, "How am I doing? Am I spending too much money?" They say, "Give me a break. You spend, like, nothing." There comes a point when you have to spend your money. It's not smart to keep paying rent--for tax reasons. You can't just keep putting your money in a money market. I sat back and thought, This is nuts. I'm 20 years old and I bought a house? It's really nice not to get slips of paper under the door saying, "Move your car" or "The rent's going up three percent."

Q 4

PLAYBOY: What's the strangest thing we would find in your purse?

Justine Bateman: A puck. A Swiss army knife. I have pens, clips, Porsche keys, Trident gum, money. A Hard Rock Cafe Express card. It's funny; once you're in a position to get these cards, you don't need them anymore. I have a valuable phone book.

Q 5

PLAYBOY: How should a young, attractive woman prepare for Hollywood?

Justine Bateman: Really like yourself a lot. Be prepared to be rejected because of the color of your hair or because you're not it that year--you don't have the right look or they don't like your acting. Make sure you are a good actor.