Outspoken is a word that fairly leaps to mind when describing Janeane Garofalo's no-holds-barred persona. The tattooed comedian-turned-actress has never been one to hold back her curiously strong opinions -- especially when there's a microphone conveniently located nearby.

     There are other fitting adjectives for Garofalo, 33, who for over a decade now, has made a name for herself spewing social satire: Caustic cynical, rebellious, intellectual and, of course, funny as hell. Yet, accurate as they may be, those words fail to capture the essence of Garofalo. In fact, all those qualities spring from a deeper character trait: It's her stinging honesty (and those pouty lips) that has made Garofalo so appealing to millions of loyal fans.

     Not surprisingly, Hollywood has wasted no time tapping into Garofalo's popular appeal. In recent years, the New York native has been praised for her roles in Reality Bites, The Truth About Cats And Dogs, Now And Then, Cold Blooded, Romy And Michelle's High School Reunion, The Matchmaker and Copland. She's also garnered kudos for her successful stints on The Ben Stiller Show, The Larry Sanders Show, TV Nation, Saturday Night Live and even her own HBO special.

     Despite that long list of credits, Garofalo is nowhere near approaching overexposure -- and in some ways she promises she never will be. It seems the film-going public is never going to see the bum of one Janeane Garofalo (much to the chagrin of Starbucks coffee-pourers everywhere.)

     CelebrityStyle had a major dish session with Garofalo about Woody Allen, supermodels and how she never accepts gifts of clothing from designers -- except for maybe the occasional something from Donna Karan (in black, of course).

Do you ever dream of standing before the entire world accepting an Academy Award for Best Actress?
Never! That is not something that I can even creatively visualize. I'm not in that ilk of movie making. Do you know what I mean? There are comics who cross over, but they don't usually cross over into that territory.

What are your goals?
I would actually want to get into talk radio, eventually. It would be a show that would air five nights a week in New York. For a few hours a night I would have topical guests come in and talk about their careers, and bands would come in and play in the studio. Basically, it would be talk for left-wingers. Rarely does the left have a talk radio format.

Knowing your cynical side, would your radio show have a negative view of the world?
I don't consider cynical to be negative. Many people accuse me of that, but I'm not. I don't understand why just because you have a strong opinion or you're pragmatic, you're considered edgy or negative or mean-spirited.

But it's understandable that too much cynicism might be considered negative.
Actually, I don't see that. I don't interpret it that way when I see other people. I don't assume that Harry Shearer and Dennis Miller are nasty. Their edge comes from caring a lot about things. That's why they rant. If you're just trying to be a people-pleaser or be nice, not only is it not interesting, but you're not saying anything.

You rebel against anything that has to do with glamour, but you still come across as a very sexy person. How is that possible?
Well I think that's subjective, but I'll take that as a compliment. I don't know that other people share that opinion.

You don't think that people see you as sexy?
Well, in my personal life, that isn't the general consensus -- or, at least, people aren't telling me that.

What about those erotic full lips of yours?
[Laughs] Why thank you, Chauncé! Oh, and my father Carmine thanks you.

You don't seem very affected by all the success that you've had over the last couple of years.
I'm moderately successful, but I'm not like Brad-Pitt-and-Gwyneth-Paltrow-successful. Mine isn't the type of success where I have problems with paparazzi or tabloids. The average person on the street has no idea who I am. Walking down the street in New York City is not at all a problem -- it's not remotely life-altering.

You named your production company I Hate Myself Productions. You don't really hate yourself, do you?
No, I just named it that because that's something I always say to myself if something goes wrong.

Do fashion designers offer you clothes to wear at major events?
Well, I rarely go to those things. But yes, they are offered, and no, I don't take them. I have taken stuff from Donna Karen -- they are so nice over there, and they send me cool black things.

What do you think is up with Courtney Love? Is she a punk rocker or a high-end fashion model?
Well, my guess is that she probably always wanted to fit in. I think she always felt like an outsider, but wanted so much to be accepted by, as she puts it, "the grown ups." Then when she did, she really fell into it. Also, there's something to be said for just aging. She's 33 now, so that may have something to do with it -- and the fact that she's a mom.

Didn't you once say, "When people say that people in Hollywood are plastic, I want to punch them in the face."
[Laughs] Yes! It's just too easy to say. It's like saying the sky is blue I can't stand statements that oversimplify or that have been repeated a million times, like the phrase, "What's up with that?" or "Don't go there." That type of speak drives me nuts! I equate "People are plastic" with "Don't go there."

Don't punch me in the face, but are people in Hollywood plastic?
No more than anywhere else. I enjoyed it during the six years that I lived there. I just prefer living in New York.

Has refusing to play the Hollywood game hurt your career?
I don't know if it necessarily hurt, but I don't get certain roles that I want. That's definitely true. It's not easy for me to get a lead role in a studio film. I can do independent films or supporting roles for studio films, but I'm not perceived as a romantic lead in a studio film.

If you were offered a lead in a high-budget studio film but it required that you lose 20 pounds, would you accept the offer?
If it was a fantastic script with a director that I'm dying to work with and actors that I really like. If every element was in place. For instance, if it was a Martin Scorsese or Albert Brooks film and I get to work with Kathryn O'Hara and the cast of SCTV [Second City Television], then I probably would. 'Cause hell, I'll lose it, hopefully, and gain the weight back after we wrap.

Would you consider doing a nude love scene in such a film?
That is one thing I would never do. I cannot see being naked and then living my life. I can't bare the thought of the person who serves me coffee at Starbucks seeing my ass. I can't. I could not get through the day.

Let's talk about your seven tattoos. Are there any that you regret getting?
No. If I had it to do over again, I would get different ones in different places, but it would be overkill if I added the ones I want now.

Have you ever been psycho-analyzed?
No. I had a tarot card reading once, but I never had my dreams interpreted nor have I been to therapy.

Did you freak out when contemplating doing scenes with Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro in Copland?
Stallone was s nice to me that it was totally fine. I'm not uncomfortable acting with big stars, but when Harvey Keitel was around, I was definitely intimidated -- he's very quiet. But Stallone was very chatty with me, so I was totally comfortable with him.

What's your most embarrassing moment while making a film?
I once did a movie with Bill Murray and I was totally embarrassed when he said, "Why don't you improv here." Right away I thought to myself, "I cannot even try to be funny right next to the funniest guy." I was too insecure to improv. He would say things like, "Don't do that," or "I'll think of something." Then I got even more embarrassed.

I understand that Woody Allen was an early inspiration of yours.
Not that he was so much an early inspiration as he was one of the first things I discovered when I learned I loved comedy as a kid. I became aware of Woody Allen from the movie Take The Money And Run -- I remember thinking how much I liked seeing the guy in the glasses. That built a lifelong love of quality comedy. He delivers high-end comedy.

Is it true that you don't trust people who don't like his brand of humor?
Right. What I mean by that is that if they don't like Albert Brooks or Woody Allen, then I don't trust their taste.

Has your opinion of Woody Allen changed since he left Mia Farrow for Soon-Yi Previn?
Yeah, it has. Unfortunately, it's not quite the same for me anymore. I don't enjoy seeing him make out with women less than half his age.

Is Saturday Night Live still a sore subject for you?
Not really. I didn't work out when I was there. But the only reason it's ever a sore subject is because everybody brings it up all the time. It's old, old news.

When you hear the names, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss what thoughts come to mind?
Nothing. I don't take individual models to task. I take the whole culture of supermodels to task -- the idolatry of the supermodel. It's not their fault that they're so famous. It's how the media presents them. It's the fault of the media and those who worship them.

You've always been very vocal about your hatred for exercise. Aren't you worried that maybe one day you'll have health problems?
Well, I'll tell ya, I actually walk everywhere and always have -- so it's not like I'm sedentary. I walk my dog, and I always take the stairs in my building. So it's not like I'm this crazily unhealthy person. The unhealthy aspect for me comes from what goes in my mouth. I don't eat healthy at all.

Is there one thing about you that you would like the world to know?
[Long pause] Um ... I don't deliberately try to look bad. I don't work at looking bad. It just happens, I guess.