So, really, who is Cameron Diaz? The goofy blond bubblehead she plays in so many movies?

The reluctant celebrity who, with and without boyfriend Justin Timberlake, is often in fights with tabloids and photographers?

Or somebody much too self-aware to boil down to a thumbnail profile?

"Cameron is a first-class, really first-rate comedian," says Nancy Meyers, who wrote and directed Diaz's latest romantic comedy, "The Holiday," and who suggests the actress is more self-aware, and much less like her characters. "And she's also very, very vulnerable.

"Obviously, she's a knockout to look at. And I think she's a girl's girl. For such a sexy, hot-looking girl to be so girl-friendly, it's great. There are a lot of women who look like that on screen that other women look at, and you judge them a little bit. You don't judge Cameron Diaz. You're with her all the way."

In the film, Diaz's L.A. movie-trailer editor and Kate Winslet's English journalist, both on the run from toxic relationships, swap homes for Christmas. Fish-out-of-water comedy and new romantic possibilities ensue.

Typical. But an interview with Diaz is anything but. First off, she shows up with a dark brown ponytail — not for a role or anything, just because the classic California golden girl felt like looking different. And she's all friendly and chuckles, as you may expect, but she also wants to indulge a misanthropic streak that ... well, it makes you like her even more.

Some can get away with all kinds of things. Diaz is gleefully exploring her possibilities.

Question: Going anywhere for the holidays this year?

Answer: I'll be here (Los Angeles) when everybody else goes away, which is awesome. It's my favorite time of the year. It's glorious, I love being alone. I just love being by myself. I'm good at it. But not in a weird way. It's not like, "Leave me alone!" I'm just very comfortable by myself.

Question: Guess the idea of house-swapping isn't very appealing, huh?

Answer: Nope. Nope. No. No. Don't want anybody in my house. Well, friends of course, but not a total stranger. But I've stayed in total strangers' homes, and I'm very respectful about leaving them exactly the way I found them. But I'm not taking that chance.