FOR THE LOVE OF PEET SMARTS AND SEX APPEAL ONLY BEGIN TO DESCRIBE WHY EVERYONE WANTS TO BE IN BED WITH AMANDA.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Writer

We expect provocative from Amanda Peet.

And while promoting her latest movie, ``A Lot Like Love,'' with co-star Ashton Kutcher, the actress lived up to her sharp, smart and somewhat naughty reputation during a discussion of the romantic comedy's nude scene.

``At least we knew each other,'' says the actress. ``We'd gone about halfway through the shoot when we had to do that.''

``I think we were both so insecure about ourselves that we weren't busy looking at anybody else,'' assures Kutcher.

``Speak for yourself,'' Peet shoots back without missing a beat.

Not a surprise from the witty actress, who's given as good as she's gotten with leading men ranging from Bruce Willis (``The Whole Nine Yards''), Ben Affleck (``Changing Lanes''), Jack Nicholson (``Something's Gotta Give'') and Will Ferrell (in the current Woody Allen release ``Melinda and Melinda'') on screen. She is currently getting strong reviews for taking on Ben Stiller and Jeffrey Wright in New York's acclaimed Public Theatre production of Neil LaBute's scathing new play ``This Is How It Goes.''

But a private discussion with the 33-year-old Peet reveals a sweet, self-deprecating, anything-but-brazen professional so conscientious that she took a 24-hour trip to promote ``Like Love'' in L.A. on ``How It Goes' '' dark day. While fighting off a cold, yet.

Peet acknowledges that some of her earlier roles as strong-willed, even nasty characters (``Whipped,'' ``Saving Silverman'') have scared some producers off.

``Yeah,'' she says of having been thought of as too hard-edged - or smart, which can mean the same thing in some Hollywood casting situations. ``Yeah, sure. I think you just have to have the right pair of eyes at the right time. And I try as much as I can to mix it up and play different kinds of people. In 'Syriana' (an upcoming thriller about the international oil trade and terrorism), I play Matt Damon's wife, and our story line is that we lose a child, so our whole story is pretty distraught.

``But I don't know. Maybe somebody should give me some pratfalls to do. Then people will believe that I'm the dork that I am. I definitely like physical comedy. I'm looking for a role where I can trip more and be more daffy.''

In ``A Lot Like Love,'' opening Friday, Emily starts out as an emblematic Peet character: Having broken up with her musician boyfriend at the airport, the Gothy punkette initiates Kutcher's nice guy entrepreneur Oliver into the Mile High Club in an airplane lavatory.

Once on the ground, Emily brushes off Oliver, who's way too passive and unhip for her tastes. But over the next seven years, they keep hooking up briefly and acknowledge liking more and more about one another. But is it love, or just maturity happening?

``I liked the transformation,'' Peet says. ``I related to the angry kind of post-adolescent, 'I'll-only-wear-black,' fancies herself to be cool and downtown and iconoclastic attitude she has - but really, underneath, she's just a softie.''

How much does Peet, the Columbia-educated daughter of a New York corporate attorney and former student of theatrical legend Uta Hagen, relate?

``Emily's prickly,'' Peet says, choosing the description carefully. ``She doesn't think she could ever like someone who's so soft and earnest. She just doesn't have the awareness, and that's fun to play, that kind of denial. And I'm sure I've been that way, been very judgmental in the beginning and made the decision, 'Oh, that'll never happen, that person's not my type.' But you can't write the end of the story at the beginning.''

What Kutcher, who was the first cast for the project, and director Nigel Cole (``Calendar Girls'') liked was Peet's ability to bridge those extremes of Emily's behavior, and remain both funny and sexy through the process.

What they got was a collaborator who brought more to the effort than they could have imagined.

``Amanda pushes me, she pushes Ashton, she pushes everybody,'' says British filmmaker Cole. ``Her absolute, extraordinarily fierce determination to be good and make the movie good is really impressive. Sometimes, that can be hard work. For a director, it's often easier if you have an actor that goes, 'Well, if you're happy, I'm happy.' But even though working with an actress like Amanda can be more tiring, you always get better results, and ultimately the experience is more worthwhile.

``And she's gorgeous. Did I mention that?''

At the moment, that work ethic hasn't exactly been making Amanda a dull girl - simply unimaginable, that - but it has curtailed her social life. The play, her first in six years, has been consuming, packed as it is with the cutting wordplay and devastating mind games LaBute (whose films include the corrosive ``In the Company of Men'' and ``Your Friends and Neighbors'') specializes in.

``I've been sleeping 'til late, then I just go over my lines, so ... '' Peet shrugs. ``I'm feeling very New York-theater feelings right now. The growth spurt is so much bigger when you do a play. It's a funny thing, not having an editor. When you have a bad scene, it's up to you to correct yourself again and again every night. It's an exhilarating experience, having to control it yourself, and yet not try to control.''

Not doing much for the love life, though.

``I'm single right now,'' she admits. ``It's been important. I don't know if I love it as much as it's the right thing. But I'm not overjoyed about it.''

As for other interests, well ...

``There are things that I think about doing a lot,'' Peet says with a guilty grin. ``I think I still feel that I haven't found my place yet in my work, so I get distracted. I'll take an art class, then I'll give up because I feel like I'm half-committing. I'm a terrible cook, and that's something I'm really ashamed of and something I want to work on.

``And singing lessons. That's something I've been thinking about since the play, because I had a lot of anxiety about my voice.''

OK, we'll admit it. As accessible and disarming as Peet is in person, we still have trouble buying this vulnerable act from someone who is clearly as focused and quick-witted as they come.

All of which, she says, crumbles into low-level panic in the presence of an idol.

``I think Will and I were so scared, we were just stuck in being awestruck together,'' she says of making ``Melinda and Melinda.'' But everybody says that about the first time they work for Woody Allen, only to have him put them completely at ease within days, if not hours.

Peet shakes her head no.

``Only because I love him too much,'' she explains. ``I have the same thing with David Letterman. I've been on his show three times and I'm always just as scared. Everyone's like, 'Just relax, it's not even your job to be funny on ``Letterman,'' you don't have to score.' But when you're just too impressed by someone, you end up sounding like a jackass. If you admire someone for their wit, all you want to do is be clever around them, and that's not what ends up happening.''

However audiences and producers may perceive her, Amanda Peet insists that tough and tender are equal parts of her makeup. And if you don't like that, well, at least she can make you laugh.

``I think 'A Lot Like Love' is really a sweet story,'' she says, happily. ``It may have a little edge, but it's not like Neil LaBute! I like Neil LaBute, I like things that are challenging. I like romantic comedies, but I also don't mind being uncomfortable at the end of something. 'Syriana' is a pretty big indictment, I think, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

``But I really do love a good, old-fashioned romance, too. And I love 'Will & Grace' and 'Friends' and, like, Gilda Radner. I'm a big fan of Nick at Nite. When I'm alone in my bed late at night, I always try to catch 'Three's Company' or 'All in the Family.' I'm definitely attracted to both.''

Bob Strauss, [phone]

bob.strauss(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) Amanda's PASSION

Busy beauty Peet conquers N.Y. stage and heats up `A Lot Like Love'

(2) no caption (Amanda Peet)

Hans Gutknecht/Stacc Photographer

(3) Jeffrey Wright, left, Amanda Peet and Ben Stiller headline Neil LaBute's play ``This Is How It Goes,'' currently running at the Public Theatre in New York.

Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

(4) Amanda Peet stars with Ashton Kutcher in the feature film ``A Lot Likfe Love,'' opening Friday.