EDITORIAL – Sienna Miller mystified by ‘Burgh

We might be known as the “Steel City,” but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a big heart…. We might be known as the “Steel City,” but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a big heart.

That’s why we’re especially hurt when celebrities take it upon themselves to knock our city — with little or no justification.

Sienna Miller, who’s in town to film “Mysteries of Pittsburgh,” recently lamented her stay in our fair city by calling it “S–tsburgh” in an interview with Rolling Stone writer Jenny Eliscu.

“Can you believe my life?” Miller whined. “Will you pity me when you’re back in your funky New York apartment and I’m still in Pittsburgh? I need to get more glamorous films and stop with my indie year.”

Poor, poor Sienna. We can think of a lot worse places to be stuck filming a movie. Ever been to Cleveland?

Miller fired back in a statement issued by her publicist saying that the quotes were taken out of context and that her filming schedule has prohibited her from fully experiencing the city. She also mentioned that she had visited the city once before to research the Andy Warhol Museum for a film role and found “the city and it’s inhabitants warm and gracious.”

We guess that’s an apology.

It’s probably worth mentioning that Miller finished filming “Factory Girl” not too long ago — she’ll play Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol’s muse. For a person who loathes Pittsburgh so much, she sure isn’t picking her projects well.

Even Mayor Luke Ravenstahl sounded off on Miller’s comments saying, “I think obviously we have a great town, and I disagree with her comments…I’m sure in her short experience here she hasn’t had the opportunity to [experience Pittsburgh]. If she would have, I think she would have found that Pittsburgh is a great place to live.”

And what makes Pittsburgh remotely notable and charming, Ms. Miller? Well, here’s just a few of our favorites: the country’s first commercial radio station (KDKA), Heinz ketchup, bridges, Primanti’s, The 2006 Super Bowl Champion Steelers, french fries on everything (you probably don’t eat french fries), PNC Park and the 2006 MLB All-Star game (Pittsburgh got great reviews for that, so it’s not only our opinion).

Pittsburgh has great local breweries; we gave the world Mr. Rogers. Everyone knows us for our history of steel and our world-class hospitals — If you would have gotten hurt, you would have been glad you were in Pittsburgh. Do you like your legs? Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine in Pittsburgh, not that that’s a big deal or anything.

What about Andrew Mellon, Andrew Carnegie, Christina Aguilera, Dan Marino, Mary Cassatt, Andy Warhol — you’re familiar with him, right? — Jimmy Stewart, Don Knotts, Mario Lemieux, Gene Kelly, Michael Keaton, David Selznick and Sharon Stone, who was born in Meadville — wait, isn’t that where your dad is from, Ms. Miller? Well, it seems that this area is part of your own family heritage. How does it feel to hate on your history?

Maybe some day you’ll work with director Rob Marshall, but make sure not to talk too much smack on Pittsburgh — he’s a Pittsburgh native and a Carnegie Mellon University graduate.

And what are you famous for, other than your self-described “indie year” films?

“Alfie?” No.

Oh yeah — that’s right. You were that girl who was engaged to Jude Law when he had that affair with the nanny.

Miller’s quotes have caused discussion in Pittsburgh, with our two major newspapers writing stories about her comments and TV stations offering to take her on a tour of the city.

If anything, Pittsburgh is getting some more publicity from Miller’s statements, and it’s been said that there’s no bad publicity. We hope that Miller has the chance to explore the city sometime. We’re not a cosmopolitan city, but you can get that in most places you’re used to traveling to. Check out what makes Pittsburgh different and unique, rather than complaining that it’s not another New York.

Thanks for the shout-out Ms. Miller. Tell Jude we said “Hi.”