The last time movie audiences saw Kelly Lynch, she was duking it out in “Charlie’s Angels” as the villain Vivian Wood in the summer 2000 blockbuster.

Now the 42-year-old actress, who drew praise for her portrayal of a drug addict in Gus Van Sant’s 1989 indie hit “Drugstore Cowboy,” has taken on a more comedic, and more likable, part: playing Tim Allen’s ex-wife in “Joe Somebody,” which was filmed in her native Minnesota.

The movie, which opens Friday , is about a divorced man who gets beat up by a co-worker over a parking space. He decides to fight back, and his work and love life are revitalized as a result.

“I came to the Tim Allen thing late. Here’s this Santa Claus character,” she says, referring to Allen’s role in 1994’s “The Santa Clause,” “and then there’s me, this begrudging, sort of edgy, ‘Drugstore Cowboy’ girl.”

Lynch began acting at age 4 (she trained at the prestigious Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis). When she was in her 20s, she moved to New York to study drama with Sanford Meisner and Marilyn Fried.

There, the 5-foot-8 beauty was noticed by an Elite agent in an elevator, and was signed for a $250,000-per-year modeling contract. Three years later, Lynch made her feature-film debut in “Bright Lights, Big City” with Michael J. Fox. Soon after, she was cast in “Cocktail,” which starred Tom Cruise.

The long-legged actress – who rejected the Sharon Stone role in “Basic Instinct” because it was “too goofy” – just completed the indie movie “Slaughter Rule,” which will be screened at next year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Lynch lives in Los Angeles with her husband, screenwriter Mitch Glazer, their 16-year-old daughter, Shane, and two miniature Dachshunds, Bat and Suzy.

Q: What did you most enjoy about filming “Joe Somebody”?

A: Getting a chance to revisit Minnesota. I am of those people – the sweetest people, the weirdest place. I was driving down the road and there was a hail storm and a tornado in front of me.

Q: What do you wear when relaxing?

A: A pair of white Egyptian cotton pajamas from Brooks Brothers. They are incredibly sexy, very Katharine Hepburn in “Bringing Up Baby.”

Q: What’s your personal style?

A: Somewhere between Slim Keith and Keith Richards. I feel best tailored with a surprisingly sexy feminine thing. Like I once wore a black tuxedo and a 30-carat diamond ring. Some sexy piece, some bad-girl thing, even if it’s hidden beneath.

Q: Do you have a stylist?

A: No. For me, mistakes are so glorious. Demi Moore in bicycle shorts under the gown at the Oscars, Cher in the Bob Mackie gowns, Barbra Streisand and the see-through sailor outfit. I miss those days. Girls nowadays look at Vogue as a bible, as opposed to an inspiration to put things together themselves.

Q: Favorite clothes/designers/stores?

A: Magda Berliner, a designer who works at Aero in L.A. I hate wearing head-to-toe one designer, like those Beverly Hills fashion victims. Lisa Eisner is a conversation piece walking in the door – the jewelry, hat, shoes she’s got on. When I have dinner parties, I like to wear a vintage piece that’s Rosalind Russell-esque or Grace Kelly-esque or Asian ’40s vintage.

Q: What do you do to keep in shape?

A: I work out like a fiend, and I love it. Three times a week with an incredible trainer. In between that, I am hiking up the mountain with my dogs. That’s more for my head than my body.

Q: Do you follow a special diet?

A: I used to. I’ve tried everything. Now I eat Healthy Choice meals. If you do what you’re supposed to do 90 percent of the time, and then 10 percent of the time you indulge, you’ll be fine.

Q: Any special health or beauty tips?

A: Tons of water and tons of sleep and tons of sex will do any girl loads of good. And cherry Chapstick – trust me.

Q: What would you never wear?

A: Platform shoes. I’ll wear a 7-inch heel, but I think platforms look cheap.

Q: What do you use to accessorize?

A: Thanks to my wonderful husband, I have some incredible vintage jewelry – Cartier platinum bracelets from the ’30s. With accessories, I feel like it’s very little or everything. Sometimes it’s about piling things on top of things. A bag, hat, huge scarf, huge bracelet, cocktail ring. Or a great Tony Duquette cocktail ring.

Q: What would you love to own but would never buy for yourself?

A: A Bentley Turbo. The most elegant muscle car there is.