How physically challenging was Reign Of Fire?
"It was extremely challenging, Iûve always played a tomboy character in
my movies but this one was a little bit more action than anything Iûve
done before. I had to keep up with guys and try to survive and be as strong and tough as Matthew and Christian. My character didnût want to be there in the end. The way I see it, she was only one left out of all the
people who could fly a helicopter, this was the end of the world And she happened
to be a woman"
Were they kind to you? Did they give you a break?
"Oh no never (laughs). I was always thinking I canût mess up because theyûre
two very demanding actors and so incredibly passionate about their work. There
was never a question of ?are you OK are you coping?û I was running with the
uniform and such heavy shoes and keeping up. Can you imagine any actors who
are more physically fit than these two? When they came together it was like
two boys in school going crazy. I was like ?try to remember that Iûm behind
youû. When I met Matthew heûd already had his head shaved with tattoos
everywhere and thatûs the person he was for months which was amazing and
inspiring."
Do you employ that kind of method acting, immersion in the role?
"No thatûs not how women work I donût think. I have a child and Iûm a
parent first of all. I go home to be with her. A lot of male actors are
method actors and they become the characters which they both were. I
thought Matthew looked really creepy and scary throughout the movie. Christian
is this mellow English guy who comes across as very quiet and subtle then
suddenly cracks up and says the funniest thing and people just lie and scream.
Heûs so talented."
Did you have to get very fit?
"Yes I never go to the gym otherwise because I think itûs a waste of time
and the most boring thing on earth. But for this film I did a lot of running
and walking because you had to."
Do you think itûs a shame that you and Christian donût have a fully fledged
romance with love scenes, instead of just the suggestion of passion?
"It wouldûve been impossible in the context of what was happening. Where
is the time for them to do this? Theyûre just trying to survive. Theyûre so on
the edge they wouldnût have time to take off their clothes. We were having to
make the audience understand that weûre scared, that this is about being in the
last minute of your life."
Why do you think youûre getting starring roles in action films?
"It was never really my choice to be an action heroine. It could have been
worse though, Iûm so grateful to be part of the business on this level. I was
born in Poland I came to Sweden when I was eight and always wanted to act and
suddenly ended up in a Bond movie which was for me at that time absolutely
enormous. Women doing Bond were always told ?this could be the death of your
career blah blah blahû but thatûs not true anymore. Just look at Halle Berry
sheûs got an Oscar and sheûs doing Bond."
Do you want to do more action movies?
"Well my biggest dream is to be in a romantic comedy. But when thereûs
a good script out there itûs gone in a second because itûs always the top players
like Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz wanting to do those movies. unless they need
a European person and I can fit the requirements because my accent is European
and you have to struggle with it. Of course if youûre Penelope Cruz they start
to consider it. But the films are mostly about American families so they have
to have the right accent, thatûs pretty normal."
What do you think about Hollywoodûs obsession with looks?
"It is hilarious . I went to my hairdresser and he was talking about
?BBû he said 'this is BB darling'. And I said 'whatûs that?' and he said
'before Botox'. Thereûs now an expression, BB and itûs absolutely crazy that
itûs an everyday thing. I canût imagine having cosmetic surgery because I have
my values and little family who makes me feel incredibly accepted but you
never know."
You have brown hair at the moment is this your natural colour?
"No this is living in Los Angeles, not wanting to be blonde!"
How to you combine motherhood and acting?
"Iûm so lucky to be in a situation that I can always have my daughter
with me. After filming I like to go home and lie down with my daughter and
have a glass of wine so I donût really socialize with the other actors.
Juliaûs part of my contract and ever since she was five months and I did my
first movie I knew this would not be worth it if I couldnût travel with her.
Itûs pretty sad in this town to see mothers who work 24/7. Itûs like why do you
decide you want to become a parent? To me my mother was the most beautiful mother
and I canût see the point of having a family if you canût be with them"
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Posted: June 7th, 2003.
