|
Compiled by: Jack Foley
Q: How did you get the role of Eddie Murphy's wife in The
Haunted Mansion?
A: I was in Toronto shooting a movie and my manager sent me the
script. At that point, I didn't know it was based on a theme park
ride, I just read the script because I had never heard of it.
That's kind of hard to imagine now, because I realise it is such
an American insitution. I liked the script and went after it.
I flew in from Toronto, to LA, for a screen test and four long
miserable weeks later they told me I had the job.
Q: What was it like playing opposite Eddie Murphy?
A: The first day it was weird but after that it was fine.
The first day was bizarre, we were shooting at a house in Pasadena.
He is a bit quiet and said 'Hi, I'm Eddie', and I felt a little
bit intimidated just because I was doing my American accent for
the first time that day and I was terrified that they would think
I was rubbish and sack me.
Then I met Eddie Murphy, icon, comedic genius. So there was a
little bit of pressure not to mention that I had to kiss him five
minutes later, which was also a bit odd.
So it was quite a day. But beyond that, we got on like a house
on fire. I felt nervous and intimidated, but as soon as they said
'action', it was time to focus.
The last thing I was going to do was mess up this opportunity.
I knew this was a big stepping stone for my career, but there
was no point dwelling on those things because it's important to
do a good job.
Now I have seen the movie and it is so amazing and I'm thrilled
beyond excited. There was a moment when we were filming, and I
stood quietly summing it up, and I said this is a really big movie.
But I'm trying to take it in my stride.
But it is very exciting and it was a thrill to watch my family's
faces at the premiere.
Q: Did you maintain your American accent throughout the shoot
for The Haunted Mansion?
A: Off camera? No. I was shooting My Baby Daddy, in Toronto,
and I was American in that, and that was the first time in a movie
that I had done the accent. So I kept it up then and they couldn't
believe that I was English.
But we shot this for five months and I didn't have the energy
to keep it up that long when I wasn't on camera.
But I worked hard with my voice coach. Every day, I warmed up
doing the accent. I enjoy the reaction I get in the USA when people
discover I have an English accent. They don't expect that and
it's kind of a kick.
When I first came here I would go into auditions with an American
accent because they wouldn't get their heads round the fact that
I was English.
A well-known director wouldn't take the chance on casting me for
an American role after he discovered that I was English.
Some time later, he expressed his regret that he hadn't taken
the chance with me. Nobody questions that Cate Blanchett can do
an accent, because we know that she can, so I think that it's
important for me to keep trying different things.
I just did an indy movie, The Nickel Children, about child prostitution.
It's very dark indeed.
|
 |
Q: Was Eddie Murphy serious off camera?
A: Eddie and I laughed a lot, but he is quiet and reserved.
There is definitely a pressure for funny people to be funny. People
want them to perform all the time. But we got on well. I taught
him Cockney rhyming slang, like 'apples and pears, dog and bone,
whistle and flute'. He also made up his own dirty versions of
Cockney rhyming slang!
Q: Do you believe in ghosts?
A: I have never seen a ghost. But, yes, I believe because
I know too many people who have had experiences. When I lived
in Notting Hill, I shared a flat with a mate who was convinced
that there was a presence in our house.
Q: Apart from The Haunted Mansion, you are also starring in
an American TV series, called Las Vegas, what's that about?
A: I play a pit boss in the TV show and I knew nothing about
gambling when I started. It's about the surveillance teams in
the casino.
My character stands in the middle and makes sure that nobody cheats.
My character is known as the Ice Queen.
I really knew nothing about gambling until I started work on the
show, I did not even know how to shuffle a deck of cards. Now
I can do some neat tricks and I can play Black Jack, it's so much
fun.
Q: Is America now your home?
A: I have a house in London and a place in LA and I'm bouncing
between the two.
It's very nice because I fly first-class now and that makes the
world of difference. But when I am on the plane and turbulence
kicks in, I can't abide it. I feel like we are all going to die
and it takes everything in me to stay calm.
But there are worse things to have to cope with. I'm over in the
States filming Las Vegas till the end of April. Most of the show
is done in the studio, but we go to Vegas for some filming and
I think that Vegas is one of the wildest places I've ever been
to.
You can look to your left and there's a drag queen getting married
by Elvis, to the right there is some old bird sticking quarters
into a slot machine for hours. I think the TV series is starting
in the UK in April.
|
