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Compiled by: Jack Foley
Q. This is your biggest action role to date, were you
prepared for it?
A: I thought I was pretty fit coming into this, but I
realised I should have gone to the gym more often. It was fun,
I’ve never done anything this action packed before. It was
interesting to hang off a truck for a week. It’s really
challenging, I have a whole new level of respect for stuntmen
because it is really hard work.
Q. Is it true that you intimidated Nicolas Cage during
the screen test?
A: I really don’t know where that’s come
from. When I first met Nic I was incredibly starstruck, and I
was terrified of not getting the job, and that he would think
I was a terrible actor.
I pretty much avoided all eye contact with him. I think he maybe
thought I was a little odd. But otherwise I don’t know where
that has come from.
Cage: It comes from Jon Turteltaub putting it
in the production notes. I wish I had read them before they went
out. I’ve been asked this question a million times. I really
wanted her to be in the movie, when we all did the screen test
she was clearly the one who challenged – not intimidated
– me. We riffed together, like music.
Besides that, she was doing Peter O’Toole impressions while
relaxing between scenes, so I thought that this was finally somebody
I could relate to. I wouldn’t say I was intimidated, I was
more enthralled at the prospect of working with Diane.
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Q. Jon made it up then?
Nicolas Cage: I remember saying she was very challenging,
and he changed that into ‘intimidating’. I wasn’t
the one screen testing.
Q. What was the appeal of this film for Diane?
A: It was lovely, I was sent the script when I was in
Mexico making Troy, and I spent six
months being really depressed and emotional in every single scene.
This was the perfect movie to come along, something light and
contemporary. And I loved that my character was so strong, witty,
charming and smart at the same time. I’d never played that.
Nic was a huge lure, and the idea of being in a Jerry Bruckheimer
was too. And Jon was just so funny when I met him on my audition,
so enthusiastic, I felt this couldn’t have been more perfect
really.
Q. I imagine your head must be spinning after the two
years you've enjoyed? How does that feel?
A: I’ve only been acting for three years now, and
it’s been an incredible last couple of years. And it really
happened very naturally, I didn’t go out to America to try
to get work, it it’s just sort of happened. I feel incredibly
blessed, and lucky, but I’m very aware of being the flavour
of the month right now. My ambition is to be recognised as a good
actor.
I will hopefully get the opportunity to show more range, I’m
hoping to do more European films, more challenging parts in future.
I want to do it all, and I really admire what Nic was saying about
his eclectic choice in movies.
I share that and I really admire his body of work over the years.
I really hope I get the opportunity to do the same, so I have
been making conscious choices about doing those smaller independent
films. I cannot thank people enough for giving me the opportunities
I’ve had.
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