New Bond girl once struggling actress
By Yang Di |
July 22, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE latest addition to the bevy of Bond girl beauties is French Cambodian model-actress Berenice Marlohe (right), smoldering as Severin in the upcoming 007 edition "Skyfall."
According to those who keep track of such things, Marlohe, 33, will be girl No. 35 the famous agent James Bond (now Daniel Craig) has slept with, their characters over 50 years becoming increasingly nuanced and complex. Not just pretty girls, wicked women and bedmates.
Some scenes were filmed in Shanghai.
"Skyfall" will be released in October in the UK, November in the United States and in China.
Marlohe says that prior to her breakthrough Bond girl role, she was "a struggling actress" in France - her "look" wasn't right, she didn't look like a French actress. That's about to change.
In one scene, Severin, a powerful and enigmatic woman, is swathed in glittering Swarovski crystal and, fittingly, Marlohe recently visited Shanghai for the opening of the brand's "Sparkling Secrets" exhibition. She is the first actress face of the fashion crystal brand and leads the campaign for fall/winter 2011.
Marlohe spoke to Shanghai Daily.
Q: Playing a Bond girl is the big chance and a dream opportunity for many actresses. How did you get the role?
A: In Paris I heard they were looking for a Bond girl. Personally, I always felt connected to James Bond movie ... (so) I, found the casting director's e-mail and sent her my reel. I did the first audition with her in Paris, met (director) Sam Mendes in London for the second audition, and the third with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and the producers. Mendes and producers really enjoyed my acting skills which made me very happy.
Q: What can you tell us about the new Bond girl's character? Is there anything you wanted to change? Were you inspired by previous Bond girls?
A: Her name is Severin, a glamorous, enigmatic character. She is mysterious, very complex with different facets of character. She is a love interest to James Bond and the link between Bond and the villainous Silva (Javier Bardem). What I really wanted to do was to create a unique character in a unique movie, forget about the part that she is a Bond girl. The character has many colors, for instance, vulnerability as well as power and charisma. I didn't take any inspiration by any previous one but I really loved Dutch actress Famke Janssen (playing villain Xenia Onatopp) in "Golden Eye" (1995).
Q: What's make Daniel Craig special as Bond? What's it like to work with Craig and Mendes?
A: First, Craig is very talented, charismatic, and he did such a brilliant job because he created a very complex but modern James Bond. He is very tough yet sensitive, with a sense of humor; sometimes he is like a killing machine. The real Craig is a beautiful, beautiful human being so it's been a real pleasure to act with him. Mendes is also a real professional. He knows what he wants and working with a professional was an amazing experience. The biggest challenge for me was that I always wanted to make the level higher so I could interact with those great actors.
Q: Where has the cast traveled?
A: We went to Turkey, Scotland, London and Shanghai. I didn't have much chance to visit Shanghai last time but this time I made my stay longer. The filming was about two weeks and I loved the city particularly. I'm a huge fan of science fictions. The Bund area was so impressive, it's like a vision of future. I was always curious to see it.
Q: After "Skyfall," what's your plan? Hollywood films or French movies?
A: I was always attracted to movies that are done outside France because I really enjoy to act with a language that is not mine.
Q: What do you think of your role as the face of Swarovski?
A: I am very honored and as an artist, because I paint and I play piano, I'm obsessed with creativity. This is what I found with Swarovski, as they are very original and creative in the way they conceive jewels and all their products. I feel very connected to that.
Q: The new collection is described as a combination of "rock attitude with a baroque sense of style." Do you wear crystal in "Skyfall?"
A: Absolutely. I love the complexity of the style which is classical yet modern and rock. They created a very specific line of necklaces, rings, earrings, as well as a special dress for the movie which is all covered with Swarovski elements.
According to those who keep track of such things, Marlohe, 33, will be girl No. 35 the famous agent James Bond (now Daniel Craig) has slept with, their characters over 50 years becoming increasingly nuanced and complex. Not just pretty girls, wicked women and bedmates.
Some scenes were filmed in Shanghai.
"Skyfall" will be released in October in the UK, November in the United States and in China.
Marlohe says that prior to her breakthrough Bond girl role, she was "a struggling actress" in France - her "look" wasn't right, she didn't look like a French actress. That's about to change.
In one scene, Severin, a powerful and enigmatic woman, is swathed in glittering Swarovski crystal and, fittingly, Marlohe recently visited Shanghai for the opening of the brand's "Sparkling Secrets" exhibition. She is the first actress face of the fashion crystal brand and leads the campaign for fall/winter 2011.
Marlohe spoke to Shanghai Daily.
Q: Playing a Bond girl is the big chance and a dream opportunity for many actresses. How did you get the role?
A: In Paris I heard they were looking for a Bond girl. Personally, I always felt connected to James Bond movie ... (so) I, found the casting director's e-mail and sent her my reel. I did the first audition with her in Paris, met (director) Sam Mendes in London for the second audition, and the third with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and the producers. Mendes and producers really enjoyed my acting skills which made me very happy.
Q: What can you tell us about the new Bond girl's character? Is there anything you wanted to change? Were you inspired by previous Bond girls?
A: Her name is Severin, a glamorous, enigmatic character. She is mysterious, very complex with different facets of character. She is a love interest to James Bond and the link between Bond and the villainous Silva (Javier Bardem). What I really wanted to do was to create a unique character in a unique movie, forget about the part that she is a Bond girl. The character has many colors, for instance, vulnerability as well as power and charisma. I didn't take any inspiration by any previous one but I really loved Dutch actress Famke Janssen (playing villain Xenia Onatopp) in "Golden Eye" (1995).
Q: What's make Daniel Craig special as Bond? What's it like to work with Craig and Mendes?
A: First, Craig is very talented, charismatic, and he did such a brilliant job because he created a very complex but modern James Bond. He is very tough yet sensitive, with a sense of humor; sometimes he is like a killing machine. The real Craig is a beautiful, beautiful human being so it's been a real pleasure to act with him. Mendes is also a real professional. He knows what he wants and working with a professional was an amazing experience. The biggest challenge for me was that I always wanted to make the level higher so I could interact with those great actors.
Q: Where has the cast traveled?
A: We went to Turkey, Scotland, London and Shanghai. I didn't have much chance to visit Shanghai last time but this time I made my stay longer. The filming was about two weeks and I loved the city particularly. I'm a huge fan of science fictions. The Bund area was so impressive, it's like a vision of future. I was always curious to see it.
Q: After "Skyfall," what's your plan? Hollywood films or French movies?
A: I was always attracted to movies that are done outside France because I really enjoy to act with a language that is not mine.
Q: What do you think of your role as the face of Swarovski?
A: I am very honored and as an artist, because I paint and I play piano, I'm obsessed with creativity. This is what I found with Swarovski, as they are very original and creative in the way they conceive jewels and all their products. I feel very connected to that.
Q: The new collection is described as a combination of "rock attitude with a baroque sense of style." Do you wear crystal in "Skyfall?"
A: Absolutely. I love the complexity of the style which is classical yet modern and rock. They created a very specific line of necklaces, rings, earrings, as well as a special dress for the movie which is all covered with Swarovski elements.
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