Henry: First of all, welcome back to
the UK - how has you time here been so far? Melissa: It's been great.
We've been here three days already, and we're settling in. It's
beautiful to be back, and filming a movie here instead of, well,
not doing any work.
Henry: So you've not done work here
before?
Melissa: Not making a movie - I've
always been here to do magazine shoots, and conventions - and the
clothing line that I did a few years ago. But this is the first
time I've been here making a movie, which is exactly what I wanted
to come back to the UK for.
Henry: Is it a lot different making
a movie in the UK?
Melissa: It is, it's lovely. I mean,
just the way the production offices work here is so much different
to how they do in the states - not better or worse, it's just different.
Plus everyone has that beautiful accent.
Henry: And presumably you get different
food in the canteen?
Melissa: Yeah, I don't know yet because
I haven't been on set yet, but I'm sure that when we do the Craft
services is going to be...
Henry: ...Fish and Chips?
Melissa: Yeah, exactly!
Henry: Do you have any plans to do
anything exciting while you're here.
Melissa: We're going to try and go
to Amsterdam on the Weekend, and then Barcelona another weekend
- try to get out and see different parts of Europe.
Henry: And will you be doing stuff
in England too?
Melissa: No, I mean we've been here
so many times - we've been walking the entire streets of central
London already. I think yesterday we did about 25 miles or something.
Just walking, and going through places like Portobello Road Market,
going through Chelsea. Just checking out the people and the buildings.
It always fascinates me every time I come back.
Henry: The last week has seen rumours
surfacing on the internet that the makers of the Supergirl movie
are touting you for the lead - have you heard much more about that,
and would it excite you to be playing the Kryptonian woman of Steel?
Melissa: Yeah, I think it would be
great - it's very early talk, so there's not really any scripts
per-say or anything like that, and without something concrete I
can't really make a decision. But there's a lot of hype about it,
and people in the street have been coming up to me, and my sister
in Australia mentioned it to me the other night, so a lot of people
have been talking about it any maybe it could surface as something
more real.
Henry: So have you heard about it in
relation to studio talk, or literally just read the rumours?
Melissa: Just heard the rumours, but
it's really great - and they're obviously making the Superman movie,
so maybe I could jump on to that, who knows!
Henry: Have you seen the original Supergirl
film, with Helen Slater?
Melissa: I have not, no. Would you
say I should do it?
Henry: Oh, definitely without a doubt!
Melissa: So what does she wear, Supergirl?
Henry: I think it's pretty-much the
same sort of thing as Superman, except with a skirt.
Melissa: Is it similar to Wonder-Woman?
Henry: Sort of - but without the Headband
if I remember correctly. But if you do get it, I'll have to get
you up to speed on the back-story, because I bet there'll be some
fans who'll ask you grilling questions anout Kryptonian history!
Melissa: Yeah - I'll be like 'I really
need to do some research on this!!'
Henry: Back to alias, when did you
first learn about Lauren being written out of the show, especially
in the way she was?
Melissa: You know what, it was really
a decision of mine, because I got offered a couple of films so I
decided to kind've move on. But there is talk of me coming back
at some point, because obviously in Alias you're never written our
completely. And to be honest, when Lauren was such a big character
in the Third season, I wouldn't want to go back unless she got some
focus. So there was no real talk of being 'written out' at all.
Henry: So when did you actually find
out about Lauren being shot?
Melissa: Oh, months before.
Henry: You didn't just look at the
script and go "Yikes!"
Melissa: No, they wouldn't be like
that to you, no way - that wouldn't be very nice.
Henry: Did the plot of Season 3 as
a whole change much over the course of the year?
Melissa: Not really, they had a general
idea what they wanted - JJ always knows pretty much what he wants
to happen. I knew that Lauren was going to be evil at some point
- because it's Alias after all!
Henry: Of all the TV shows you've done,
would you agree that Alias has the most enthusiastic fanbase?
Melissa: Yes - they're not just fans,
they're REAL fan, and they can be loyal to the end, so I love it
- it's been a wonderful experience.
Henry: Obviously you're in the UK now
to shoot Derailed - for those that haven't read the book, can you
explain a little about the film's premise?
Melissa: It's a story of a man - played
by Clive Owen - and his wife and their daughter, and their marriage
is falling apart. He takes his train to work, and literally gets
derailed - everything from that train ride changes his life, so
it's a story of unfortunate events. And I play Deanna Schine, the
wife, who also has her own little problems going on.
Henry: So do you think it will be a
fun movie to make?
Melissa: Oh, wonderful. And Mikael
Håfström - our swedish director - is Amazing!
Henry: You've now shot two films almost
back-to-back - do you plan on having some down-time next, or are
you hoping for some more film projects?
Melissa: Um, I'm heading back to LA
after this is wrapped, then Chicago to finish Derailed. Then I go
back to LA to start having meetings with directors about the next
job, which is not too far away now.
Henry: So you're not planning on taking
some time off - perhaps for a holiday or a baby?
Melissa: No - if it happens, great,
fantastic, I'll make it work. But my theory is that when I actually
am working, that's my holiday. When you're not working, that's when
it's stressful and you could do with a break.
Henry: If you had the choice between
shooting a new series of Thieves, or a Lauren Reed spin-off from
Alias, which would you choose and why?
Melissa: Ooh, it'd be equal - 50/50
on both. Thieves was such a great premise, and such fun to make.
An Alias spin-off would be amazing too. Sydney's a good woman living
in a bad world, whereas Lauren is a bad woman living in a good world.
Henry: Would you like to work with
John Stamos again?
Melissa: Yeah, he is wonderful, a great
guy to be around.
Henry: Do you still see and hang out
with your H&A co-stars in LA such as Isla fisher, Tempany Deckert
etc...
Melissa: No, no, I don't really get
time. But Laura Goldsmith [nee Vasquez] has just had a baby, and
we keep in touch via e-mail. She's the only one I've really kept
in touch with. We really hit it off, when we were on Home and Away
we just adored each other. We used to hang out at Weekends, and
Angel and Sarah were such good friends on the show. She really looked
after me, and she lived in Sydney and I hadn't so..
Henry: I love the theatre and try to
get to see as many plays as I can, I wondered if you have any ambitions
to 'tread the boards', and if you do, what role(s) would you like
to play?
Melissa: A Streetcar Named Desire would
be great, and The Seagull would be another good one. There was talk
of me doing something like that, but I've been so busy with filming
recently, I would probably have to take time out to do a show when
it's a really good one, like when Nicole Kidman did the Blue Room
- she had such a great following and then she did Broadway. So I'm
going to wait.
Henry: And would you do what she did
and get your kit off on stage?
Melissa: On stage? Probably not! She
was very brave!
Henry: I read that Jessica Lange is
going to be starring in a new production of 'The Glass Menagerie'
on Broadway early next year, will you be going to see that?
Melissa: Yeah, I hadn't heard that,
and as soon as I saw that question I was like 'Hang on a minute...!'
Henry: Have any of the spines been
cracked on those Harry Potter books yet??
Melissa: No, nothing. I've been so
busy reading Derailed, and reading Amityville Horror - learning
to be a girl from Long Island takes a lot of my time! I will though,
I will! Maybe that's what I will do when I wrap up these movies.
Henry: What did you really think of
the con experience in London? And what do you think Victor will
make of it all at AR2?
Melissa: Victor will *be there* and
he will really enjoy it. He's a very elegant and classy guy though,
and he'll probably want to do the trip to London in style. But as
far as the convention goes, I think he'd love it. I had a great
time - to meet those really loyal fans is just wonderful.
Henry: And if you were asked back to
do Alias Rendevous 2, would you?
Melissa: Absolutely, if I have the
time - I'll come to London and chat with the fans, it's great!
Henry: What do you miss the most about
being on the Alias set?
Melissa: Um, I miss... Jennifer Garner.
And just the fact that to get to the set was such a great feeling
- for nine months I never wanted to leave the set, even when I wasn't
working I'd want to be sitting on set, I loved it that much. So
I miss everything, especially the people - JJ, Ken Olin, Sarah Caplan...
Henry: What are you reading right now,
and what is your all time favourite book?
Melissa: All I'm reading right now
is Derailed, because I try to keep my head in the film I'm doing.
But my all time favourite? Wow, there's so many. Memoirs of a Geisha
is great, The Red Tent is fantastic. A book called Gift from the
Sea, which Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote - I love that book, and it's
a perfect book to read when you want to take some time out in life.
Henry: Do you get a lot of time to
read normally then?
Melissa: Not much, but I read scripts
every day.
Henry: Strange question, but if you
read a script which you choose not to take, and it then gets made,
do you find yourself not wanting to see it because you already know
the end?
Melissa: No, no - I want to see it
to find out how what I read translated to the big screen. Plus,
you forget bits so it still surprises you.
Henry: In your last interview with
Henry you said that you can speak Spanish when you are in Chile.
My question is: What is your favorite word in Spanish and what do
you have most trouble pronouncing?
Melissa: What do I say the most?
Claudio: [I don't know how to spell
this work - Gaia????]
Melissa: Yeah, [that word I can't spell]
- it means 'Shut up' - we say it to each other a lot!
Henry: Is your Spanish coming along?
Melissa: You know, I understand it
fine, but I'm going to have to take time out to study it soon, when
I get some time out.
Henry: As a fan of "Thieves",
I gotta ask: What was the best thing about making "Thieves"?
Melissa: I was just really lucky that
John was such a great person to work with, because I spent so much
time with him. He made me laugh a lot - that was the best thing
about filming Thieves. Plus the fact that every week they were on
some mission to steal something or other, and Rita was such a high
class thief, it was a lot of fun.
Henry: In which (current) show would
you like to guest star?
Melissa: I really like The West Wing.
That's a great show.
Henry: Have you ever eaten dulce de
leche?
Melissa: Yes I have.
Henry: What is that?
Melissa: It's basically Sugar and Milk,
condensed down in to a paste. It's like a very sweet caramel, which
they put in Ice Cream, or between cakes.
Henry: If you could meet any historical
figure (from any country), who would it be and why?
Melissa: You know who I'd really like
to meet is Mohammed Ali, I think he'd be interesting to meet. He's
had such a life - I wouldn't have a clue what to ask him, but if
I knew I was going to meet him I'd have a think about it. It's just
amazing what he's been through, and what he achieved, and what he
stands for.
Henry: Have you seen the film 'Ali'
with Will Smith?
Melissa: Yes - Brilliant, brilliant.
I thought Will Smith should have won the Oscar that year.
Henry: What is your favorite cult classic
movie?
Melissa: Cult Classic Movie... [to
Claudio] What was that Russian movie, was it Underground?
Claudio: Underground is... Polish I
think. What about Classic like the one we saw at Christmas?
Melissa: Oh yeah - It's a Wonderful
Life. Such a great movie - everything about it was brilliant.
Henry: What was it like working with
Ryan Reynolds?
Melissa: He was wonderful - a very
funny person, great at the character he played, very responsive
to the performances I gave him in our scenes - he just gave it right
back, like he was wonderful to spar off. He is going to surprise
a lot of people.
Henry: What about some of the spooky
goings-on that happened in the house while you were there?
Melissa: Yeah - there were things like
lights going on in the middle of the night when nobody was there,
and security guards were called.
Henry: Did you actually stay in the
house?
Melissa: No, no - I'm not that method
of an actor!
Henry: What are some of your "guilty"
pleasures?
Melissa: Chocolate, shopping... Indian
Food.
Henry: Who whould you like to have
as a co-star in future movie projects and why?
Melissa: I'd love to work with Sean
Penn. And obviously Jessica Lange.
Henry: What do you love most about
your fans?
Melissa: They just behave themselves,
they're so polite and lovely - and if they stay like that, I'll
be very happy. They're just so happy to meet you.
Henry: I remember talking to melissa
at AR1 about australia and where i live, magnetic island, so my
question is - When will we see you back in australia for either
work or vacation?
Melissa: I might try to go back some
time next year to do some shoots, and what with Amityville coming
out I'm sure I'm going to be touring Australia when the film gets
released.
Henry: When fans of Alias say hurtful
things about your character Lauren Reed, does it offend you? How
do you deal with it?
Melissa: I've not heard one bad thing
about her. People who I meet on the street, they understand it's
a character thing, they just say 'We love Lauren, and how evil she
is'. But on the internet, nothing - I don't like to read about myself
that much!
Henry: I remember reading that when
Bradley Cooper was on the show at the start, he used to read a lot
of fan reactions on the net...?
Melissa: No, I'm playing a role, and
the response on the street is good, but I do not spend one minute
reading stuff about it on the internet.
Henry: Who is your favorite band/artist?
Melissa: At the moment? Hmm, Coldplay
is pretty great, I always like to hear them. Kylie Minogue - at
any point! My step-daughter loves her - I got her to change from
Britney to Kylie, in about a month.
Henry: Since Chile is a very important
country for me, I would like to know if Melissa and her husband
travel often to Chile?
Melissa: All the time - at least a
couple of times a year.
Henry: I would like to know if the
actors on the set of Mulholland Drive were as confused as people
watching the movie for the first time?
Melissa: No, we kind've knew what to
play and what it was all about. It was a little confusing, and I
would ask David Lynch - there was a scene that didn't make it in
to the movie, introducing my character in to the series, where there
was this whole long monologue about how she won the lead in the
movie, and I asked him what it was about and he said 'Don't worry,
we'll figure it out later!'
Henry: Beside Alias, what is her favourite
series and in which one would she like to play if she had the opportunity
?
Melissa: As I said, West Wing would
be great. Carnivale is very colourful and quite fantastic - the
guy in that was also in Mulholland Drive - he's a really great guy,
really nice.
Henry: Do you find it easier doing
TV compared to movies?
Melissa: It's very... You spend three
months on a movie, you're working very hard and playing the one
character, and then when you're done you have to look for the next
movie and have to change characters completely. Whereas there's
something nice about a show like Alias where you spend nine months
playing the role, and you get nine months to figure out who she
is and there's something very comforting about that.
Henry: How hard was it snapping from
Kathy Lutz to Deanna Schine?
Melissa: I'm still doing it now - I
finished Amityville three days ago, and we start filming Derailed
on Thursday - in the last week of Amityville I was trying to cross
over a little bit in my head, thinking what she would be like. I
think Deanna Schine is more of a... Type A woman, more speedy with
a lot more going on, doesn't have enough time to do one thing, but
with Kathy Lutz it was more like - it's the 70's too, when they
had plenty of time to do a lot of things! And she's just loving
the house, and the kids, whereas Deanna is in a different part of
her life and her marriage is falling apart.
Henry: What we the kids like to work
with on Amityville?
Melissa: They were wonderful - Chloe
Grace Moretz, what a little doll! Yeah, Jimmy Bennet, Jesse James,
they were all wonderful.
Henry: Is there still a Pig in it?
Melissa: No - Jodie the Pig you mean?
No, it's not a pig, but I can't give away what he is...
Henry: Inkworks are producing an Alias
Season 3 trading card set - will you be signing any insert cards
for that collection?
Melissa: Yes - 900 of them! All hand
signed...!
Henry: I would like to ask will Melissa
be watching the next season of Alias (if only to see what her hubby's
up to with Syd?! ;-)
Melissa: Yeah, I'm going to be watching
- and Mia is great, I know Mia quite well so I'm looking forward
to seeing her work on it.
Henry: Your Amityville co-star Ryan
Reynolds has spent some time recently answering fans questions on
the Blade Trinity message board - when Amityville comes out, do
you have plans to do some similar things yourself?
Melissa: I think I should - I could
set the record straight about a lot of things. If I had the time,
I'd love to and I think it's a really great way to make contact
with the fans.
END
