04 June 2009 (Movie Interview)

Words: Sheena McGinley

After spending twenty sweaty minutes with McG, we were then presented with a breezy looking Bryce Dallas Howard. For those unfamiliar with her work, you might remember her from such films has 'Spiderman 3' (in which she played Gwen Stacey); 'The Village' and Lars von Trier's 'Manderlay' (in fact, at large part of this interview is dedicated to Lars, such is her awe of him. The word 'WIERD' also pops up a fair amount). In 'Terminator Salvation' she portrays John Connor's wife, Kate, which means she's largely seen looking concerned in a bunker. So concerned, in fact, it's amazing her character managed to carry a child nearly full term.

The 28-year-old blows into the hotel room, with the recently departed McG bellowing after her, which leads her to say - "He directs through compliments! So, how are you guys?" And the introductions commence (again, if you wish to familiarise yourself with my five fellow junket journalists, have a gander at One Night in Paris - Terminator Salvation Special):

S: "Hi, I'm Sheena from Ireland."
 
Bryce: "Hello, yes, we look like sisters."

By the time "Aaand I aaam from Swwwwiiitzerlaaand" rolls around, Bryce is starting to look slightly less breezy, but she manages a "Cool! I'm Bryce from America!" nonetheless.

Dutch Dude: "What was the main attraction for you to do this film, do you like the Terminator mythology?"

Bryce: "I'm one of those geeks who tracks movies on the internet, and I knew that this was happening and Christian Bale was on board - I never thought there'd be a part for me, especially since I'd just had a baby. I was in no condition to be in movies - AT ALL. So I got the call from McG and I said 'that's amazing but I've just had a baby' and he said, 'COOL! The character's 8 months pregnant...' McG was even throwing cookies at me to keep me looking pregnant."

Man from Brussels: "It's unfortunate at the same time 'cause you don't get to play with the boys."

Bryce. "If the character had to have done that, I wouldn't have been cast. They're not going to put a shotgun I the hands of an 8-month pregnant woman, that's an irresponsible image, I think. I was jut grateful to be there and shocked I was in a Terminator film."

S: "Were you claustrophobic at all? You only got to go outside for one scene. You were constantly in that bunker, what was it like being in that intense environment?

Bryce: "This is a very superficial answer: I LOVED it 'cause I didn't have to wear sun block - you understand! (being a fellow redhead, I nod fervently) I was like, 'OOH, this is great, I'm in Albuquerque and I don't have to wear sunblock!' I was the most comfortable person on the entire shoot."

S: "Keeping with the superficialities, was it nice not to have to die your hair? Cause I know you had to die your hair blonde for Spiderman" (which, according to IMDB, she'll also have to do for Spiderman 4 and 5)

Bryce: "It was McG who fought for that. There was some talk to whether I should die my hair brown -"

S: "But Claire Danes has red hair in Terminator 3."

Bryce: "I know! I think they felt the way in which they were shooting, it would've popped too much, and my character is meant to be a grounding figure, a nuance (that's code for she does nothing). And McG kept saying 'She's my ginger twin, she has to stay my ginger twin!' I appreciated it."

What follows are some odd questions proffered by the Man from Brussels, about whether she played music to her prosthetic belly… as it turns out, her husband Seth Gabel insisted on it (when she was actually pregnant); "He had little headphones to strap to my belly and I would fall asleep." I asked "Was it Guns and Roses?" But, unsurprisingly, it was classical music.

S: "Can you let us know if Kate is carrying a boy or a girl?"

Bryce: "I dunno! I asked but I don't know."

MfB: "Did you see Linda Hamilton as a trailblazer as an actress?"

Bryce: "Oh, yeah - in T2 especially, when she emerged as the heroine of the film... It's something people hadn't seen before - a mother fighting for her son and mankind. And to be so - and I wish I could come up with a more articulate word than this - but BUFF! But yeah, for her to fight for her son like that against machines - it's Greek practically. McG felt a certain amount of responsibility to carry on her legacy. But this time, it's Moon Bloodgood who carries her torch. I'm more the mother than John Connor never had."

Maria from Barcelona: "Did your father (Ron Happy Days Howard) see the film?"

Bryce: "Yes, last weekend, he LOVED it! Actually I've to tell McG 'cause I haven't seen him since and he was like 'Please take him on Friday' - he wants his email address…"

S: "Are you looking to do some directing yourself as I understand you've made a short film, starring Alfred Molina" (AKA Doc Ock from Spiderman 2)

Bryce: "Yah! I've been studying, I would love to persue that opportunity - but I would only want to do it if people were clamouring for me to do it."

MfB: "Would it be Terminator 5?"

Bryce: "Would I DIRECT Terminator 5?! They would be out of their minds to have me direct that. "

MfB: "Seriously, would you be interested in something like that or would you be more geared towards stuff you did with Orchids (the short film she directed)?"

Bryce: "Oh, you know its name! (yep, it's all on Wikipedia), yeah that's more of my sensibility. I also love comedy, sophisticated comedy. Weird…"

S: "Define weird comedy."

Bryce: "Like Lars von Trier! (collective cackle). He's always like, 'Isn't my stuff so funny! And I'm like, 'It's horrifying, Lars!'"

MfB: "Why haven't you been a comedy - have you a reputation for not being very funny?"

Bryce: "It's not a conscious choice; I just haven't been cast in a comedy."

M: "For you, what is the main message of Terminator."

Bryce: It's 'no fate but what you make.' Ultimately free will will overpower one's destiny. And you create your own future. This is what John Connor is contending with in this film - his mother prepared him, but she could only do so to a certain extent because the future is always changing based on our free will."

MfB: "What's your view on biomechanics - what's human and what's mechanical" (and to think two minutes ago we were talking about hair dye).
 
Bryce: "In many ways this is a cautionary tale… If you become too dependent on technology, they could become self aware… As far as what is the line between human and machine? That's a great question. I was talking to my doctor the other day and he said people of my generation will be living well beyond 100, because of prosthetic replacements. So we're gonna be like walking hybrids… which is an incredible privilege that our lives could be extended due to technology, but it's and enormous responsibility... What really gets me is when it's genetic manipulation. That's really playing with fire. We shouldn't necessarily avoid it, but the people behind it need to be strong to stay connected to their own humanity and morality."

S: "You worked with Joaquin Phoenix in The Village. He would come across as quite a focused person - well, not anymore - but an intense person to work with. Was Christian Bale's intensity comparable in any way?"

Bryce: "They're both very dedicated to their work, they understand that is what they were hired to do, but they're not coming to set to be the class clowns."

S: "They both seem to be formidable forces."

Bryce: "Yeah, they definitely are - they have enormous talents because of that - William Hurt, same deal."

BfB: "We were just in Cannes a couple of days ago and we saw Antichrist" (Lars von Trier's latest offering)

Bryce: "OH YEAH, how was that?!"

MfB: "OK, you know what you went through for Manderlay? It's nothing compared to this."

Bryce: "OH MY GOD! GOSH! How was she (Charlotte Gainsbourg), how did she seem?"

MfB: "Well, she won a prize, you know."

Bryce: "Oh, did she?! That's excellent, well good for her!"

DD: "Why did you ask how she seems?"

Bryce: "Well, when you work with Lars, I mean, the female characters he says to me express him more than anything else. So he puts a lot of energy bring depth, and nuance into those characters - as a result, the collaboration he forms with the actresses are REALLY important to him and it's incredible that that's rewarded."

DD: "That's interesting as a lot of people say that a lot of his films, especially the last one, shows that he hates women."

Bryce: "He would say... I'm wondering should I say this (every one picks up their pens)... He's a very transparent person, he's very honest - he is NOT a chauvinist. He regards his wife with the most respect out of any marriage that I've seen - like my parents, they have an incredible marriage - he's got very empowered daughters. I LOVE him, I adore him, but the characters are an expression of himself. He has a certain amount of complexity and self-loathing of his own anxiety... He's a very controlled person and really respectful. But he's VERY hard on himself - I mean, he won't get onto a plane! I say to him 'I just wish you were nicer to yourself, you deserve it 'cause you're so nice to everyone else.' Everyone loves him who works with him."

Collective gasp.

Bryce: "Yep, really."

MfB: "Did any of his weird sense of humour rub off on you?"

Bryce: Yeah, I'm a little weird. I'm definitely a little eccentric. If I'm around anyone with a certain level of eccentricity, that comes out - *chortles* It's FUN and it's playful. We had a really great time together. Whenever I come to Europe I always see if I can fit a visit with Lars in Copenhagen. I mean, I think about him all the time, we email each other. I miss him. I call him Dear old dad! I DO! He's just so sweet."

MfB: "Yeah, Americans don't seem to get that kind've comedy, do you feel in anyway out of touch with that sensibility?"

Bryce: "I'm weird, I mean, that's probably why I've not been in a romantic comedy - 'cause what I find hilarious is a Lars von Trier film. It's true; I thought Dogville was uproariously funny."

DD: Even the rape scene?!

Bryce: "Not that bit, um. But yeah, that's what I find funny."

S: "Who do you think you inherited your weirdness off, your mother or father?"
 
Bryce: "They're both like that. They started dating when they were sixteen, so they're now like the same person. I can't discern where things originated from...  They're in their mid-fifties and together since they were 16… They look alike too - they're both redheads."

S: "Now THAT'S weird" (almost as werid as your parents bestowing you with a middle name signifying where you were conceived. Like a constant reminder that they did it).

Bryce: "WEIRD, it's like they're brother and sister. I'm always looking at my brother and sisters thinking - do we look inbred, maybe? Maybe a tiny bit."
 
MfB: "What's your favourite post-apocolyptic film?"

Bryce: "Terminator!"

Chorus of: "Really?!"

Bryce: "Yeah!"

Dutch Dude: "What about Children of Men?"

Bryce: "Oh, yeah, that was great too."

Bryce then leaves after her publicist becomes increasingly agitated, but she's still chirping on her way out the door: "If you guys ever interview Lars, tell him I said 'Hey'. And then he'll say something inappropriate about me and it'll be weird."

READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR McG // READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH MOON BLOODGOOD // READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH ANTON YELCHIN // READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIAN BALE 

 

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