British beauty Sophia Myles makes the transition to Hollywood as she branches out into more rebellious and edgy roles. She received a cult following in the vampire series Moonlight — fans unsuccessfully petitioned for its return after it was canceled in May.

And she’s out to capitalize on her high-profile big screen romance with James Franco in Tristan and Isolde. She has a juicy role in the dark drama Mister Foe in which she co-stars with Jamie Bell. Then she joins Jim Caviezel in the sci-fi epic Outlander playing a Viking princess.

Q: In Mister Foe you have some pretty sexually explicit scenes. Was that uncomfortable for you?

A: I’ve always been very, very particular about nudity and sex in the movies I do because I think a lot of the time it’s very gratuitous, especially when a female is involved. So I’ve been very strict. I think the scenes in this film are of a sexual nature but they are not sexy at all. Actually, I quite enjoy keeping my clothes on. I don’t even like looking at my naked bottom in a mirror.

Q: Ever feel a little silly?

A: I did in Tristan and Isolde when another actress and I had to take off our clothes and hug a naked James Franco to thaw him out after he nearly froze to death. We found it so funny we couldn’t stop laughing. I think we did about 60 takes.

Q: Do you remember your first on-screen kiss?

A: I think Johnny Deep was one of the first. People think that it’s all so glamorous and sexy, but actually it’s so different than how it is in real life. You’re not doing it for real. It’s all fake. And most of the time you’re just conscious of the camera and hoping that you don’t look like you have a double chin or something.

Q: You were in a very high profile relationship with David Tennant who is famous as Dr. Who. How has it been since that ended?

A: I think when I was younger I was kind of looking for somebody to come along to complete me. And I’ve realized now that I have to basically be complete — I have to complete myself. And then the right thing will come. I’m enjoying the single life. I’m enjoying taking this time for myself because I think it’s important.

Q: Could you call that growing up?

A: As I’ve gotten older, the more I learn about myself and the more work on myself I’ve done. I’m more conscious of my needs and wants. And I’ll probably be more vocal now than I would’ve been. People pleasing, I guess, is one of my character defects, but I’m trying to not do that so much because it’s not very good for me.

Q: You’ve been spending a lot of time in L.A. How are you adapting to Hollywood?

A: I’ve had two major waves of homesickness that have lasted for about a month each time. And I understand now why they call it homesickness because you do actually feel quite ill. L.A. can be quite an isolating place because of the car culture. The one thing I miss about Europe is being able to just walk everywhere. And so I find that your world can become quite small when you’re in your car.

Q: Was it fun to be a Viking princess in Outlander?

A: It was great to go back in time again after Tristan and Isolde because this time I get to kick some butt. I did loads of sword fighting and I had to get very fit. It’s set in 709 AD but on page two of the script, an alien ship crash lands so it’s kind of a mixture of old period drama meets science fiction.