Interview Sophia Myles
Beautiful Sophia Myles plays roles on both sides of the atlantic, from indie productions like Art School Confidential to bit parts in Blockbusters such as Underworld. Born in London she got addicted to acting after one play even though she’s scared of large crowds of people as she confessed to OutNow.CH. To this date she doesn’t like red carpets and was a bit worried about the world premiere experience when OutNow.CH met her in Berlin. In Hallam Foe she plays feisty hotel manager Kate who is intrigued by the mysterious boy Hallam who starts working as dishwasher in her Hotel.
OutNow.CH (ON): What attracted you to the role of Kate in Hallam Foe?
Sophia Myles (SM): I was searching for a really strong contemporary piece. I’ve done a lot of period drama. I wanted to find something modern and non commercial.
ON: Kate has quite some dark sides
SM: She’s an interesting mix. She’s got a very tough, business-like exterior, but on the other side there’s vulnerability and a softness that is torn out by the relationship with Hallam. She battles with her demons, and like we all do she has a light and some dark sides. The thing I like about Mackenzie’s films is that he is very honest about the human condition. He never ties anything up. It’s very ambiguous. It’s very honest.
ON: You showed great chemistry on camera with Jamie Bell. Did you get along well off set as well?
SM: Yes, really good. We had a very easy relationship. I was absolutely terrified though about that dance scene bit. I mean it was Billy Elliot sitting on that couch. (She laughs)
ON: Did you notice the saliva in the kissing scene you guys shared?
SM: I know. I’ve seen that once before in that lesbian kiss in Cruel Intentions. David Mackenzie, the director, kind of liked it. That sort of stuff just happens, I suppose. But it was Jamie’s saliva. It wasn’t mine!
ON: Did you ever mind about the nude scenes?
SM: After meeting David I knew instantly that it would be fine. I was fully aware going into it that it would be a film about voyeurism. If I had been prudish in any way it wouldn’t have worked. But there was not one moment during the making of it, or when I saw it that I was remotely uncomfortable at all.
ON: Apart from the dance scene…
SM: Yes. I was more embarrassed watching the dance scene than the nudity.
ON: Hallam Foe is a bit of a boy’s fantasy. You played the girl in it. Do you think women can be attracted to the film?
SM: Of course. Although Hallam observed every movement of this woman, it’s not like he gaining a sexual kick. It is a rather pleasant feeling that it is quite OK to be something abnormal. The film shows, in a very honest way, like teenagers think that.
ON: Your next film is called Outlander. What happens?
SM: The story takes place in Norway during the Viking Age, and on page 4 of the script ends an alien spaceship on the planet Earth, as Jim Caviezel sitting there with a terrible monster called Moorwen. This is a dragon, but he looks more like a ball. but Moorwen is not like other monsters just evil, but viewers learn very quickly that he is on a vendetta.
ON: Can I ask, what are you doing in such a film?
SM: I play Freya, a princess. My father is played by John Hurt, and it is at this time in power. Already in the first scene, there is an enormous sword fighting, with 120 movements. We have trained months.
ON: Apparently you not swinging effortlessly between the Fanboy babe like in Underworld and leading roles in studio movies such as Hallam Foe back and forth. In what genre you feel comfortable?
SM: That’s hardly comparable. The work on films with large budget and special effects such as Thunderbirds is sometimes boring, because you have to keep as an actress to settings that have already been marked out previously, while it as Hallam Foe are many more opportunities in a movie to explore the things and to go down to business.