Michelle Monaghan Full Interview: Michelle Monaghan plays Julia Meade in Mission: Impossible III

Q: Are you pleased with what you've seen of the film at this point?

A: Well, I haven't seen the whole film but I'm proud of it. And although I haven't seen it all, just from the experience of making it, I know it's got to be good because it was outstanding to make.

Q: Your character is crucial to the story because she reveals the human side to Ethan, the man behind the agent, as it were. Tell me about her...

A: Well she's in love with Ethan, but she has no idea that he has this whole other life. No idea at all. But then she gets taken along for this ride whether she likes it or not and she starts to understand really what his day job is all about.

Q: J.J Abrams is a phenomenon but this was his first feature film. What's he like to work with?

A: Well, I think we all agree that he is a bit of a genius, but I laugh because I say `I would love to get inside his head..' because he directed with such ease and confidence, right off the bat, and I never saw him rattled once. And he has such a vision and you can just see it playing through his head. He is setting up a shot and you just know that he knows exactly what it looks like. He has a terrific way of communicating with actors, I loved his directing, but also his way with the crew - he was phenomenal. He is who he is and he is such a lovely guy, I joked to someone earlier that I want to vote him the most likable guy in the world. And it's true. And he has great instincts and believe me, it was incredible watching him.

Q: What was it like when you did your very first scene with the iconic Tom Cruise?

A: I've got to tell you, it was beyond anything I could have dreamt. It was surreal. I had just got married and three days later I started the film and the first scene with Tom was basically our engagement party that we are throwing for our families and it was so great because I didn't really have to act that much. I was still kind of glowing from my own wedding. So it was really exciting…

Q: Your career has been progressing really well but Mission: Impossible III is obviously a big film. Does it feel like a defining moment for you?

A: It feels like a natural progression but there are still moments when I want to pinch myself to make sure it's real. All of it seems like it is a natural progression and that it has been going in the right direction and it feels right. I had a pinch myself moment the other night when I was watching the original Mission Impossible - the one from ten years ago - on television and as I watched it I got so anxiety ridden, I was like `oh my God! I'm in that movie! I'm going to be in that movie with Tom!' That is me!' And that's when you have a pinch yourself moment, because you can't believe that's your life. But in my day to day it does feel right because for every job that I've gotten I've had 50 that I haven't.

Q: You're from a small town in Iowa. Was it a nice place to grow up?

A: Oh yeah, it was absolutely beautiful. Really quiet and nice. There wasn't a lot going on, really, it was a little town of 700, so it was quiet.

Q: And is it true that at first you thought of journalism as a career?

A: Yes, it is. Maybe that was my way out. I mean, generally coming from that little town I didn't really think of becoming an actress. I was in a couple of plays at school but it still never occurred to me that maybe I could try and do it for a career. And then my Mum said to me `well, of course you're an actress Michelle..' and I'm like `well what's that supposed to mean?' (laughs). Like so dramatic!

But it's so funny because some people know you better than you know yourself and in certain a Mom would know. But I loved journalism, I had always been fascinated with current events and my Dad was a complete news junkie. I went to college in Chicago to study journalism.

Q: How did you get sidetracked into acting?

A: I was in my third year and I was doing some modelling to pay my tuition. The modelling was catalogue stuff and I didn't mind it, I actually quite enjoyed it. I was able to travel with world a lot and I mean, I'd never been out of Iowa and all of a sudden I was in Europe, you know, London and Milan, and all over Asia. I was quite young, you know 18,19,20 and being able to travel like that really broadened my horizons. Having those opportunities at a young age whet my appetite, so to speak.

Q: For what? To continue modelling?

A: No, that was always something to help pay my way through college. Because my parents could never afford to pay a lot and I was going to college out of state so I didn't get a lot of funding. So the modelling was always about getting to school, studying and becoming a journalist. But I realised after my third year that I didn't want to pursue journalism and at the same time something was nagging at me to do something creative but I had no idea what. I had always wanted to live in New York, so I did, and I continued modelling there for lack of anything else to do.

And that led to commercials and then got a bit part here and there and then got an agent. And I thought to myself `this is really cool, really fun and I'm making a buck at it and maybe this is the creative thing that I've been looking for…' And the opportunities kept presenting themselves and I kept jumping on them and here I am...

Q: Do you think of a career plan?

A: I've always goals, they are kind of short term goals as opposed to ten years down the road because I'm too worried about what I'm going to do tomorrow or a couple of months from now to worry about ten years time. But I've always had goals and that has been important ot me. I've been open to opportunities that come my way and it's been important for me to be able to adapt to those and recognise them and take heed and make the most of them.

Q: Mission Impossible is a huge break. When you look back over your career, what other films of yours are you most proud of?

A: Well, I'm really proud of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and North Country. Last year was a great year for me. North Country was a tough role but I loved the fact that we made a film that informed people in that way.

Q: Tell us about your character…

A: She's a nurse, her name is Julia Meade and she meets Ethan Hunt in the back-story and they have this love affair and she is unaware of his other life and she does wait at home for him. She actually thinks he is doing another job and there are a few things that happen - he comes home disturbed and she begins to wonder if something else might be going on. In the course of the film she gets wrapped up in drama of the mission and a lot of thing ensue - I don't know how much I'm supposed to tell! I keep telling everyone that if I tell too much I'll self-destruct in 30 seconds. (laughs).

Q: Do you have action scenes and did you have any special preparation for the role?

A: I did. I got to do a little bit of gun training so that was very exciting for a girl (laughs). I also did some snowboard training. Unfortunately we decided not to shoot that scene so I've yet to actually put those skills to the test. I've learned on a machine so it will be interesting to try it on snow.

Done by Martyn Palmer