How did you end up making this movie?
I was just walking down the street and I met with Luc, and he asked me to try some acting lessons, which I tried. It came out good, I was excited and it was interesting to act, and then I had an audition, and then I became an actress on this movie
Just walking down the street in NYC?
Yes, for my work. I used to work as a hairdresser. I was just walking down the street and his assistant stopped me and asked me to drink some tea with them, and he asked me to try some lessons, so I was excited.
This is your first movie?
Yes, it is. It’s the first time… Well, I had a couple lessons, and I realized I wanted to do that, and it’s a really exciting experience.
It wasn’t your childhood dream?
I never dreamed of being an actress, I never thought of it, but when you have the opportunity to try something new… When I tried out, I didn’t know for what, it was just trying, and then I liked it and teachers started telling me that I had some potential. First of all, it was really exciting to relive this character, then it was a really interesting experience, but I never dreamed of doing this.
Did you know Luc Besson before?
I knew his movies, but I didn’t know his face. I knew the name. The movies are really popular. I love his movies, really original and really amazing movies.
So when he asked you to play in T3, you didn’t hesitate?
Well, he didn’t ask me to play in the movie, he asked me to try some acting lessons. He never said for what, so I was kept in the secret. And then I had an audition that I was really worried about because it was my first time in front of the camera and there were lots of people asking me to do weird stuff like change emotions. For the first time, it’s really weird for a person who’s never done that before. But it was really amazing. My arms were shaking, but I had a great time. It was my first time in Paris, also. Then, a week later, when I found out I was going to be in the movie, I was crazily excited.
What did you think when you read the script?
I thought it was really colorful, with lots of emotions, jokes, and passion for life. It’s just really fun and breathtaking, and lots of speed inside the movie. It’s just really emotional and fun. You’re never just on one level, you always feel the emotion. It’s just lots of action and fun. It’s amazing.
For you, is this a popcorn movie? Do you like them?
I do like popcorn movies, because it’s like a rollercoaster. You go to the theater and for two hours you just smile. It’s a way to relax, it’s like an anti-depression pill. Some movies, you have to think what they’re doing, but with popcorn movies, you just have to relax and they take you to amazing places.
Can you tell us about your character?
Valentina’s a girl who loves to live. She’s a little crazy, well she’s young so that’s why she’s crazy. She has lots of color in her. She’s just an amazing, young, beautiful girl in the movie.
What does she bring to such a boys’ movie?
My character is the only female in the movie, so she brings lots of sensitive parts, lots of color, lots of love, spontaneous emotions, spontaneous moves and fun. She’s really fun and crazy. She brings lots of color and lots of flavor to the movie. Without her, it would be boring, wouldn’t it?
To begin with, she’s very mysterious, doesn’t talk. Is that why Frank falls for her, because they’re the same?
In the beginning, Valentina doesn’t care about Frank Martin. Actually, she’s scared. That’s why she’s quiet. She already had this kind of experience with another transporter, who was trying to transport her. She’s just scared, which is why she doesn’t speak that much. They just have this kind of connection. He plays her father figure, protective, and she needed this kind of love and protection, and they connect there. Russian girls are like that.
So, it was easy for you?
Well, kind of, but my character is more wild and crazy than me. She’s spontaneous, like a volcano or firework. She cannot sit in one place, she has to do lots of things, running around, driving everybody crazy. She just brings lots of color, emotions and flavor to the movie.
What was the first day on set like?
My first day was really cold and scary, because everybody spoke French – they were trying to speak English to me. They were really nice to me, protective, there for me. They explained how I should stand for the lights, how I should speak, how I should work with the camera, so they were really knowledgeable and protective. They just accepted me from the first day. For the first few hours, I was scared to death, then I started to get used to it. The second day was really good. I got used to it pretty fast because the whole crew was so welcoming, protective. They were there for me. Everybody was amazing.
What was the most difficult part?
It was just a breathtaking experience. I just started shooting and next thing I know, I wake up and the movie’s done already. The hard part is that it was freezing cold. We started to shoot in the winter, and I was in a small dress playing summer. That part was hard, focusing on acting and not being distracted by the cold. Like I said, the crew was amazing because they were running behind me with coats and warm stuff. It was just a breathtaking experience.
What was your relationship with Jason Statham?
I got lucky that, in my first movie, I had Jason as a partner because he was really supportive and I connect on an emotional level with him in the scenes. It’s really important because he was sending me these emotions with his acting, and we really connect there. He was really helpful for me. The same with Robert, he was an amazing person to act with. I just got so lucky with the actors on the movie because they were really supportive with emotions and everything.
Did you know Robert Knepper’s character on Prison Break?
I didn’t know him, but I sensed something bad about him. Behind the scenes, Robert’s a really amazing person. He’s sweet, nice, really warm, but there’s something there, something about him. When he was playing his character in the movie, it was amazing. I didn’t even have to act, it was just so there. He has this weird, scary touch inside him, but that’s not who he is in real life.
What about working with Olivier, his work and the French crew?
I saw one of his movies, The Red Siren, and it was really good. I watched it before we started, so I’d know who I was working with, his vision and everything. Olivier and the whole crew was there for me. Everybody was working as a team. We didn’t have any problems or conflicts. It was like family for three months. That helped me a lot because I was away from my family for three months. I didn’t know anybody here in country-regionplaceFrance, so it was like a big family. Olivier is a pretty amazing person, lots of fun and very funny.
And the French?
I’ve never been to France before, but I was so happy that this was my first experience here. I saw France, not like a tourist but in a different, beautiful way. French people are so warm and it’s a lot like my native country, St. Petersburg, and it’s just so beautiful. I was glad to have this experience to see the real France not just the tourist areas. And French people are amazing, so much fun, lots of good food… I keep saying it’s amazing, but it is, it’s like a fairy tale.
Were the action scenes difficult? Did you have a double?
I don’t think I needed a double because I didn’t have the fights like Jason had. I did some fighting, little things, but I was excited to do it myself. I would never have given it to my double to do, never in my life. I was just so excited to do everything myself, even the smallest parts.
You never hurt yourself?
Yes, I hurt myself a lot. I was scratched everywhere, with bruises all over my body but it was lots of fun and it’s worth it. I would do it again and again and again…
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