Michelle Monaghan has gone from zeroine to heroine in the last year. After blink-and-you'll-miss-'em roles in The Bourne Supremacy and Constantine (well, the DVD extras of Constantine anyway), Monaghan appeared in North Country and Mr and Mrs Smith, and stole hearts with her role in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Now she's starring opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible III, and here's more of Empire's exclusive interview with her.
- Is it fair to say that this film has more of an emotional texture?
I think that what you see in this film that is different from the other two film is that you see Ethan’s home life. That for the audience is something they haven’t been able to be emotionally invested in before. That makes Ethan easier to connect to, because he is more vulnerable
- Are we going to see scenes he is vulnerable?
He takes pause and he is really challenged with his emotions, and what he really wants out of his life. I know this really sounds dramatic, but it is still Mission Impossible; it is a movie where lots of things blow up. But I do think that the emotion makes this film more intriguing. The audience have been in love with him for quite some time but they haven’t seen this side of him. God, does he have a girlfriend? Does he do his washing? It is really good that JJ has been able to incorporate that in because we all know how good JJ is at that with Alias and Lost. And they are full of action and have all those great bits that you love, but it is also character driven, you care about them even though you know what is going on is that feasible really.
- Is it fair to say you are a damsel in distress or are we reading it wrong?
I’d say, maybe… You might surprised. It is JJ!
- Are you a fan of the spy genre?
Absolutely. This is a franchise that started, what, ten years ago. I have to be honest – I didn’t watch the television show. I’ve seen episodes here and there but wasn’t privy to that generation watching it. But I remember going to the cinema for the first time and seeing Mission Impossible and going, “wow”. And the scary thing is I saw it two weeks ago, just on the television, and I was going, “Ohmigod, I’m in this movie; oh shit, I’m really in this movie.” It became a reality. For some reason I hadn’t watched any of the previous movies since I had complete it. When I actually saw it, the anxiety kicked it. It is a legendary franchise.
- So the reality has kicked in now in a big way?
I’m not so Hollywood, I live in New York, so it’s very normal. I don’t have many friends in the industry. My friends come from all sorts of different backgrounds and careers. So, it’s a little bit different. I am aware that everything that I worked for is coming to fruition and that makes me very excited. I really want to do good work. I really do. My priority isn’t stardom.
- Has it surprised you?
I have to be honest, it sounds silly to say it, or rude, but no. It doesn’t surprise me, the success, but the films I am doing, with these actors, that surprises me. But it doesn’t surprise me that I am working, because I do really like what I do, and I do work hard and try and put my best foot forward. There are a number of people around me that are helping me along this way. I do believe in hard work. That sounds silly. Life seems surreal, and it is, but at the same time you have to take responsibility for what you have and have done.
- So what ambitions do you have now? And what are the markers of success for you?
I do really have markers. Well, I would really like to work with the Coen Brothers. I am trying so hard to weasel my way in there. I just want to continue to explore all these different genres. I’ve done drama and a bit of comedy here and there. No matter who I work with, it is about challenging myself and doing something new. And not to bore you. Those are my little things.
- Have you done theatre? Any Shakespeare?
Hell no, that is my dream! Somebody asked me earlier today which mission I would find impossible to accomplish. I said an even cornier answer; I said sewing. I can’t imagine anything more debilitating, anything more challenging, anything more thrilling than to get on a stage and do any kind of play. It is such a vulnerable place for any actor to be in. that’s the great thing about living in New York, I think it is a more interesting place to work for me than Hollywood. I love being part of the business but I don’t want to be surrounded by it either. This place is about creating things, but there is a lack of – this sounds rude – creativity without business. It is an industry and is not so organic. It is in New York, it is essentially more creative. It is a nice place to be.
- What is the oddest thing you’ve had to play?
Probably, the Tampax advert. I ended up cartwheeling across the screen. My dad was thoroughly embarrassed; he’s never gotten over that! I had just moved to New York, I was 23. I am sorry to all the British people in the UK for expressing myself. That is probably the most peculiar. North Country I played a mine worker, and there were some peculiar scenes that I had to do, but she wasn’t that peculiar herself.
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was a hell of a role.
It really was; I’ve got to buy into something in all my characters. There has got to be something I can grasp hold of, and know there is some of that in my own personality. I loved that she was just really sassy, a go-getter. She kind of thought that, I loved the idea, the line where she says, “She’s 35 and she’s trying to act…” and Robert Downey Jr asks how old she is, and she says, “34.” She was at auditions all the time. Nothing out of her mouth pertains to her, everything bounces off of her. She is 34 years old and still thinks she is going to be a star. I just love that about her. Maybe she was in denial. I am very much like that; I am probably in denial about a lot of things.
- Was that fun to make?
The most fun I have ever had on a film. We shot it at night. There is a different vibe to that. We just had a hell of a time; there is never a dull moment with Robert and Val. It was valuable.
- Are they contrasting guys?
No, they’re exactly the same. They became basically really good friends making that film. They are both really eccentric in their ways, really bold performers; they are really much the same. Two peas in a pod. |
Gone, Baby, Gone
Mission: Impossible III
Syriana (Scenes Deleted)
North Country
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Constantine (Scenes Deleted)
