Q: And she makes some amazing flirty moves there.
AB: Yeah, she puts it down!
Q: It must have been tough to pull off too, as a convincing she-monster.
AB: Yeah, the illusion is there that it’s not really a person. So if the actor is successful in that role, then it doesn’t look like they did that much. But all those nuances and gestures, all of that is coming from Delphine Chaneac and those guys in the special effects department. But it’s coming from her discipline, and the hard work that she did.
Q: Who is Dren anyway, as we watch the movie?
AB: Well, there are three stages. At first it’s all visual effects from, you know, the creature department, which requires a whole lot of imagination. And sometimes you have a rendering of what you’re engaging with. But at the child stage, we’re dealing with a little girl. And then Delphine, without her, you can’t have that connection. You know, without that kind of dedication of an actor. It was really tremendous. So it was great, I’m really grateful for that.
Q: What keeps you motivated as an actor, beside the paycheck? I know the money’s nice, but what keeps you moving forward?
AB: Money is not the motivation! I try to find things that speak to me, for whatever reason. I mean, things that I can relate to, and movies that I would want to go see. You know? And lately I’ve been trying to have a sense of humor about things. Like I’m looking to find things that are either comedic in tone, or strange. So I have this movie! And next I have Predators coming out. So that, for me, is a dream come true. And it is so different from the kind of work I’ve been allowed to do. You know, I’ve been looking for things that give me opportunities to force me to grow. And that are unexpected. And that’s really the motivation, above and beyond everything else.
Q: What can you say about Predators?
AB: What can I tell you, is it’s very exciting for me, on many levels. You know, that’s a dream come true role for me. I don’t want to harp on it, but it’s pretty exciting. So it’s a very exciting time for me. Because, first of all, I have two summer movies that I’m happy about. And I feel very proud of the work. But both these movies are so different from what I’ve done in the past. And that’s what I strive to do.
Q: And your Woody Allen film, Midnight In Paris. That must be pretty wild for a kid from Queens.
AB: Yeah, well Predators is pretty amazing for a kid from Queens too! But Woody, he’s one of the great auteurs of our time. And often when I’ve been asked about directors I’d like to work with, Woody’s been high on that list. So I’m very happy about that. It’s a cameo, but it’ll be a lot of fun. And I get to reconnect with Owen Wilson, who’s a good friend. And…shooting in Paris isn’t bad!
Q: So you didn’t dream about playing the creature in Splice?
AB: I wouldn’t be opposed to something weird like that; it’s an amazing role. Maybe one day. But…it wasn’t up for grabs! Now just watch, some asshole is going to watch this movie and be like, “They should have made Adrien that creature!”
