Planet 51's Jesscia Biel, here shown in non-animated form.
More than a little spaced out, even offscreen, about her new intergalactic animated movie, Planet 51, Jessica Biel was not exactly prepared to talk the secret of sex appeal, at least when it comes to her latest cartoonish character. Though enthusiasm about discussing her own rebel tendencies was an entirely different matter, even if squeamish revelations about being stressed out by her personal predicaments in a horror movie was also a hot topic during this interview. But as far as getting nosy with Jessica relating to the ordeal of hair and makeup for a movie, or fear of the unknown, don’t even go there.
Q: Neera is one hot alien. How did you go about giving her your sultry sexy appeal?
JESSICA BIEL: Umm…Do I have sultry sex appeal? Thank you! That’s lovely. You know, I think we were just trying to create a 16-year-old girl who thinks she has this confidence. And, you know, this sexy “I’m a woman” attitude. And at the same time, she’s really still trying to figure it out with boys. And trying to see how far she wants to push the envelope with authorities, and what people tell her to do. So I think I was trying to just create that¦ And maybe that person I felt like I was when I was 16. Which is just insecure, but pushing the envelope. And still feeling like she was a little kid. And thinking that she was this, you know, strong independent sexy woman, but still not there yet a hundred percent. So, that was what I was trying to do!
Q: And did you think about the history of Green Ladies and science fiction, because that goes back to Star Trek?
JB: That would be the correct answer! But I never thought about that…
Jessica Biel's character, Neera, in Planet 51.
Q: When you look at this cartoon female, do you see yourself in her?
JB: You mean physically speaking? I think I kind of saw some physical things that I do myself. And it was so weird to hear my own voice! But I related to Neera because when I was 16, I was pushing it on every angle with my parents, and with the world. You know, I thought I had it going on. I thought I knew everything. And I related to her feeling of risk taking. I had a little bit more of a bad attitude I think, as a 16-year-old. But she wants to help this planet. You know, she wants to change the world, and think for herself. And be really independent and a risk taker. So that’s where I really related to her. But she’s probably way more of a positive, charitable person than I was as a 16-year-old.
Q: Do you believe in the possibility of intelligent life on other planets?
JB: I mean there is so much…space!
Q: Did this movie kind of make you feel like you want to be a better person, or to maybe make a change in the world?
JB: I’m…stumped! No, I think what I took from your question is the idea of like more of an innocent time. I’ve always been interested in the 1950s. And you know, that sort of feeling of, I don’t know! I mean, it was just simpler, or something. And more conservative. And for me, this movie says to be open to change, like you’re saying. Obviously in our world, a lot is changing. But in that world, life is changing as well. And you know, to be accepting of change, and to be accepting of something that’s different from you. And be excited to experience that. Because only then through change, can you grow and learn more about yourself as a human. Or alien!
Q: So, do animation actors have more fun?
JB: I think in one sense, you really can. Because it can just be crazy. Like you can talk with your hands, you can go really broad, or you can take it really small. And just not reacting to anything.
Q: What’s the difference between making a kid’s movie like this, and hardcore horror like Chainsaw?
JB: It’s a completely opposite extreme, for me at least. Making Texas was probably one of the hardest experiences for me emotionally, and creatively. And it was intense, because it was at this high level of freakout for about a month. And that is just so not this world. It was soooo different. There was this kind of emotional strain that I felt with Texas. And with this one, it was fun. You know, I wanted to do it because it’s like speaking to my inner child. Yes, I want to be an alien! Yes, I want to be green. And no, I don’t want to go to hair and makeup. I want to just go to work. Like for a girl, you have to go through so much hair and makeup, and so many costume fittings. I’ll be like sitting in that chair for two hours in the morning. And it was so nice not to do that.
Q: One of the themes of Planet 51 is fear of the unknown. Does that ever creep you out too?
JB: Fear of the unknown…Yeah, it’s like a constant probable. Like when am I gonna work! I don’t know. I try not to think about it too much. But it’s always a little bit there. And like, can you pay your bills and when can you pay them. And is a movie going to be creatively interesting, hopefully. That’s always there a little bit for me. As much as I try to say it’s not!
