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IT’S A LONG WAY FROM SUMMER BAY, BUT SAMARA WEAVING IS LOVING PLAYING THE SUPERHERO
Former Home and Away star Samara Weaving has been steadily building her profile in Hollywood thanks to dramas such as Three Billboards Outisde Ebbing, Missouri, cult black comedy-horror hit Ready Or Not and last year’s comedy Bill and
Ted Face the Music. Now she is kicking arse in the action world with action-thriller Snake Eyes, which serves as spin-off and reboot of the G.I. Joe franchise.
How are things going over there in LA? Is your world returning to some semblance of normality?
We thought we were, but we kind of took two steps forward and one step back with this new variant. So, to everyone, go get vaccinated if you can.
Your G.I. Joe spin-off movie Snake Eyes and your character Scarlett are a big deal to a lot of people, how familiar were you with that world?
I was not that familiar with it. I knew of G.I. Joe but I didn’t really grow up reading the comics or watching the cartoon version of it. So Scarlett was new. But I guess me playing a superhero, I couldn’t say no. I mean with the cool suit, fighting bad guys? Sign me up!
So, who is Scarlett?
Scarlett works for the Joes. She’s very intelligent and highly skilled fighter and a lawyer and a leader and a teacher – she’s incredible. I don’t know how she does it.
How much of a step-up was this
for you in terms of stunts and action and weapons training?
I got about a six-month headsup before I had to be in Japan. I am not naturally built like a superhero so I hired a fantastic personal trainer called Dan Adair and he got me to the best physical shape I could get done in that time. Then did lots of weapons training which was weirdly fun but felt wrong because guns are weird. And then when we touched down in Japan we went into some very intense choreography and learning all the different fight sequences, which was really exhausting.
You have your own action figure for Snake Eyes – a sure sign you’ve made it – how do you feel about that?
I still haven’t got one – I need to make some phone calls because I need to have a look at it properly. It was kind of surreal though. It’s kind of forever and people will buy it, so you don’t want it to look bad.
What did you like most about filming in Japan?
Everything. The food, the culture, the architecture, the history. We were filming in wintertime and I’d love to go back when the world is open to travel in summer or spring and have a proper holiday there.
There’s a real sense of pride for seeing Asian faces front and centre in movies such as Crazy Rich Asians and Snake Eyes – and your co-star Henry Golding
is a big part of that – why is it so important?
Representation is so important. I remember when I saw Wonder Woman and it opened with a scene of women fighting other women and I was crying because I realised I hadn’t seen it before and it moved me. I think for anyone to see themselves mirrored in what they watch is terribly important and validates you and makes you feel seen.
The same goes for women in action films, which has taken huge leaps forward – how do you feel about that?
I feel very lucky to be a part of the change of being the actual hero and not the spouse waiting at home by the phone in tears, or the damsel in distress.
Many younger actors have done it tough through the shutdowns, wondering who they even are if they can’t act – have you had any similar moments of reflection?
I was really fortunate – I didn’t have a lot of time not working but I definitely understand that. When I first started out, I had a couple of years of not being able to work and I think when you are inherently creative and you don’t have an outlet for it you can get very sad. You depend on other people to fulfil that side of you, so I really feel for anyone who is going through that.
How was it coming back to Byron Bay to film Nine Perfect Strangers while Covid was raging in the US?
It was wild because in America we were all masked up and hadn’t left the house. Quarantine was nuts because you have nothing to do. In Byron, especially, there were zero cases so everything was open and the only thing was that you had to check in when you went into a restaurant or to get groceries. It was like a sensory overload.
And what about that starstudded cast?
It was very cool. I was starstruck by everyone – and I still am. It was so awesome to watch those guys work – Melissa McCarthy and Nicole Kidman and Michael Shannon. It was awesome.
You’re working with some of your Aussie mates, including Margot Robbie and Phoebe Tonkin, now on Damien “La La Land” Chazelle’s movie Babylon – how is it going?
It’s very cool. I am not allowed to say anything or I’ll get into trouble. But it’s awesome.
Sounds like you have a good Aussie support squad over there in LA – how important has that been for you?
I have a good gang of women – and a lot of Aussies in the crew. I think when I first moved to LA it was difficult to find a circle of support because you are either constantly going to different places and different cities. It’s taken a while but I finally have a good friendship circle, so I am very grateful.
Snake Eyes is in cinemas. Nine Perfect Strangers streams on Amazon Prime from August 20