BEST OF TIMES/WORST OF TIMES

THE DESERT DANCER STAR ON CORSETS, CASABLANCA AND HEAVY COLDS

It would have to be Mumbai, for Slumdog Millionaire. You’re working against the elements in every possible way when you’ve been to Mumbai. The city stands out. You can’t fight it. You just have to be in it.

I don’t know if I got it, but very recently I went for a role that is ten years younger than I am, and it was a real challenge. I knew I managed to tap into the 21 year-old me and still bring strength and maturity to the performance.

On You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, if I made a mistake, I’d correct myself. And Woody Allen walked up to me and said, “Let the mistakes happen because sometimes the mistakes are better than the best takes.” Now I’m not afraid of making mistakes.

Probably Casablanca, where we shot Desert Dancer. I loved filming in the desert, but Casablanca, I’m not sure. You have this idea of the film Casablanca and then you go there and the bubble’s burst!

You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger. I had swollen eyes and a bad cold, and I started improvising because I couldn’t remember the lines. I started thinking, “It’s Woody Allen and I totally fucked it up.” But I got the part!

Even the not so good notes can be enlightening. You know that’s something you don’t want to hear again, and the next time you hear it, you just block it out!

DESERT DANCER IS OUT ON APRIL 22.