MODERN MARVEL

Brie Larson on going higher, further and a lot faster.

Who is Tess?

I would say Tess is a little bit of a mystery. She is part of the Agency, but she also goes rogue and edges more towards the family side, but that means she has a lot to prove. When Dom gives her an impossible task that’s going to require a lot of thought and effort and also is putting herself at risk, she doesn’t question it. I think that shows who she is, that she’s willing to go to those lengths. She agrees to do it because she wants to show up for this family the way that her father did. She’s also really intelligent. Tess plays the game well. She’s not afraid of going on her own mission to do what she feels is right in her heart.

How is she connected to Dom and the family?

Tess is Mr. Nobody’s daughter. She is technically Agency, but she’s kind of a bridge, in a way. She doesn’t go along with the way that the Agency’s headed now that her father isn’t there. She believes in the legacy that her father set up, which is standing with Dom and standing with the Toretto family. And is fighting for that. Dom knows that she has a strong mind and definitely respects that she’s gone out of her way to talk to him and wants to build trust. What he asks of Tess is a test. Like, if it’s an impossible task, and she can get it done, then that’s family for life.

Will we see you behind the wheel?

Tess’ opening is an epic fight scene which took two days to film, where she enters the bar with these giant platform boots and totally holds her own. It was really powerful for the character and combats any questions that she doesn’t have the skill set or the passion despite being from the Agency. I was also involved in a scene that takes place in Rio where we have everything happening at once. We’ve got all the cars, and helicopters, and snipers, and everyone’s coming together for this giant showdown.

How did making Fast X compare to your previous blockbuster experiences?

Making Fast X was different to any other movie because it’s so solely focused on the concept of family. As soon as it was all figured out that I was going to be in the film Vin texted me asking to go to his house for dinner. We had this great conversation and I ended up going to their house many times, even going to his eldest daughter’s birthday party so I got to become close with them. It’s all part of Vin’s process; by the time my feet were there on that set, I felt like I belonged to be there! I felt safe. And I actually based my character off of his daughter.