You were last seen playing a transvestite in "Rock Star". What was the appeal of doing a period piece?
I just thought it would be fabulous to go from a contemporary film like "Rock Star" to an almost ideal, perfect portrayal of a woman, caught between two men, who's a wife and a mother. It was a stretch for me acting wise and I really enjoyed that. Plus I got to work with fantastic people and visit Malta and Ireland!
Would you like to take on more period roles?
I'm always keeping an eye out for a period piece. I was trained in theatre, so most of the things we did were classical - Shakespeare, Moli猫re, and Chekhov. The only reason I would stay away from a period piece is because sometimes the women are painted in a very stereotypical weakling, wallflower way - that's something I don't want to do. I want to show strength in the women I play, and a journey of some sort.
Swashbuckling movies have always been popular. Do you have any old favourites?
I didn't go to the cinema a lot when I was young. My parents would watch Sunday afternoon movies, like "Robin Hood" with Errol Flynn. All I remember is his tights and his little cap. And I used to enjoy the old TV Zorro and things like that.
Although the film is quite dramatic, there was also a tongue-in-cheek element...
That's what I love about the movie - it is so unpretentious. It really is a throwback to the old movies but with a young, modern cast and a faster pace. I love the fact that there are those light-hearted moments, but there is the sense that this movie isn't trying to aspire to anything, it just is what it is - a great, fun, entertaining movie; it's totally escapist.
