Cozyin' Up with 'Snakes' and Elsa Pataky
By Kit Bowen, Hollywood.com Staff
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Friday, August 18, 2006
Elsa Pataky |
Who’s afraid of big, bad snakes? Not Elsa Pataky, that’s for sure. The lovely Spanish actress, who is best known for her work in Europe as well as the many magazine covers she’s graced, including GQ, makes her U.S. debut in the slithery much-hyped thriller Snakes on a Plane and told Hollywood.com she loved working with our reptilian friends. But she did admit she was about the only one on the set who did.
Hollywood.com: Snakes or flying, which is scarier?
Elsa Pataky: I really like snakes, was totally OK with them. And I don’t mind flying either, since I have to do it all the time. But I guess maybe both together may be too much for some people, no?
HW: Uh, yeah, quite possibly. Tell us about your character in the film.
EP: I play one of the passengers, Maria, who is traveling with her baby. I’m the young mommy, who loses her baby, screaming, “Where’s my baby?” and having to protect her from the snakes. And my character knows about snakes, like how to get the poison out, things like that. It was great because in the movie they have all the different characters you could have on a plane. The guy who is always complaining, the rich girl who flies with her dog, the rapper, the famous guy--it was all covered.
HW: So when you auditioned for the movie, were you saying, “Okaaaay, I do like snakes, but...”
EP: When I got the script and saw the title, I was like “Oh wow, what is this about? Come on, snakes on a plane? That’s not possible!” Only Americans can think of something like that, right? But it was different for me, special. I had the meeting with the director, David Ellis, and he was really excited, telling me I had to do this movie. It would fun, with snakes and Samuel L. Jackson. It was a great experience for me and gave me a chance to practice my English. My first experience in Hollywood. But I never expected it would be like this.
HW: What do you make of all the Internet hype? Do you like to surf the Web and blog?
EP: Not really, which is why I was really surprised by all the attention. They told me I had to look on the Internet. It was crazy! All the blogs about the movie, everyone talking about it, making T-shirts, videos and music. The promotion of the movie was great! But I never expected it.
HW: Who hated the snakes the most?
EP: Maybe Samuel [L. Jackson]. He didn’t touch any of the snakes.
HW: What was it like working with Mr. Kick-Ass himself?
EP: He was amazing. I was really surprised because you never know. He was really very kind with us, all the rest of the actors because most of us were pretty young and not very known. And he was very cool with that. Talking with us and having fun, joking with us. I am definitely one of his biggest fans now.
HW: Were the real heroes on the set the snake handlers?
EP: Absolutely. They had the most difficult time, having to be in cramped spaces, like where the people put the luggage on the plane, you know? So they could throw them on us. Also in keeping track of all the snakes. But I learned a lot about them and helped feed the snakes with the mice and all. I definitely surprised the handlers with my interest. Nobody else on the set wanted anything to do with the snakes.
HW: Did you have a fondness for any one particular snake?
EP: Well, I did a photo shoot with one of the snakes in the movie. Her name was Sparkly, a python, and we became friends. I have pictures of her head in my face and I could hear how she was breathing, like [Imitates snake breathing]. I even have a picture with her tongue on my nose. [Noticeable reaction from the journalist] Yeah, I know. The makeup people were like, “No WAY would I do that!” But I really enjoyed it because they feel amazing. So soft.
HW: Would you want a snake as a pet now?
EP: Yeah, maybe. But they are a little boring, there’s nothing you can do with them. Put them in your bag, I guess.
Photo(s) by Special to Hollywood.com- © 2006- DailyCeleb.com- All Rights Reserved