Resident champions
Written: September 26, 2007
ECW Champion CM Punk and actress Milla Jovovich have a couple of things
in common: Both have legions of fans and know something about kicking
ass. To the Straightedge Superstars surprise, he found out he had even
more in common with the Resident Evil: Extinction star when he had an
opportunity to talk to her for this weeks Superstar to Superstar:
CM Punk: Your new film Resident Evil: Extinction was released last
Friday, Sept. 21. How is this film different from the other Resident
Evil films? What can the fans expect?
Milla Jovovich: Well, I have to say I was a little skeptical about
doing a third Resident Evil because I wasnt totally happy with the
second one. So, I was like, OK, where can we really take this? But
once I read the script, I was so impressed because I felt like this
movie is just a whole new feeling. It really stands on its own. Youve
got this incredible landscape, which was so cool, and it felt so
different because theres a whole generation of young people that dont
know the other movies. We also have amazing set pieces, like Las Vegas
half-buried in the sand and evil corporations, like laboratories, that
are kept underground, [and] these incredible computer generated maps.
You know, the set has just changed so drastically. We have amazing
special effects and also some really great moments between characters
and some great relationships. My character, Alice, gets cloned by the
evil corporation, and that was really interesting as well just to be
able to play my character in all of these different ways. I just think
there are some really great elements to it [the movie] that just make
it really fresh and new.
Punk: You mentioned that you had to play clones of yourself. Was
each one played differently than how you normally played Alice? Was
that a big challenge?
Jovovich: It was interesting. I felt like there were total
differences, like each clone had to have a little bit different of a
personality from the last one because each person is definitely
different. And what makes the original Alice so special is that she is
who she is because of her experiences. The other clones dont have the
experiences yet, so, of course, they end up getting killed over time
which is kind of scary for me to have to reenact my own death a few
times. Its really  .
Punk: Yeah, its got to be weird.
Jovovich: The whole experience makes for a very creepy, surreal movie.
Just looking at all of the global issues going on right now to see
this computer generated world, where you see things like Las Vegas half
buried in the sand is just really chilling. Its also really
interesting that we even had a lot of our set pieces built in the sand
in Mexico. Its really cool because as actors you dont really get to
see the special effects. But this time, we actually got to see Las
Vegas buried in the sand. So we had the Eiffel Tower, the Venetian
Hotel, and a bunch of real, recognizable landmarks.
Punk: So, it made it easier then instead of having to pretend and work in front of a green screen?
Jovovich: You know, working in front of a green screen is always
really challenging because you definitely have to stretch your
imagination, and its always a bit disconcerting to be able to act in
front of or next to nothing. So, anything that you can do to react or
make it more organic and natural is very helpful.
Punk: Im sure. And from what Ive seen on TV and in the previews
is that there are some pretty intense action scenes with you beating
people up, throwing knives and all kinds of stuff. Out of all of the
scenes that you did, which one was your favorite to film?
Jovovich: Probably filming my clone sequences because I had to
revisit some of our old sets. My clones were going through this test
grid, and the evil corporations rebuilt a couple of scenarios that
weve seen in the first movie, and she has to go through these things
over and over again. So, its like having one of those bad, reoccurring
dreams over and over again. You really get this frustration watching
the movie because you feel really bad for her. Shes literally waking
up in the same scenario again and again. She was really persecuted by
these people and it makes it for a really interesting character.
Punk: Cool. Well, in this movie you kick a lot of ass and you look great doing it.
Jovovich: Thank you. [Laughs]
Punk: Youve been in action movies before, and I think you are a
great actress. Youre always gorgeous and muscular and always ready to
beat people up. How do you prepare physically for this character or any
other character?
Jovovich: I love to do a lot of training. In this particular film,
we did three months of training to learn the fight sequences and also
to do weapons training with the knives that Im using in the film. Its
always one of my favorite reasons to do action films because Ive
always been a Sci-Fi junkie, and always loved martial arts ever since I
was a kid. My dad and I used to have Kung Fu Sundays and watch all of
the old Chinese cinemas. So, Ive always been a big martial arts fan.
For me, to be able to train with real professionals and with some of
the best in the business is always really interesting and challenging,
and also a great honor. So, I really love it. I think because the women
that I play in these action movies are so strong and disciplined, I
think its important for me to try and emulate that in my own personal
life. I try really hard to work really long days to discipline myself
to just try to get in their mindframe because if their mindframe is
good, they must have trained 10 times harder. And we have 10 to 12-hour
workdays, and the days just fly by because you are always learning
something so interesting and new, like flying through the air, doing
backflips or whatever. Its really incredible.
Punk: It sounds like we have the same schedule. I cant get enough of it myself.
Jovovich: [Laughs]
Punk: Now, you say that youre a Sci Fi junkie. I wrestle on ECW, Tuesday nights on Sci Fi.
Jovovich: I know! You have a lot of fans here in Los Angeles.
Punk: Thats awesome. Youve been acting since you were 11,
[youre] a well-known supermodel, an actress, a singer, [and] a
musician. You are all of these things. To me, its awesome that there
are strong female role models out there that can do all of this stuff.
I think its super sexy that you can do all of these things, and you
are fantastic at all it. Out of all of those things, which do you enjoy
doing more?
Jovovich: Ive always been really organic with the things that I
do and in my career. I love to act for sure because my mother was an
actress in Russia. She was a big actress in the 70s, and was a big
star there. I always knew that Id follow in her footsteps since I was
a little girl. I think that everything else is just a branch off of the
same tree. As a model, I was acting then because when youre 11 years
old and youre modeling for these fashion magazines, youre really
acting just like a grown up. For me, it was kind of the same
difference. With music, I mean, Ive never been the perfect singer in
any way, shape or form, but Ive been more of a character or a
personality. I love writing. So for me, music was always about
performing onstage. It was always like writing in a diary for me when I
would write songs. I think that being an actress is what spawned
everything that I do because its really just entertaining and
performing. And being creative is what I love.
I have a lot of
friends that are musicians and theyll come over, [and] well make
dinner and drink a few glasses of wine or have some beers, play some
guitars and jam! And that turns into, Hey, thats really good, lets
finish that song! Then we end up having about six or seven different
songs and just perform. [Laughs] So, its always just kind of natural
how it happens.
Punk: I used to be in a band before I wrestled.
Jovovich: Yeah? Thats awesome. Its always a relaxed, good time,
and I dont do music professionally anymore really. I did a few
professional shows this year, overseas, one over in Russia and one in
Paris. Its always very casual because I feel like for me, music is
just so natural. If I start promoting it, getting too involved in the
reviews and the this and the that, it gets depressing. It gets to be
real business, and I dont want it to be like business for myself in
that sense. Music has always been something that I do for myself. I
actually release demos on my Web site: www.millaj.com,
where I let people download my songs for free. Its fun, and I get a
lot of support from my fans, and I dont need to go through the hell of
promoting records.
Punk: Youve seen that I have a lot of tattoos. Some might
consider my tattoos good luck charms, even though I dont believe in
luck at all. Do you have any tattoos, or good luck charms for that
matter?
Jovovich: Well, I pray. I am definitely a spiritual person. Im
Eastern European I was born in the Ukraine. If you go to the Ukraine,
and see my home city Kiev, its actually a city of churches. Its a
very beautiful, spiritual place, so Ive always felt very close to God
in so many ways. Ive always felt a real magic in life. Even in the
fantastic movies that Ive been in, its always been an extension from
the magic that Ive felt in my everyday life. As long as I can keep
that childlike essence in myself, I think that I can have luck in that
sense because it makes me look at life in a more fun way so its not so
serious all the time. Just to enjoy each moment as it comes and to try
not to sweat the small stuff too much and to see the big picture and
appreciate the little things in life too, which are much more magical
than the big things could ever be.
Punk: Yeah, its definitely the small stuff thats important. Im
a huge music fan, and everywhere I go, I bring my iPod. The Resident
Evil movies, in my opinion, have always had a huge soundtrack and the
soundtrack has always been a big part of the movies. This year, Ive
noticed that you have the band, Throwdown, on the sound track. Its a
friend of mines band; they are a great straightedge, hardcore band. I
want to know what you listen to currently. Whats on your iPod?
Jovovich: Ive been listening to a lot of old music recently.
Everything from the 50s, like crooning, doo wop and also some 70s
music. Ive been playing a lot of America. Strange Magic is something
thats been playing on repeat.
Punk: Thats so interesting
Jovovich: [Laughs] Im also really into Olivia Newton-John. I play
so much stuff, and I have a lot of great friends that send me demos,
too. I also have friends on MySpace that have great songs that you
cant really buy. I like to listen to a lot of my friends music as
well. I have a pretty eclectic musical selection. But lately, Ive been
on a 70s kick.
Punk: Thats cool. So, whats in your future? Youve said that
youre pregnant, and I wish you the best of luck with that. I hope that
you have a very healthy baby. But whats in the future for you?
Jovovich: Well, actually Im leaving in just a few hours to go to
Germany to do a small part in my friends movie and hes actually the
godfather of my baby. Its going to be a lot of fun because I get to
play myself, which is neat. Then, Im going to have the baby, and next
year, I am in a film called Winter Queen that I am going to do in St.
Petersburg. I was supposed to do the movie this year, but because of
the pregnancy, I didnt finish it. Its based on a Russian, Victorian
thriller. It should be a lot of fun because its a period piece, which
is a nice change for me from the action stuff.
Punk: Thats very cool. Thank you so much for the interview. I
have just one more question for you since I am a huge fan. Could you
just say, Big Bada Boom for me?
Jovovich: Big Bada Boom! [Laughs]
Punk: I dont want you to hate me because I asked you to say that but I had to.
Jovovich: Are you kidding me? Thank you! I havent said that in
ages. Thank you so much for taking the time out to interview me and
good luck with everything!
Punk: Remember, luck is for losers. [Laughs] Alright, Milla. Thank you so much for your time.
bron: wwe.com
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