I went with my step-brother yesterday.
Oh, you did!
He sent me this message, he said... Look at the yellow one.
You're welcome, glad you came-
That was me, the yellow, the bit above it. What a blockbuster.
What a blockbuster! That's good. So there you go.
I was wondering if this was your first big, huge, mega-budget movie.
Well, yeah. Yeah, I think so. Of this scale and, I remember walking on to the Normandy-esque
set. The beach that the built on the back-lot of the studios, I remember just going My God,
this movie is massive! All the lights on cranes and huge crew and just huge operation for
every set-up. It was so thrilling. But, at the core of it, I know it's a big movie, but
the reason I did it was the fantastic characters at the core of it.
Absolutely. I mean, you've worked with some big stars already, but you've worked with
probably the biggest icon in movies, Bill Paxton.
Yeah, he's wonderful. Love Bill Paxton.
In fact, it's a real mix of characters on this movie, I noticed the guy that's in Robin
Hood, the TV show. When there's a blockbuster that's got a lot of British actors in it,
I can't help but feel like you get a bit more charisma, personality.
Oh that's nice. You wouldn't be saying that because you're British, though. You wouldn't
be that way. Yeah, I thought it was cool. There was a real mismatch of people and I
think, when Tom Cruise is helming a movie, you know its gonna have a big audience so
you don't get in the politics of having to cast other really big names in the smaller
roles, so they really cast great character actors and people that were perfect for the roles.
Tom Cruise, you and him were speaking to each other over email and that kind of thing.
Yeah.
Is it unusual when a Tom Cruise email pops up in your inbox? Is it a surreal thing?
Not anymore.
Tom.Cruise@aol...
Not anymore, no.
No, because you're buddies now.
Yeah. I mean, when I first met him, I remember thinking, 'Oh my God, it's Tom Cruise.' And
I've grown up watching him and it's always a bit of a disarming moment. But he's so authentic
and friendly and welcoming that it quickly strips away. I have worked with a lot of people
who were iconic in some way and I'm always a bit disarmed at first because... Because
they've meant a lot to me and their careers have meant a lot to me and their works meant
a lot to me, so it takes a second.
For it to register.
Yes.
Now, those mechanical suits that you were in the thing as well. I like the way they
sound, they make that...
Are you gonna try one on today?
I didn't think that was an option. I didn't realise. No, don't say that because I'll leave
and then I'll look up at the window and there'll just be loads of journalists, like...
They don't look very practical, I've got to say. For killing robots they look idea but
for opening a can of beans or if you were sewing something for your daughter.
Yeah, I don't know if I'd need to wear one for sewing.
No, it would to do it very quickly. They look efficient.
With a can of beans, you could just punch the top of it and it would just explode. That's
how we eat beans, wearing these exosuits. No, they are quite cumbersome.
There's one moment I really like, Tom's walking- What's interesting about his character is
that he's a real coward to begin with which is very rare for him.
Very rare, yeah.
There's this moment where he's walking away, he's trying to run away but they're so heavy
he just gets caught.
Yeah, yeah.
Is that acting or are they just really heavy?
They're just that heavy. Mine weighed about 85 pounds, his weighed about 120 pounds. They
were so heavy, it took some getting used to.
Is that like another human on your back?
Yeah, pretty much, yeah.
What's that in stone?
I don't know what it is in stone. It's a lot.
So, when you go back to carrying Hazel, that's easy peasy.
So easy. So easy, walk in the park, yeah.
Did you find that you're guns? Did you get more muscular?
For the movie, yeah. Yeah, very much because I had to train a lot for it. But I pretty
much ate pizza solidly when it was finished.
- Did you? - Yes.
Talking about the British contingent, and obviously a lot of it was shot here, did you
force feed Tom roast dinners and things?
And marmite and stuff.
Stuff that he looks at and goes 'what the hell is that?'
I think Tom would really like a roast dinner. I'm sure he had one while he was here. Yeah,
Tom's kind of willing to eat anything, try anything.
Lack of cynicism, that's what you say, actually, about him.
Complete lack of cynicism, yeah.
Open to all kind of.
Yeah, he is. He's not that way at all. He's not cynical in any way. He's never lost that
child-like enthusiasm for trying anything and being willing to do anything.
Which also includes going to that party that you had for Matt Damon's-
Yeah, I'm sure Tom's so happy I told that story. Toms like, 'Thanks a lot.'
Yeah, and I'm sure you're chuffed that people like me come in and ask-
And ask me about it again, yes. Yes. Well, we just wanted to throw Matt a party so we
took Tom to a crazy club and... Poor Tom! Yeah, it was fun though, it was a fun night.
I suppose, from my point of view, you think, 'Wow, all these Hollywood stars in one room'
but for you they're just pals, so...
They become that, yeah. They do.
Now, I see Into the Woods is something that you've been doing as well. Now that you're
a mum, are you trying to do less work? More work? Do you want to do that whole balance?
Less. I think now, you've got a bit of a split focus and I want to be with her, obviously.
So, yeah, I think less. I'm more specific about what I want to do and when I do it.
Okay, brilliant. Before I go, Patent the Valley girl.
Yeah.
My boss said ask her to do it, it's amazing. You've never heard anything like it.
- So weird. - I know.
What do you want me to say?
Well, if you were in a restaurant maybe. And I'm the waiter. What would you like to order?
Can I just get, like, a Cesar salad but without the croutons and I really don't want the dressing.
Just put it on the side.
Anything to drink?
Just some water. That's it.
He'll love that!