You might know her as the Brazilian babe who’s starred in mega movie hits such as City of God, I Am Legend and Predators, and her newest film that comes out today, Elysium, is set in the future of an overpopulated Earth where people are desperate to get to a satellite habitat that houses the wealthy and healthy.
But for her latest role, Alice Braga is starring as GlobalGrind’s guest editor, and we chatted with her about her character Frey, a nurse taking care of her ill daughter and Matt Damon’s ex-con character, Max.
Before you watch Elysium at a theater near you this weekend, get to know the leading lady a little better.
In the movie you play a nurse, every child’s dream is to be a nurse or a doctor. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Alice Braga: When I was growing up, you’re going to laugh, I really wanted to work in films because my mom, she was an AD by the time I was born and since I’m like three or four years old, I started going to sets with her. And I kind of grew up in that environment of camera, lights and cables, so I always wanted to work there. I never thought about specifically films, but I always wanted to work in that environment, even though it was just commercials and stuff like that.
If Elysium did exist, what would you do for a ticket?
Depending on the situation, if I was sick, I would do anything. If I would’ve had to take my daughter, like Frey, I would do anything. If it were just for the sake of going, I wouldn’t go. I would stay on earth and try to make earth a better place.
You’re a successful actress – you’ve been in plenty of great movies including City of God and I Am Legend. If you were offered the option of moving to Elysium or staying on earth, what would you choose?
I would stay. I love earth. We could make a better world, the challenge and the power is in our hands, so I would definitely stay on earth.
One of your first acting gigs was in a yogurt commercial when you were 8 years old. Did you ever think you’d be where you are now, starring in films next to other incredible actors, like yourself, such as Will Smith and Matt Damon?
Never in my biggest dreams. I still can’t believe it. Every time I’m in a premiere or I just meet up with these people on set working on projects like this, it’s so magical, it’s even hard to believe now so back then…impossible. But it’s just amazing, I’m really glad.
In a lot of your roles you play a very strong woman. Is that more like who you are in real life or are you more of a girly girl?
It’s funny, all the women that I’ve played, they’re strong women, like you said, but I’m very much the shy and more fragile girl. I don’t know why people think that I can be believable with a massive sniper in my hand, but I do that. But it’s fun to just make the change and have fun becoming that strong powerful woman for the screen.
Are you ever going to join Twitter?
No, I’m terrible with internet. I love Instagram, I have Facebook, I don’t go much into it but I have a good friend, Gael García Bernal is a good friend of mine and he loves Twitter, and I never got into it. So I feel that I won’t get it. But maybe soon I’ll get one just to speak to everybody, but for now, I don’t think so.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?
Sitting down watching a TV show, like six episodes in a row. You can watch one and give it a day and watch another one, and I think watching six episodes in a row is a bit too much, but I love it.
So what’s the TV show you’re watching right now?
Right now I’m watching “Scandal” with Kerry Washington. I just adore her and I’m a big fan of her work. When I saw that she was doing this TV show, which is not in Brazil, I just wanted to see it and I got addicted. Now I hate her because of that, because I’m addicted.
PHOTO CREDIT: SONY
