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The latest sci-fi flick opening this weekend, Elysium boasts big-name actors such as Jodi FosterMatt Damon and Sharlto Copley. Another silver-screen superstar taking the lead in the movie is Alice Braga, who many remember as Angélica from the 2002 hit City of God.

In Elysium, Alice portrays the role of Frey, who’s conflicted between saving her daughter’s life and her relationship with Matt’s character Max, a convict attempting to escape poverty-ridden earth for the artificial utopia of Elysium in space. The pair met in an L.A. orphanage as children, and Frey later grows up to fulfill her dream of being a nurse while Max leads a life of crime, something Frey wants no part of.

In City of God, Alice’s role as Angélica was similar in the way she encourages her boyfriend to leave his corrupt life behind in the rough Rio de Janeiro suburb of Cidade de Deus. The Brazilian film has won 55 awards and received almost another 30 nominations, including four Academy Awards and a Golden Globe nod.

When we asked Alice about what it’s like to be a part of what’s been recognized as one of the best movies of all time, she told us that it changed her life:

It’s interesting that when we did City of God we never thought it would become what it became. And looking back 11 years from now, it’s just so magical to see how much it brought to the cinema industry. And for myself especially as an actress, it’s an honor. I love the film. And to be able to be a part of it, it’s amazing. It changed my life, the film is what changed my life. So I’m very grateful to be a part of it.

If you haven’t seen Elysium, which is already being recognized as one of the best movies of the summer, make sure to check it out this weekend after checking out the trailer below.

PHOTO CREDIT: SONY