Tell us about getting the role of Syrena.
I had one scene to perform in my audition for Pirates Of The Caribbean, but I was really nervous because my English isn’t too great. I had to find a friend who could teach me how to say the words in the script correctly because I wanted to make sure I was pronouncing everything right. I wasn’t told anything apart from her name, but I had a feeling that Syrena would be a mermaid in the movie. The Spanish word for ‘mermaid’ is ‘sirena’ so it was very similar. I guessed, and I was right. That’s exactly what she is! To be honest, it was very bizarre. I couldn’t believe that I was part of Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides until I arrived in Kauai, Hawaii, for the first fitting. That’s when everything sunk in and I finally realized I was going to be part of this amazing franchise.
What was it like working with Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp?
It was fantastic. I learned so much from watching them work. They put a lot of effort into their work, but they also manage to have a lot of fun – and I really liked that about them. I got to see how normal, ordinary and humble they are, despite being incredibly professional, hard-working and lovely people. I feel that they are incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work on amazing characters again and again – but most of all I love the way that they are so humble. They are two of the biggest stars in the world, but they are so normal, generous and welcoming. They are amazing.
How did you prepare for the role?
Physically, I’m very healthy and strong – but I think that Pilates has helped me become stronger. I’m a pretty healthy person, so I try to do my best to stay fit and trim. I don’t eat meat, but I eat a lot of fish. I guess that helped me, too. Life was very interesting on the set of Pirates Of The Caribbean. Sometimes we’d work for 12 or 18 hours a day, so the hours were very long and you have to be physically prepared for that. Some days were tougher than others, but it was always fun on set.
How did you first get into acting?
I did a little acting at school when I was very young, but that was more of a hobby back then. We did a lot of school plays and I really enjoyed it – but I didn’t think there was any possibility of becoming a professional actor. To me, a job in this industry seemed completely unreal. I grew up in the countryside, which is so far removed from the movie industry. I didn’t even have a TV at home. I moved to Paris on my own when I was 17. I wanted to become an osteopath at that time, but then my father passed away and I realized that life is too short. I had a close look at my life and I realized that my heart was telling me I had different ambitions. That’s when I discovered that I wanted to become an actress, so I started to chase my dream. After graduation, I went straight to drama school and I never looked back.
Did you wear a fish tail while filming?
I never wore a fish tail on the set. Syrena’s tail was added by special effects after we finished filming, so it was really exciting to see what she looked like when I finally saw the movie. She looks incredible when you see her.
What was the toughest part of filming?
Nothing was tough, although I had to avoid the sun in Hawaii and that was a little difficult at times. My character has pale skin, so I couldn’t get a tan. While everyone else enjoyed the beach whenever they had any time off, I had to stay inside. I would stay inside and watch movies or read. I had been away from home for quite a while, so I’d also get on my computer and video call my family whenever I could. I stayed out of the sun, but I still had a good time.
Will Syrena return for another Pirates of the Caribbean adventure?
Who knows? There has been nothing mentioned yet, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. I’d love to play with this character again, and I’d love to work with these people again, too. It would be a dream come true for me, but we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES is Available on Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray Hi-Def Combo Pack October 18th!
Click HERE to read the Interview with Penelope Cruz
Click HERE to read the Theatrical Review of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
- GoneWithTheTwins.com
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