Ad content continues below
Thats thanks to Daniel [Espinosa, director] he made it happen.
Their actions generate reactions.
What is your loneliness?
What is my loneliness?
Because theyre believable characters, from that comes unpredictability.
With real people, you dont always know what theyre going to do next.
Sometimes, Daniel would give directions to me and not to anyone else.
It wasnt just on paper, it was a combination of emotion, character and truth.
I cant describe how intimate it was.
Sometimes the wire work doesnt work.
Hed just slam straight into me.
Youve got to know each other on a very personal level.
But that aside, it was challenging.
Its hard, hard work.
Oh God, thats my line!
Ive forgotten my line!
But I look good floating!
[Laughs]
Whats Daniels style of directing like?
But he also has the creme-de-la-creme of artists.
He had the best of everything for this specific genre, or at least I felt so.
There are probably gazillions out there, but it felt so familiar it felt like Id known everyone.
Seamus McGarvey, the director of photography hes phenomenal.
And hed build something with a hanger.
And Seamus goes, And Ill drop the camera, and boom theyve created something.
Watching people build this puzzle is in some ways more fascinating to me than actually seeing the final product.
Its difficult to tell whats CGI and whats practical when it comes to the creature effects.
What were you interacting with on set?
When shooting, we had nothing to go on.
We had no tennis balls we had a specific eyeline that we would use, but that was fascinating.
He was nurturing it, he was making it grow.
It was because of him that this thing got life, really.
The word firewall comes up a lot, doesnt it.
Trying to create a barrier between you and this creature.
These are the moments when I was just hovering and had no idea what to say.
If I just yell, Firewall!
we can get it in there!
We will get it in.
I wanted her to be a human being and a scientist, first of all.
Which means scientist finds science quite beautiful.
What happens throughout the film, we create what comes later.
I guess she feels she blames herself; she couldnt maintain the firewalls that were needed.
But what happens to the character when you take away the safety net?
Who is she really, when all the firewalls are gone?
Whats the pure identity of Miranda?
One of the things I like about science fiction…
Oh, you like science fiction?
Ive been asked so many times which is my favourite one.
Oh, thats great.
Mine is more contained and boring I think, compared to that, but I loveMoon.
Moonis such a good film.
Thats one of my favourite ones.
But Im thinking Im missing out on so many good answers here.
What would yours be?
Mine keeps changing, but I do loveSolaris.
Do you know why I think that is?
Because were on the ISS, theres no hierarchy.
Gender equality is basically there it doesnt matter if youre a man or a woman.
Youre there because youre the best person for that job.
Without one of them, the mission cant work.
It has to be all of us together.
Then theres the cultural mix.
I think its a breath of fresh air, funnily enough.
Theres the suggestion that the ISS is a kind of refuge for some of these characters.
I think thats true.
At the same time, you think you should stand on the barricades and shout and speak your mind.
But all in good time.
All in good time.
Its interesting that the creature isnt necessarily the villain in all of this.
I kind of see that the villain is the human in all of this.
I might be wrong, I dont know thats my own take on it.
Thats why the film so interesting, because theres so much philosophy in it.
Whatever you want to take with you, you’ve got the option to take it with you.
People say, This creatures horrendous.
But who took it from its natural habitat?
Who wouldnt want to survive?
What if I took you from Earth and put you on a space ship and flew you away?
Locked you up and started prodding you with electricity?
I think youd want to survive.
The lab rats quite significant, I think.
Ah, the rat!
I had rats when I was younger.
Thats the worst bit of science, isnt it?
It says something about the way we treat other species.
And its interesting too how the scientific attitude to the creature ebbs as the pressure builds.
You get that line, I hate that fucking thing or something like that.
Its a good one, isnt it.
Its not scientific at all.
I just hate that fucking thing.
I think Hughs the one shes closest to, and she understands him.
I think she sees him as a father figure, a cocooning support for her in this space ship.
She puts herself out there as well.
But Hugh says, What would you do?
And she says, Its not my job.
She could probably give 10,000 different alternatives, because shes curious.
Its very restricting, isnt it?
Was there a biography for your character, then?
Was that something you came up with?
I think Daniel and I, we made it together, separate from other people.
Thats something I liked.
I guess they dont know all the details about each other.
I find the mental preparation going out more interesting than the physical aspect of it.
We had stories and trauma and background and death and loneliness.
Some of it was revealed, like Hiros [Hiroyuki Sanadas] beautiful birth that was a beautiful sequence.
But we all carry our own luggage.
Theres a reason why Jakes character doesnt want to come back.
Shes seen horror, which is a beautiful connecting point as well.
That does come across.
I also really liked your performance in the lastMission: Impossible film…
Really?
Ill have to see if I can live up to it on the next one.
Im prepping it right now.
Gosh shes a good character.
Will your role be larger in the next one, do you know?
I have no idea!
I am just prepping.
Im doing my martial arts.
These are really annoying!
[motions to large bracelets around her wrists, which clang together.]
Calvin would hear you coming a mile off.
Rebecca Ferguson thank you very much.
Lifeis out in UK cinemas on the 24th March.
