Jennifer Lawrence talks about her nude scenes in 'Red Sparrow'
A few weeks ago Jennifer Lawrence announced that she would be taking a hiatus from her acting career. Decision in which she may have something to do with the catharsis caused by 'Red Sparrow'. The film in which she gets into the role of Dominika Egorova, a famous Russian Bolshoi Ballet dancer who sees her career frustrated after an accident on stage.
Away from the scenes and with a sick mother, in a state, lagging behind a recalcitrant communism, which withdraws all aid and subsidies, the protagonist will be forced to enlist in the Sparrow school, where she will be trained in manipulation and seduction techniques to apply them in international espionage missions.
In an interview from the 20th Century Fox studios, the Oscar winner reveals details about her preparation and she leaves open the possibility of reprising the character in a sequel.
Ballet movements, Russian accents, fight scenes. How much preparation did Dominika's role in "Red Sparrow" require?
I had to train a lot. I did three hours of ballet a day for almost four months. Which actually had more to do with moving my body in a different way, because it was obvious that I wasn't going to become a great dancer. I also worked a lot on the accent with Tim Monich, who is an absolute genius with the dialect.
How did he prepare for this mentally? Because Dominika lives unpleasant experiences.
The torment and humiliation these young people forced into this show is heartbreaking and overwhelming, and doing those scenes meant the same thing to me. It took a certain amount of mental strength and preparation to put myself in a place where I felt empowered enough to do so. But generally, at the end of the show, even though she's been trained to use her body, actually what she uses to survive is her mind.
What was it like working with someone like Charlotte Rampling and Jeremy Irons?
Jeremy Irons and Charlotte Rampling are icons. It's a daunting experience to be on set with actors of that caliber. Charlotte Rampling showed up the first day, and she mastered the accent, while I was freaking out on mine. Doing scenes with Charlotte and Jeremy was an unforgettable experience.
There are a fair amount of sexual and violent scenes in the movie. How did you ensure that these scenes were not exploitative?
Well, that's what the movie is about, and international espionage. And for the same reason, it was very important for us to go one step further and there are going to be many scenes in this movie that some people will be uncomfortable with. But it was important for us to tell the story, meet the expectations and go as far as we could to get the true essence of the whole story.
Despite Dominika being recruited to use her body, she succeeds by using her mind. Is that her main strength?
This is a woman who has been a survivor since she was a child. From the moment she was born her body belonged to the state, even when she was dancing. So she has always used mental touch to get to where she is in the world. And when her circumstances in the movie change, to survive she goes to the Sparrow School to be trained in the art of manipulation and master con. But by now she is already a very smart survivor. She sees life as a kind of chess game and she is always four steps ahead of everyone else.
Would it be fair to say that the dancer training somehow prepares her for her spy training?
Yes, dancer training is what makes her a perfect spy. That is the reason why the training, as strenuous as it was for me, is still very important to study in depth how these dancers take their bodies beyond the limit of pleasure and cannot stop. That is exactly what happens to Dominika when she begins to become a competent spy. There is no such thing as 'I feel uncomfortable, I have to stop now', and there is no such thing as dancing.
How complex are the relationships of the characters?
The entire book that Jason Matthews wrote is full of characters that are complex. Everyone in this movie and every character, Russian or American, is there for a myriad of reasons: for their country, for loyalty, for ambition.
What makes the relationship between Dominika and Nate (Joel Edgerton) difficult to understand?
The relationship between Dominika and Nate is fueled by passion and chemistry, but also by disappointment. They are both adept at manipulating each other, and both are cautious not to be disappointed, so it is virtually impossible to know what they are really thinking.
What is happening between Dominika and her uncle Vanya (Matthias Schoenaerts)?
Dominika's mother, since she was a child, has tried to protect her from her uncle Vanya from her, who has always had an inappropriate attraction to her. And he became part of the SVR (Russian Intelligence) and then he became an untrustworthy and dangerous person.
So there is a very alarming dynamic between the two of them. Because, at the end of the day, it's her family and Dominika doesn't have a father. She lost her father, which is why there is such a need for a relationship. But her need to always be ahead overpowers that.
Do you think "Red Sparrow" is a movie outside the spy movie canon?
It is a psychological spy drama. It is exciting, sinister and unique. It was also written by someone who worked extensively with the CIA, and specifically on relations between Russia and the United States. So it exposes many of the behind-the-scenes factors that occur in espionage, which I, in particular, never got to know. That said, it is still a fictional story, with fictional characters, but having a whole story written by someone who worked for the CIA gives you a unique perspective.
Russia is part of the political conjuncture, especially for the United States. Was that situation part of the conversations when the film was being made?
Relations between Russia and the United States have served as an inspiration for writers and filmmakers for decades. The intrigue and glamor make them fascinating, which is why so many stories and films have been spawned.
This movie is based on a book by a CIA agent, whose real-life experiences give the story authenticity. I loved playing the role of Dominika because she is so complex and ultimately she empowers herself despite manipulation on both sides.
Would you be interested in playing the role of Dominika again?
I'd love to. I find her fascinating and I've always said that growing up with a character over the years is one of the most interesting things you can do as an actor, and I feel like I haven't closed my cycle with Dominika yet. There is still much more to explore. So I would be fascinated to play Dominika again.
