Natalie Portman In Thor
Natalie Portman swapped the world of ballet for the big budget blockbuster this summer as she took on the role of Jane Foster in Thor - which is out now on DVD & Blu-Ray
- Hi Natalie. You, of course, starred in the Star Wars movies so are used to being part of big budget, fantastical films. Can you compare working on Thor to the Star War movies?
It was amazing to work on both, but they were very different experiences. On Thor, to be on a set with Ken (director Kenneth Branagh), made it very different because he paid so much attention to character.
It felt like he was making a small character piece even though there is all of this elaborate filmmaking going on around you.
He never got lost in that which I think is a tendency of most directors of these big films because they are so entwined in the sets and action sequences they forget about character. Ken was constantly on that. It was character, character, character, story, story, story.
- It's no secret comic book and sci-fi fans love you. It started with Star Wars, then V for Vendetta and now Thor. What's it like when you go out in public? Do you get mobbed by nerds? It must be scary.
(Laughs) No. Anyone who approaches me has been respectful and sweet.
- Really?
Yes. I think it's exciting to have people who are passionate about what you do. As an actor, that's the best thing you can hope for and besides, I'm very small and can camouflage very easily. When I'm out in public I'm hard to spot (laughs).
- Can you tell us a bit about your character in Thor, Jane Foster.
Thor is exiled to Earth to learn humility and earn his right to be a leader and Jane is part of what grounds him on Earth.
That's something Ken kept saying to me. He wanted to make sure my character's feet were always firmly on the ground. That was the bottom of her character.
- Jane is a scientist?
Yeah. She is working on a theory of connecting dimensions. It's based on an Einstein theory that you could connect dimensions through the warping of time and space.
Thor, obviously, comes from another dimension, so he is sort of this missing piece to her scientific research and everyone thinks she's sort of on the fringe of science and a bit of a kook. This is her chance to prove herself.
- Jane isn't a scientist in the Thor comic books.
That's right. She's a nurse. But, I think it's great in our movie she is an astrophysics doctoral candidate.
- What was it like when you saw Chris Hemsworth for the first time in his Thor costume?
I loved it. It was funny because we filmed for about a month with our characters in regular, earthling clothes. Chris included.
Then all of a sudden we started shooting scenes where Chris was in a superhero costume. It was a real shock. We were all really amazed.
- What's Chris like? From all reports he is a really nice, down-to-earth guy.
He is. He's also a fantastic actor. He's confident, but he's not showy in any way. He can walk into a room with Ken Branagh and act his pants off and not be intimidated, and is able to shoulder this responsibility of taking on this huge character with incredible grace.
He's universally nice to everyone, genuinely nice, very funny. I have no doubt that he'll be a massive star.
- So he's good-looking, talented and a nice guy? That's not fair!
Yes. (Laughs) He makes it tough for other guys.
- Can you talk a little more about Kenneth Branagh as a director?
He's a master. Like I said earlier, the attention he gives to character on a movie of this size is absolutely remarkable because it's very easy to get lost in other things. Never for one second did he let that go. He must have been exhausted at the end of each day.
- As well as a great director, Kenneth Branagh is an Oscar-nominated actor.
That's why I think he's such a great director. I'd watch him when he was behind the monitor and he sort of acts with the actors as they do their scene. He moves his arms around. I don't think he realizes what he is doing.
- How did he help you create your character?
Because I play a scientist, he gave me some books on female scientists. It was wonderful reading.
- You also share a lot of screen time with Kat Dennings, who plays Darcy Lewis. Can you explain Darcy's relationship with Jane?
Darcy is a hesitant protege of Jane's. There's a nice thing in the story regarding girls who are not quite ready to own their intelligence.
Darcy is a little shy about it. But, then she has this big change in the movie where she says to herself 'You know what, I do know what's going on.
I was pretending I didn't know what is going on, but I do and I'll solve all of your mysteries and problems for you'.
- Although there's plenty of testosterone and beefcake in Thor, the female characters in the film are very strong and, like what you just said, there's some strong themes for young women.
Sure. There's a lot of female camaraderie and women who are passionate about science. We also have Jaimie Alexander, who plays Sif and she's super tough. We had plenty of good female power on the film.
- We have seen you in a few superhero movies, but never a superhero. Do you have a favorite superhero you would like to play?
Me? Gosh. No. It's not something I'm keen to do.
- Do you read comic books?
Yeah. My cousins were really into comic books so I definitely grew up around that a lot. I also got into graphic novels when I did V for Vendetta so I'm definitely a fan of those now.
- Had you read a Thor comic before you were approached to do the movie?
To be honest, I knew nothing, but quickly got up to speed.
Thor is out on DVD & Blu-Ray now
Tagged in Natalie Portman Thor