Sarah Douglas Discusses Superman

08-12-2006 14:59

In the 70s and 80s the Superman franchise was massive. Everyone rushed to the cinema to watch the late Christopher Reeve in his landmark role as the world’s greatest hero.Superman II, saw three super-powered Kryptonian criminals – General Zod, Ursa and Non- unwittingly released from Phantom Zone imprisonment. The evil trio quickly set up a plan to enslave Earth and challenge the man of steel for supremacy just as he decided to show a more romantic side to Lois Lane.FemaleFirst were able to have a chat with the British born actress Sarah Douglas. She appeared in the big blockbuster sequel as the leather clad, cold and cruel Ursa, who hated all mankind. Here she talks about her memories of starring in one of the most celebrated movies of all time. What was it like working with such a prestigious cast for Superman Two? You shared the screen with the likes of Marlon Brando, Terence Stamp, Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman to name but a few.Well, first of all working with Brando when you’re a young actress, as I was in my twenties, was just the most exciting thing you can imagine. I mean I was completely, totally in awe of him, as indeed was just about everybody on the set. Even people such as one Trevor Howard, who had worked with him before, I think on Mutiny on the Bounty, he didn’t speak to him for quite some time. Trevor sort of sat in the dark along with me watching Brando. Then Brando finally saw him and came on over and said hello. Trevor said to me afterwards. “You’re so in awe of the man.” He was a very regular guy, he was really sweet and friendly, and very, very witty. But there was an aura around him. I mean he really was like a super star. It was quite extraordinary - a magnetism and an aura.And to compare him to Gene Hackman, who was my favourite of all. But Gene was a really regular guy. Anybody could approach him. We sort of did stuff together and we went out together in a group. He’s much more of a down to earth regular guy. That’s not to say that Brando wasn’t, he just had an aura about him that made you wait to be spoken to. It’s kind of like being in the presence of royalty – it’s brilliant.Christopher was Christopher. I mean I worked with him on the very first day that he shot the first piece of footage and he was a young, slightly innocent actor in those days. By the time we had finished Superman Two, which was a long time later he’d definitely become Christopher “Superman” Reeves. To me he was kind of like Clark Kent. I found him to be rather very polite, very serious and quite studious. There was a lot of shrieking on the set and all of fun and games and laughter. Christopher was always very serious and very much in character, but much more in character as Clark Kent, I think, than Superman.