The International's Timely Release - page 2

07 March 2009

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Playing a toughened version of himself might appear a foolish choice in an industry that usually favours more charming characters, but Clive doesn't care about pleasing others to better himself.

He said: "The worst piece of advice I was ever given by somebody, a long, long time ago, was, 'Clive, it's all about likeability'. I remember thinking, 'What a ridiculous thing to say about acting'. I don't go into my parts wanting the audience to like me. I'm much more interested that they understand and believe me. People ultimately respect honesty more than they do charm."

Clive says 'Run Lola Run' director Tom Tykwer initially attracted him to the role.

He adds: "I think Tom Tykwer is as good a director as I've ever come across. I think he is really special, unique and has a grip on all aspects of filmmaking, probably unlike any other director I've ever come across."

The father-of-two cites Tykwer's enthusiastic work ethics as the reason behind the film's success.

He said: "The guy gives me music before we even start shooting the film, which he has composed with his guys before we even start, so already I get a tone for what certain sequences are going to feel like within the movie. And he's just incredibly prepared, incredibly bright."

Naomi, on the other hand, says Clive's involvement attracted her to the film.

The 40-year-old 'King Kong' actress said: "Well first of all it came to me that Clive Owen was doing a movie with Tom Tykwer and that made me instantly want to read the script despite the fact I felt that there was no way that I would be working that close to having my first child."

Tykwer was so desperate to have her on board, that he tweaked the filming schedule to accommodate Naomi's life as a new mum, and she returned to work just a few weeks after giving birth to Alexander 'Sacha' Pete in July 2007.

She said: "He came back and said we can do it in twenty-one days and shoot five consecutive weeks. They started two months before me so by the time I got to the set my son was 3 months old. So I felt ready to go back to work."

The blonde beauty said juggling motherhood and filming an action movie was a huge challenge.

She confessed: "It was a struggle. I was still nursing my baby at that point and we were shooting at night in the freezing cold and I wasn't going to have him in the trailer on the set, so I would be expressing milk and sending it back to the hotel and then having to feed him all day the next day when I should be sleeping. So it was hard, it was definitely a challenge."

It was a difficult film for all involved, but Naomi found it fascinating.

She said: "You hear about stuff like this. It's all fascinating that one company can cultivate that much power and control that many things and people and operations. It's an ugly thing to learn."

Ugly it may be, but ask Naomi what she liked most about the role and you'd be surprised to learn that it has little to do with triumph of good over evil or social relevance.

She said: "I like the fact that they're brave enough to go up against it. That two people can make a difference."

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