Eva Green: Men Are Just Boys Until They’re 45

By Kristina Moskalenko for Interview magazine in Russia

Ask any actor’s wife which actress they dread their husbands working with, and Eva Green is bound to be on that list. Known for her icy, almost otherworldly beauty, Green has earned a reputation for playing characters with a touch of the diabolical. Whether she’s seducing, scheming, or, as in 300: Rise of an Empire, slicing through enemies with brutal efficiency, she commands attention. But, as journalist Kristina Moskalenko discovered during their meeting in London, the woman who was introduced to the film world by Bernardo Bertolucci is far more white and fluffy and innocent than her on-screen personas suggest.

Kristina: Eva, I watched 300: Rise of an Empire yesterday—what a gripping film!

Eva: Damn, I haven’t even seen it yet! I flew in last night and I leave again today.

Kristina: The film is quite brutal. How did you prepare for such a bloodthirsty role?

Eva: You know, I just killed a bunch of people! (Laughs.) I trained for two and a half months with three Los Angeles-based trainers. Every day, except weekends, I did strength training, squats, lunges, and sword-fighting practice. I’m a huge fan of films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero, so working with a Wushu expert who taught me dual-sword combat was a dream come true. I looked forward to every lesson.

Kristina: So what was it like fighting men on set as a result?

Eva: Exhausting. Especially when you’re up against several at once—it’s like dancing with different partners, and the choreography takes time to master. Realistically, men are much stronger than me, but my character, Artemisia, had to seem incredibly agile to keep up, so I had no choice but to rise to the challenge.

Kristina: Let’s talk about that scene where you kiss a severed head.

Eva: Oh, they kept that in? Hmm. First of all, the head was ridiculously heavy! I kept thinking, “Why does this thing weigh so much?” I don’t know how many kilos it was, but its weight is my main memory of that scene. Secondly, it was fun! You’d never encounter anything like that in real life. It’s a completely mythical, insane warrior moment—killing your enemy and then taking their energy and strength through blood and a kiss. Whoops, am I rambling?

Kristina: Are you superstitious?

Eva: Very!

Kristina: And kissing a severed head didn’t scare you?

Eva: It was a fake head! Besides, in some cultures, eating a heart of the enemy was once believed to transfer strength.

Kristina: Ok, ok, you’re comfortable with blood and provocative scenes, but is there anything you’d refuse to do on screen?

Eva: I’d never play a “dumb girlfriend” unless it’s in a comedy. If the film takes itself seriously and I am offered that part, count me out. I’d also steer clear of porn. Otherwise, I love roles that challenge me. Being an actress lets me experience things I’d never try in real life—it’d be silly to turn that down.

Kristina: So why did you agree to play Artemisia—what do you have in common with her?

Eva: Determination and, after all that training, a toned body.

Kristina: So it’s like a free training for you! Is there anything about her that you wish you had?

Eva: Her guts. Artemisia is a ruthless military leader, completely unlike me. I’m naturally reserved, so playing strong women gives me strength. Of course, I don’t want to spend my whole career playing tough, dark characters, but it’s empowering while it lasts. When people meet me in real life, they can’t believe how sweet I am. They’re like, “Are you pretending?”

Kristina: So acting allows you to wear a mask? To get closer your own shadow side?

Eva: I think we all wear masks daily—smiling while stabbing ourselves with a fork under the table. Acting, for me, is a way to become someone else completely. It’s when I feel most alive, when everything in my head clicks into place. If I’m not working, I get restless and spend all my time obsessing over my next role, brainstorming ideas, and discussing them with directors.

Kristina: I mean… Do you ever just relax at home with a book?

Eva: Rarely, but yes!

Kristina: Reading Classics, I hope! Many acting students dream of playing figures from Greek or Roman mythology. You’ve just brought a Greek warrior to life—was that a dream of yours?

Eva: My dream was to play Cleopatra, and I did in a Shakespeare production of Antony and Cleopatra.

Kristina: In that case what’s left to dream about?

Eva: Right now, I’m working on a series written by John Logan. It’s one of the best roles I’ve ever had. You can never predict what audiences will love, but it’s dark, terrifying, and deeply human. I think people will see themselves in the character—it’s a dream role.

Kristina: But there are plenty of dream roles in your career: your film debut in Bertolucci’s The Dreamers, followed by playing Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, is the envy of many actresses. You’ve said you relate to Vesper—why?

Eva: Vesper elevated Bond girls beyond being one-dimensional beauties. She was Bond’s equal, with brains and heart. She wasn’t just a Bond girl; she was Bond’s love.

Kristina: And, above all, a sex symbol. You and Daniel Craig solidified that status after Casino Royale. But who’s YOUR sex symbol?

Eva: Actor Steve McQueen. But he’s dead, and that’s the problem! Actually, it’s a general problem—there aren’t enough real men anymore, either in movies or in real life. Men under 45 are just boys. Slick metrosexuals with nothing primal left in them. No, that doesn’t appeal to me.

Kristina: True. Even the warriors’ muscular bodies in 300: Rise of an Empire are completely hairless! 

Eva: Exactly, they’re all waxed. That’s why I urge women to start a campaign for hair on men’s bodies!

Kristina: Speaking of hair, how do you feel about being blonde?

Eva: At first, I was against it. But Tim Burton saw me with white hair and said, “This is it!” and walked out of the room. I ran after him, saying, “Wait, we haven’t even tried other colours!” But it was too late—he’d made up his mind. And honestly, I ended up liking it.

Kristina: Have you ever wanted to dye your hair blonde yourself?

Eva: My hair is terrible. I’d love to go platinum blonde, but my hairdresser says it would completely fry it. That would’ve been a statement! My natural color is light brown, but it’s so boring that I’ve been dyeing it black since I was 16.

Kristina: What happened when you were 16?

Eva: Not at all! Joy and I are completely different—even our looks don’t match. We’re both naturally light brunettes, but I dye my hair dark, while she lightens hers. Plus, she has a child, which makes her more serious and practical—the perfect family woman. I honestly have no idea how we came from the same womb!

Kristina: You grew up in Paris. What were you like as a child?

Eva: Something inside me just snapped. We were living in Paris, and I was the perfect straight-A student. Then one day, I told my mom, “Enough. I can’t live just for grades anymore.” That was the turning point. I transferred to an American school, took up sports and photography, and finally felt like I could breathe. I switched to an American school and suddenly discovered an entirely different world—photography, sports, creative freedom. My old school didn’t encourage individuality, with barely any teachers who understood my artistic side. Looking back, I now see how tough their job is. Honestly, I pray for God to bless them—and for the government to finally give them a well-deserved raise.

Kristina: You have a twin sister. Do you look alike?

Eva: Not at all! Joy and I are complete opposites, even in appearance. We were both born light brunettes, but I dye my hair dark, while she prefers it light. Plus, she has a child and is much more serious and practical—a true matriarch. Sometimes, I wonder how we even came from the same womb! But despite our differences, we’re really close and talk all the time.

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Photo: RANKIN

Makeup: VAL GARLAND

Hair: МАХІМЕ МАСЕ

Nails: ZARRA CELIK

Producers: САТ BURKLEY, FARBER/PORTFOLIO ONE, HARRIET LYLE/RANKIN

Originally published at the Interview Magazine / Russia: https://interviewrussia.ru/movie/eva-grin-do-45-ti-let-vse-muzhchiny-prosto-malchishki