"Cinescape Interview: "

3 Questions with Jessica Alba
Probably the most anticipated show of the new fall TV season is Fox's Dark Angel. The creation of James Cameron--the man who gave us Terminator, Aliens, and Titantic--Dark Angel takes place in a dark, near-future world, its protagonist a genetically-enhanced and very attractive female named Max. Star Jessica Alba had to beat out nearly 1000 other applicants who auditioned for the part. Formerly seen in the horror film Idle Hands as well as Drew Barrymore's Never Been Kissed, Dark Angel marks Alba's first foray into the action genre.

Cinescape: What was the audition like?
Jessica Alba: They were totally cool. Jim [Cameron] had the camera, first he had another guy tape it. I did the scene and we played around with different stuff. I worked really well with his directness and the way he directs. He doesn't try to sugracoat anything. He says 'this is what I want and at this point do this, at this point do that, and maybe she's feeling this,' and he has a reason for it and a backstory. He doesn't tell me you have to do it a certain way, he just says go in this line of these emotions. He gives you creative freedom and a direction at the same time, which most directors don't do. He's totally down to earth. It was awesome.

Cinescape: How did you train for the part?
Jessica Alba: I did weight training for like an hour and a half each day. I did kung-fu, I did gymnastics, and motorcycle training. I was lots of days out in the desert on dirt bikes and street bikes and feaking out that I'm going to fall over and kill myself. I hold a lot of respect for bikes and people who ride bikes. I don't have that ballsy fearless thing that Max has about it and that most real motorcycle riders have about it because I think it's really dangerous. It's really heavy and one false move and you're on the floor. You're done. I have to admit that going over twenty down the street you feel powerful, you feel invincible. I understand the rush and why Max does it. It's so self-empowering. They're all joking about giving me a bike and I'm like no, no, no. It'll sit in the driveway.

Cinescape: Any similarities between you and Max?
Jessica Alba: I think I have a hard time expressing emotions like she does. I'm not one who's going to sit there and tell you my life story. It's not that I don't trust people, but I don't give my heart to people quickly at all. I have my good friends who I love, and I'm loyal the way she's loyal, but I won't let just anyone in. I'm really choosy like she is. I thnk the fact she does her own thing regardless of what people think of her, I knd of had that as well. Living in L.A., everyone likes to mold you and change you. I don't care about fame, I don't care about being a celebrity. I know that's part of the job, but I don't feed into anyone's idea of who I should be. And I thnk that's similar to Max because she doesn't feed into being the sexy, hot, motorcycle smart-mouth girl. She doesn't take it seriously, she's just who she is.

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