The actress talks Imagine Me and You, 300, and putting Brit cinema to rights.
By EmpireOnline
Source: http://www.empireonline.com/

Recently seen in The Brothers Grimm, Lena Headey has been going from strength to strength, and can this month be seen starring in Imagine Me And You, a romantic dramedy where she plays Luce, the florist for Rachel’s (Piper Perabo) wedding, only to find that she has a big a thing for bride as the groom does. We caught up with the British actress to discuss the film, her next feature – 300, with Gerard Butler – an her career goals.

What attracted you to Imagine Me And You?
Well I loved the writing, I think Ol (Parker) is a great writer, and I loved the character of Luce. That was all I needed, really.

There’s more to this than just romantic comedy, too? there’s a quite a considerable dramatic angle to the story.
I think it’s very real, and for all its kind of? appeal, it’s actually ? and that’s what I loved about it too ? that it’s very honest. It’s about timing in life, and how there’s always pain where there’s love.

True. You’ve worked with Piper (Perabo) before, with The Cave? there’s a print interview out there, and neither of you seemed that keen on that one.
Oh, my God! (laughs) No, it was definitely an experience. I don’t know ? that’s what I mean about timing. I think possibly we bonded so well on that, and then this was easy to play.

So was that part of the appeal then as well? Or did you not know that Piper would be doing it as well?
No, after The Cave we got home and rang each other – we were excited about not being in Romania, and being able to eat food, saying “My God, what did you eat?!” I think we were obsessed. But in the course of conversation, I said “Oh, I’ve read this script, blah blah blah” and she said “Oh, I’ve read that too”. So when I went in to read, I said “How was Piper?” and they said “She’s great, we’ve been thinking about her.” So I said she was lovely, and easy to work with and professional, and just good to have around. They had another meeting, and that was it – they rang and we said “Woo Hoo, we’re both doing it!”

Presumably you were never worried about being ever so slightly controversial?
No. But it’s weird – I heard somebody had turned it down, and (their representation) was like “She just doesn’t want to play a lesbian.” I don’t know, because that’s not even a thought for me. And the story doesn’t bang a drum about it – it’s not like “I’m gay!” It’s just about love, so hopefully ? and I’m sure they will ? audiences will see it for that.

And right at the other end of the cinematic scale, you’ve got 300 coming up.
I heard somebody had turned it down, and (their representation) was like “She just doesn’t want to play a lesbian” …that’s not even a thought for me.
Yeah, it should be brilliant. The director’s fabulous, and beyond enthusiastic about it ? kind of an ADD nutter, but exactly what you want, and knows exactly what he wants. It was a very exciting project I think because of his joy for the film, and he’d been carrying the it around for three years wanting to make it. It was a great experience, and I think it should be stunning and quite exciting. It was all green and blue screen.

How was that for you? Some actors have said they don’t really like it?
It’s very? I don?t know ? it can be very liberating, but it’s also incredibly frustrating, and weird, because you don’t have any memory or anything ? any emotional connection. You’re just in space, going “look at the bird!” and you’re saying “where is it?”

Do you have to do any stunts on that one?
Not really ? I got to stab someone with a sword, which was fun. Because all of the boys got to fight, and I’m just sort of wearing very lovely dresses most of the time, and then I eventually get to kill a baddie.

Is there anyone that you’d like to work with in the future?
Shane Meadows, and Pedro Almodovar would be my two, definitely.

Well we’ll put it out there.
Yeah, put Shane Meadows! Because I would fucking die – I think he’s a genius.

Do you go to the cinema often? Or are you an actor for whom work is enough contact with that world?
No, I love the cinema. Love, love, love it ? it makes me feel very safe. What have I seen? I’ve been out in Bulgaria. The last thing I saw was Mission: Impossible 3.

How was that for you?
Well I’d not seen any of them. It was sort of a desperation to do something, and it was that or The Da Vinci Code. So I said “Right, Mission: Impossible 3” ? and I fucking loved it! I would love to do that. I actually thought it was a great role for a female in that, for a big commercial movie, it was very cool. And the action was blinding.

Is it hard to find roles for women still ? we hear that a lot?
I was talking this guy this morning, and it’s very rare that you find something deeply satisfying. But I’ve just read something which is possibly the best thing I’ve ever read, which is really, really exciting. It’s a brilliant female role, and it’s epic, and exciting, and amazing ? but I can’t tell you about it yet ? I might jinx it!

Had you always wanted to be an actress?
Yeah, but it’s strange – I did, and I do, but directing is now hugely interesting me as well.

Have you got anything in mind?
We’ve got a script right now, which we’re trying to figure out a game plan for. It’s a very? I think British cinema has become very formulaic, to become more saleable to America, and that’s why I love what Shane Meadows does ? he sticks to his guns and does great, real movies. So this script harks back to that. It’s quite rough, it’s not pretty.

Do you have any cast lined up?
Well I’ve got a dream cast! It’d be Ray Winstone, Ian Hart, Dianna Quick, and Albert Finney.

Wow?
Yeah, exactly! It’s a complete dream.