An interview about the star’s new movie “The Love Guru”
Campus Press freelancer Devon Taylor recently sat down with actress Jessica Alba to talk with her about her new movie.
Campus Press: Working with Mike Meyers, was it hard to keep up with all of the improv?
Jessica Alba: It was fun. It was so much fun. Going to work and not really knowing how that day is going to go and it being so unpredictable and you fly by the seat of your pants is most fun to me, whether it be in comedy or drama or whatever. Certainly in comedy it keeps the energy up and keeps it interesting.
CP: You started your film career with comedies such as “Idle Hands” and “Never Been Kissed” then did a lot of drama and genre films in between – what inspired the return to comedy?
JA: Well, I wanted to do comedy; no one would give me a shot at it. I couldn’t even get into rooms to audition for comedy because everyone thought I was you know, too tough or played superheroes and larger than life characters and I wouldn’t be able to do comedy and have fun and be playful. Good Luck Chuck was kind of my shot at showing people that I could do it – and then, thank God, people enjoyed it, because it’s my favorite thing in the world to do, and now Mike asked me to be in this movie.
CP: You graduated high school when you were only 16. Have you always had acting in mind as a career path?
JA: I did, yeah. I graduated because I was working and I was tutored and I didn’t have any school breaks. So you know, when most kids get summer breaks and Christmas vacation and all those things, I didn’t have any of that, I was just doing school one-on-one with a tutor all the way through so I just finished early. I finished early in order to give myself two years of working and trying to make it in the business. If I didn’t get a good job that I though was going to put me permanently kind of – make me relevant in the business I was just going to go school and figure something else out. I got Dark Angel when I was seventeen, and that was kind of a blessing for me because, you know, I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
CP: How did it feel working with such “powerhouse” comedy stars such as Dane Cook and now Mike Meyers? Was there a lot of pressure on you to perform?
JA: With Dane it was a little less nerve racking because luckily I think it was his first movie he was starring in and my first comedy, so we were both figuring things out. But with Mike, he is a veteran, so I obviously wanted to hold my own and keep up with him. Certainly when I was improving I would make sure that I stayed quick on my feet and witty and stay in character. It’s much more intimidating with someone like Mike Myers that has coined basically every phrase of my life, from “Wayne’s World” to “I Married an Ax Murder” to the Austin Powers movies. It was interesting and definitely a pinch me moment everyday on set.
CP: Considering your pregnancy and the fact that you are due soon, what characteristics did you learn from your character in this movie, Jane Bullard, that you will want to instill in your child?
JA: She was really about learning to love herself and not let other people affect the way that she thought about herself. And it’s a good life lesson I think for anybody not to allow people in the world to affect how you feel about yourself or what you’re going to do in life. It’s quite simple. But it’s a pretty powerful message.
CP: Since this film is about a love guru, do you have any advice about love of your own?
JA: You definitely need to be on the path of loving yourself before you are capable of sharing your life or your heart with anyone else. A lot of people look for love to validate themselves or to lose themselves in – putting themselves second, and it’s easy to get lost in a relationship. But you have to love yourself first before you’re even ready for that kind of thing.
CP: ver the last 12 months you’ve come out with about six different films. What’s next for you, more films, or is it time for a break?
JA: I’m taking time off, yes. I worked for about two years straight and it takes a toll on you doing that much and working so hard. I’m really grateful that I got the opportunity to do everything that I did, but I’m excited to just hang out, so I haven’t really been reading scripts. I’ve just been trying to live my life and be normal for a little while before I go right back into being a nomad and jumping from one set to the next and one character to the next.
CP: With all of the films you’ve been in over the last year, how did you prepare yourself for all of the different roles?
JA: Each movie is completely different. You prepare completely different depending on what kind of demands you have. For “The Eye” I had to learn how to play the violin. I had to go to blind school to learn how to live blind, and try to come off as normal as possible in that environment and be realistic as possible. In this, I had to think on my feet – I had to be on my toes. You have to have tons of energy no matter what time of the day it is. It takes a lot to try and constantly make comedy fresh, new and fun after the twelfth hour of doing the same thing for the second day in a row. It can really die and not be funny and not work – it takes a lot to keep it going and keep it fresh. Luckily I was with Mike and he has this great sort of formula. He always plays music, he cracks jokes, and just keeps the environment really fun and positive. So it was a bit easier to stay in that frame of mind.
CP: I know that Mike (Meyers) is a big hockey fan, but I was wondering if you were or have been, through the process of making this movie, become a hockey fan?
JA: Even if you like watching hockey or enjoy the sport, nothing compares to a true Canadian fan. I mean, it’s a lifestyle. It’s in the blood. It’s pretty extraordinary. I know a few Canadians that live in LA and it is a part of their being. So I can’t fairly say to a Canadian I’m a true fan, but I do definitely have an appreciation for it. I totally enjoy watching the game though; it’s a pretty tough, really crazy, fun sport.
To learn more about the upcoming film “The Love Guru,” click here.
Contact Campus Press freelancer Devon Taylor at Devon.Taylor@colorado.edu
