Milla Jovovich reflects her most memorable role in the latest episode of GQ’s iconic character series, sharing behind the scenes stories from the fifth element, Resident Build and more. Among the films she discussed was the story of Messenger: Joan of the Ark.
Personal and professional battles in messenger
Playing Joan of Arc was one of the most challenging experiences of Jovovich’s career, both physically and emotionally. But… “When I saw the finished product, he felt mad at me,” she said, explaining that their divorce appears to affect his approach to the final cut. “I felt bad about it because I felt it was one of the best performances I’ve ever given in my career.”
She imagined a version of Jaune with a larger emotional range, but the final film kept her performance and character at almost constant strength. “Because of emotional involvement, the editing felt like it was like 100 at the end. I didn’t want Jaune to be so indifferent.”
Jovovich also recalled how deeply she immersed herself in the role and committed herself to the physical demands of playing a historical figure. “I was in armor thrown into the mud, giving myself a crazy haircut, and was in the middle of war.” The experience left a lasting impact, but she couldn’t shake up the sense that the film had missed its full potential. “I hope things were different in that film because everything was classic and didn’t hit that mark.”
The film was not doing well with critics (31% on Rotten Tomatoes), failed at the box office, earning under US$70 million from the production budget, with production budgets of US$85 million.
Despite her mixed feelings about the film’s execution, she sees the role as one of the most important roles in her career. “That’s the extraordinary thing about acting for me… to experience things, go on an adventure and go to these fantastical worlds.”
From sci-fi icons to action stars
Before the Messenger, Jovovich had already made waves in Hollywood as Lilu in the fifth element, but she played little role. After her first audition for full hair and makeup, she didn’t listen to anything for months. A random meeting at the Chateau Marmont Hotel changed everything. After the party night, “My hair was confused, I had no makeup and I was eating breakfast,” Besson found her. “He looked at me, and suddenly in his head he saw Leelu.”
She was also directly involved in shaping the look of Leeloo and provided the idea of the current iconic bandage outfit. “What would you do if the bandages came out of the machine?” she suggested. “They just hide their essentials.” Designer Jean Paul Gaultier loved the idea and created one of the most famous costumes in sci-fi film history.
Jovovich later entered the world of action films with Resident Evil. This played a role that not only launched a six-film franchise, but also led to her marriage to director Paul WS Anderson, who continues to direct her in many films. “At that point, I recalled her audition, ‘Hey, I’m the fifth element. Are you really going to ask me to read this?’
Once cast, she accepted the film’s physical demands and insisted on doing most of her stunts. “I ran straight down the 60-foot wall, like below, and it’s concrete to come to see me.” The experience was horrifying but exhilarating. “I did almost everything in every movie I did. I loved doing stunts. That was my passion.”
I continue to explore the world
Jovovich’s latest film is in The Lost Lands, a fantasy film based on George RR Martin’s short stories. In it, she plays Grey Alice, a mysterious magician hired to retrieve powerful abilities from the land of mythology. She revealed that her character’s tattoos contain hidden details, a customary inscription that spells out the names of the crew.
Jovovich has long embraced transformation into her career. Looking back at her time in the industry, she spoke about how acting allowed her to step into an extraordinary world. “It definitely made me me. (…) I’ve seen things that people wouldn’t normally see.
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