Last week I had an amazing opportunity to cover the red carpet for Gareth Evans’ highly anticipated action film, The Raid 2 (read my review of this awesome film here). While on the carpet I had a chance to speak briefly with two of the starts of the film, Iko Uwais, who played Rama and was also the fight choreographer, and Julie Estelle, who plays Hammer Girl.
Below is my interview that sheds a little light on their favorite moments as well as what it was like to work together and continue to grow as actors.
Movie Buzzers: First off, how long did it take you to say yes to this role of Hammer Girl? I feel like it’s so bad-ass that it’s one of those things you don’t…
Julie Estelle: Immediately! He offered me this character and I was like “hell yeah, I’m doing this character, how cool would that be?” But yeah, seriously, immediately.
MB: You mentioned earlier it took about six months to train?
JE: Yeah, I had to learn everything from the basics, the kicks, the hits, the falls and everything, so yeah it took quite a while.
MB: Was Iko your teacher?
JE: Well, we had a whole team of trainers.
MB: [To Iko] Now this is your third film, I’m not counting Man of Tai Chi because you just ran around there, I was very depressed about that, I got so excited about it at first
Iko Uwais: [Laughs] I know, I know, I know.
MB: But it’s your third film, how do you think as an actor you’ve evolved working with Gareth over the three films?
IU: It’s more challenging, you get more experience from Gareth, not only with the choreography but the acting also.
JE [translating for Iko]: He has evolved so much from the first movie, but acting-wise, choreography-wise, this one is much more complex than the previous films.
MB: What was your favorite scene to choreograph and shoot?
IU: In The Raid 2, The Raid 1?
MB: The Raid 2.
IU: The kitchen fight, that’s the scene, because me and Cecep Arif Rahman already know each other and have the chemistry. The style is silat and he’s a master of that martial art, of silat [so that was my favorite].
MB: Have you been offered any big roles in any Hollywood films because of your action talent?
IU: Not yet.
MB: And for you [Julie] what was the most exciting part about working with Gareth and Iko?
JE: The most exciting part, I don’t know, this is my first experience working in an action movie and they’re just the best in it, so I’m very happy that my first movie is with Gareth and Iko. They’re just awesome and do great work.
MB: And you’re going to be working with them again.
JE: I am going to work with them again, The Night Comes for Us, with Gareth and Timo, that’s my next project.
MB: That’s going to be awesome. Thanks!
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