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Actress Soars As Vampiress Mina Harker In LXG
The last thing an actor wants out of a movie is a role that sucks.

But in the case of Australian beauty Peta Wilson, having a sucky role is actually a good thing -- since she's playing the dynamic role of Dracula vampiress Mina Harker in the new fantasy action-adventure "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

Still, Wilson, 32, wants you to know that, as extraordinary as Mina's powers are in the film, she set out to play her character as humanly as possible. Sure, she did her fair share of researching vampires, predatory animals and other vampire-like film roles to prepare for the character -- but in the end, Wilson wanted Mina to be a person you would know.

"To prepare for Mina, I met women who weren't vampires as such, but certainly could eat the 10 men in the room that they are with," Wilson told me in a recent @ The Movies interview. "I tried to make Mina quite human, and she just happens to have a demon inside of her. I've met people who are emotional, and if they don't keep their emotions in check, they can literally turn into a demon."

Needless to say, that's a huge problem for any of Mina's Victorian-age adversaries in LXG. For you see, when Mina gets too emotional, Wilson says, she's overcome by this feeling inside of her that harkens the blood-curdling traits of Count Dracula.

"It's bestial and it's very sexual, and for a woman at the end of the 18th century, virtue was everything," Wilson explained. "Having an affair with Dracula really took away her virtue. So, for her it's all about virtuous again, so has to squash and try to control this very unvirtuous demon sexual predator that lives inside of her."

Wilson says the beast in her character, as fantastical as it is for the big screen -- should definitely be easy for people to relate to.

It was a real interesting thing to do, because Mina's not like the others; she's sort of otherworldly and quite empowered but not necessarily wanting to be. She's wanting to fit back in that society that threw her out," Wilson told me. "There are a lot humans that walking around like that, whose behavior has sort have alienated them and they've lost their friends, lovers, whoever, and then they go to get a fix."

"And for Mina, that fix comes from, what else? Getting her fill of blood. It doesn't sound tasty, but after all, she is a vampire.

"Mina feels so much better because she's getting her fix, Wilson explained. "So it's not unlike an alcoholic, drug addict, chocoholic or even shopaholic -- when they get that fix, they get this incredible rush over them and they feel so great for 20 minutes and they feel guilty. That's why I tried to make her human and quite lonely, which what people like that are."

While Mina may be lonely at heart, she at least keeps good company in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Headed by adventurer Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), the group consists of American Secret Service agent Tom Sawyer (Shane West), the immortal Dorian Gray (Stuart Townshend), the scientist Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng), the invisible man Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran) and deep-sea submariner Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah).

Based on the acclaimed graphic novel and comic books by Allan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, the feature film unites several classic literary characters to prevent a madman from sabotaging a conference of world leaders.

While the group possesses a wide range of powers, Wilson says there's actually one other member of the LXG that you can't see, but definitely feel in the film.

"There's one missing thing from the screen, but that's all over the screen and that's Stephen Norrington -- he's just magnificent," Wilson praised. "I can't believe just one man directed this film. It's such a huge undertaking for him, and he's a totally visionary and should be commended for it. He's created something that's like getting inside a genie bottle -- like 'Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves'; the environments are rich and textured, the costumes are amazing and as for the visual effects -- well, the guys who did the original 'Matrix' did the effects on the film so you know it's going to be really interesting."

Working with a big budget for special effects film is something new for Wilson. Sure, she's done action work before -- namely four seasons on the USA Network series "La Femme Nikita" -- but there's no question LXG introduced her into a whole new world.

"I don't like to watch myself because I feel that since I was there, I don't have to experience it on screen," Wilson explained. "But when I saw the movie, I sort of forgot about myself and was so overtaken by the spectacular special effects."

"With 'La Femme Nikita, it was the cheapest show on television and we did all of the effects and fight sequences," Wilson continued. "'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' was easier for me than that was, because while I did a few things, a lot of what I did were visual effects. To see it, was phenomenal."

Perhaps the greatest experience of all on LXG for Wilson, though, came with opportunity to work the charismatic screen veteran Connery. Not only does Wilson think he's a handsome devil, she says he's got the brains to go with his good looks.

"I did not stop listening and learning from him for the entire film," Wilson recalled. "There's a reason he's been one of the top 10 movie stars in the world for 40 years -- he's so good at his game. What I learned from him is be professional, professional, professional. He loves to rehearse and loves to do read-throughs, and works just as hard today as he always has. There are no short-cuts with him."

What Wilson admired about Connery was his willingness to let his co-stars share in the spotlight. Sure, Connery is top-billed star in the film, but ultimately, Wilson said, he's a team player.

"A lot of the film rests on Sean Connery's shoulders, yet he wants everyone to be as good as they can be in the film because he's in the film with them. He's very generous and open."

But Wilson adds, you have to earn your keep around Connery. And if you're up to snuff, the rewards are, well, "extraordinary."

"He doesn't warm to fools gladly. It's about what you give, is what you get from him," Wilson said. "There are a couple of scenes where Mina and Allan Quatermain really connect, and it was great to have that man looking straight through me, inside me, and me looking into him. What I got from him was the feeling, like, if there was one boat left on the planet, and we all had to get on it, you'd like him to be the captain."

Tim Lammers, Web Staff Editor , July 10, 2003