 Time for another interview in our continued coverage of The Dark Knight. Thanks to the fine folks at Warner Brothers. This go around new mom Maggie Gyllenhaal talks about taking over from Katie Holmes, the upcoming SAG strike and how it was working with Christopher Nolan.
How do you approach the role since your new to a role that was already established by Katie Holmes. Do you see that as a dis-advantage or something you can build off?
Well I like Katie Holmes shes a lovely actress and she did a great job in the previous Batman. I also just dont think it would serve anyone for me to try to immitate her or even copy her. The only thing to do really was to think of Rachel as a new woman in this movie. So thats what I did. At the same time there are certain plot points and narrative things that she setup in the first movie that are very important to this movie.
Most importantly she says at the end of Batman Begins that she loves Bruce Wayne and that she understands why he has to be Batman but that she cant be with him if hes Batman. So that resonates throughout this movie that we did. I really gotta be free and I have to be able to go in any direction that makes sense to me. So I had to think of the character Rachel as a new person.
What was it like working with Christian Bale?
I found Christian to be very still and intense. I would shoot these scenes with him and a good director will not block a scene before you get there but let the actors work through a scene and then set the camera up. So with Christian we would always find ourselves still and kind of just staring into each others eyes and kind of esp'ing each other and that was acting.
It was amazing and very very different then Aaron Eckhart who plays my other lover who was I think much more like me. Very loose throw anything at you, take anything they have to give. I think Christian spent alot of time by himself where Aaron and I spent lots of time hanging out, talking, joking and playing. Not so with Christian. Although I adored Christian I did not spend as much social time with him.
What did you think of Chris Nolan not blocking some scenes and his style of directing?
I don't know why it is, its not true of everybody but most good film actors don't like to rehearse. Maybe thats not true but alot of people I act with don't like to rehearse. I guess I feel if you are supposed to have known somebody forever its great to have spent some time with them.
If there is a problem with the script then its important to rehearse and figure it out before you get on set. Otherwise your going to be in trouble. Other wise there is something great about finding yourself in the situation your in and working your way through it on film. I like that.
Did you do any stunts?
When I was dropped from the building I did that. Other then that I didn't have to do any stunts (laughs). I had that one where I get thrown out of the window and then we fall three hundred stories. So yeah I had to that. That was the first time I have ever done a stunt and it was great!
Will you be doing more batman movies?
We will see. If Christopher Nolan is directing I will be.
How was it filming with an infant and being a new mom?
My daughter was 7months old when I started and 14months old when I finished. I definitely had a big portion of my mind with my daughter always. This is kind of a great job for a new mother because I worked a couple days, had a week off. Worked half a day had two weeks off. I had alot of time to be with her. You know, I found it very difficult to do anything as an actress since she was born and I was not looking to work when Dark Knight came along.
She was 3 months old when Chris Nolan and I met and I did everything I could to say no. I told him I only wanted to do it if Rachel can be really awesome, and really smart and really feisty and have a great mind. He just said great that sounds good and I said ok then well I only wanna do it... and all my ideas about her he was so open to and so great about. I decided I have to do this.
Do you think the movie has a subtext or plays on the fact we don't have any heroes left?
I think you would be hard pressed to find somebody in the world right now who didn't feel that we were in a troubled time. The ebbs and flows, things get bad and things get better but I think everyone would agree it a violent and troubled time right now. I think at times like that the only thing that works to change things is a powerful and honourable leader. That is what this movie is about. Its about two different kinds of powerful, honourable leaders and it explores the way that they do things.
One way of following the system and changing the system by using the system which is what Harvey dent is doing. Versus the radical thing which Batman is doing. He thinks things are such a mess, so corrupt in Gotham that he has to smash things open. That he has to do things in a different way in order to change things. Its about changing things and trying to make things better in a world that is corrupt. I wish I was willing to sacrifice more then I am to do that in my own life but I am doing the best I can.
Thoughts on the upcoming SAG strike?
Well look my mom is a screen writer and I watched my mom go through the strike. My mom is pro-union she worked very hard and picketed and it was really rough on her. I felt it was rough on everybody. I don't live in LA but I heard that in Los Angeles that everyone could feel it. I really hope that we can figure it out without having to strike. I really want to work and I think everybody does.
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