Phoebe Waller Bridge is about to make a splash in the final chapter of Harrison Fordindy saga, Indiana Jones and Dial of Fate. The actress plays Indy’s goddaughter, Helena, in the film, and accompanies her godfather on an epic adventure. Judging by the trailers and clips we’ve seen from the film, Helena is in for quite a wild ride, and Waller-Bridge recently sat down with Vanity Fair to chat about preparing for the adventurous role, saying:
“I’ve always been a lanky, awkward physical person, so I was just as surprised as you. I remember saying pretty early on to Jim and Kathleen, “So I’m going to train a lot for my stunt debut?” And they were like, “I think it would be more fun if I didn’t.” What I love about the character is that he jumps before he looks. And he’s just going to jump in the back of that car not knowing whether or not he’s going to survive, and it’s only through his will that he’s able to stay.
When I ask her if any of the physical stunts actually freaked her out, Waller-Bridge says, “You know when the bottom of the plane opens and all the Nazis fall out?” She can’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of her words that just came out of her mouth. Still, she admits it was thrilling to be hung from a harness from an airplane:
“A big part of acting is getting rid of your self-awareness and self-awareness. When you have to jump out of a plane or jump into the back of a car, then it’s so much easier to let go.
On the other hand, she was surprised by her reaction to a scene where bugs swarmed all over her body. Waller-Bridge suggested they try a take of Helena keeping her cool first, but as soon as they threw plastic creatures at her, she ran out of her screaming.
Waller-Bridge and the sometimes cantankerous Ford got along well, which is good given that they spent nearly a year shooting in remote locations.
“He made it very clear to me that I was his equal from day one, and that was very liberating and allowed me to be mischievous and silly.”
When news of his casting first leaked, rumors circulated that he would take over the franchise for Ford. Waller-Bridge says it was never a conversation.
“There is no way to replace Indiana Jones in any way. But I feel like the character herself: She felt fresh on the page, and there’s a feeling of, is there room in the world for someone like this?
He observes that Indy has always been a flawed and reluctant hero, a professor who is afraid of snakes and gets angry after his punches.
“So I think there’s room for a slightly more awkward, bruised, limping female action star, perhaps, in the future.”
Harrison Ford enthused about his co-star:
“He’s certainly capable of being a movie star. It’s a question of whether or not she wants to bear that responsibility. Whatever we think you should do, you’ll have a better idea. She’s sitting on top of the pile right now.
It will be fun to see Helena’s whole story told on screen when Indiana Jones and Dial of Fate hits theaters this weekend, and after that it looks like the world is its oyster.
by Jessica Fisher
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
