Michelle Rodriguez - Brief Article - Interview

THE RAGING NEW STAR OF A BUZZING NEW BOXING MOVIE SCORES A KO

Few young actresses pack as big a punch-literally--as Michelle Rodriguez. This twenty-two-year-old actress delivers one of the powerhouse performances of the year in her debut as a problem-kid-turned-female-boxer in Karyn Kusama's visceral first film, Girlfight, which shared the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture and netted Kusama a prize for Best Director at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Rodriguez's Diana, a high school student seething with rage, is drawn to the ring and finds a new power, but also a new vulnerability, as she falls in love with a fellow boxer (Santiago Douglas) who will become one of her main rivals.

In preparation for the film, Rodriguez, a high school dropout who had never acted in a feature before, truly transformed herself physically and emotionally into a lean, mean fighting machine. It seems to have paid off with new roles. So far, she's starring in two future projects--the Spike Lee-produced 3 A.M., with Pam Grier and Danny Glover, and the car-racing drama Redline, with Vin Diesel and Jordana Brewster.

LAURA WINTERS: How did you get involved with Girlfight?

MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ: Well, I had worked as an extra for about a year, but I didn't have the balls to go to an audition because I had no real acting experience. Then one day I stumbled across an issue of Backstage, and I saw an ad for "female Latina boxer chick." I was like, "All right, Michelle, that's it. It's an open call. Just go." Three hundred and fifty people were there. I showed up late, so I just said my name and where I was from, and they chose me and two other people.

LW: What happened next?

MR: I had to audition four times and go to the gym and train for a week before getting the part. And they prematurely said that I was ready to spar with a guy, just like in the movie. When I walked into that ring, I was so determined: I thought, "All I have to do is punch him!" [laughs] Well, it wasn't going to happen. Here's this guy pounding on me, and every time I come back with a punch, he's dodging it left and right. I was so infuriated! But I think Karyn [Kusama] fell in love with my anger at that point. [laughs]

LW: How was it acting opposite Santiago Douglas?

MR: He was great, very supportive. Karyn did a couple of auditions with me and the other prospects for Adrian, but it was just Santiago as soon as he walked in the door. He intimidated me in a way, because he was so together, and I didn't feel as fearless as I did with everybody else. And I think that was what Karyn was looking for: We sparked.

LW: In real life, do women sometimes box against men, just like in the movie?

MR: Oh, definitely. Guys have the upper hand in those matches, though, because if they lose they can say they gave up a fight. But there are so many female boxers out there--you need to go to the gym and check it out.

LW: Since you'd never boxed before, how did you prepare?

MR: I had four and a half months of training. Hardcore, man. I learned a lot of discipline, because I'm such an irresponsible person. I wanted it to look real, so I dedicated myself. That's what I think independent film is all about.

LW: Well, it certainly looked real. Are you still boxing?

MR: I stopped, because my ego flew a little high. There are a lot of people who are competitive, and I'm not really into that kind of competition. So when it started reaching a point where I was walking outside and daring people to push me, I left.

LW: You do an incredible job of conveying your character's emotional transformation as she starts to box. Are there elements of you in her?

MR: When I was growing up, I was always trying to be rambunctious and crazy and different. Not like Diana, who is quiet and angry and keeps to herself. But yeah, there are parts of me in Diana. The biggest thing I gave to her was my feeling about life: Do what you want, and don't let anybody get in your way. And don't pay attention to ignorant minds.

LW: Where did you grow up?

MR: I was born in Texas, lived there until I was eight, and then moved to the Dominican Republic for two years. After that, I was in Puerto Rico for one year and then I came to Jersey City, where I've been ever since.

LW: Lots of moving around. Are you Puerto Rican?

MR: I'm an alien from outer space. Just joking. I'm Puerto Rican and Dominican.

LW: Do any of your family act?

MR: No, not at all. They're mostly Jehovah's Witnesses. Until the age of thirteen, I was too. I lived with my mom and my grandmother growing up.

LW: What made you stop being a Jehovah's Witness?

MR: There were so many things you couldn't do. For one thing, I wouldn't have been able to do this film: Cursing is not allowed, and that kissing scene with Adrian on the bed just wouldn't be considered proper. I needed to break free from all that. But I'm grateful for it because it made me more careful: I have a sense of borderlines I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

LW: What does your family think of your acting now?