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• Series: Daredevil, Elektra, Daredevil 2

Daredevil Interview: Jennifer Garner: Daredevil Actress

Continuing Comics2Film'scoverage of Twentieth Century Fox's Daredevil press junket wepresent the latest transcript of the round-table  interviews. 

In this segment,Jennifer Garner talks about her work as Elektra in the film.

This interviewdoes contain POTENTIAL SPOILERS, so read it at your own risk.

Q: Did your work on Alias prepared you for the action role in Daredevil?

Click thumbnails for larger images

I didn't think about doing Daredevil with any hubris at all. I did Daredevilbecause I wanted to learn what I thought it could teach me. I was so obsessedwith fighting after my year of Alias, and so into learning as much as I could, Ireally wanted to take it to another level. That's what Daredevil did. 

I had tolearn to fight weapons. I had to learn to fight on wires and just fighting everyday, all summer, it just kind of built my confidence.

Q: I understand when they were teaching you the fighting,the instructors weren'texactly encouraging. Can you talk about that?

Well master Cheung Yuen and his men are the best in the world at what they doand Ben and I felt so lucky to be working with them. We had so much respect forthem and for what they demanded of us. They absolutely demanded precision. They absolutely demanded discipline.

On Charlie's Angels youalways read about how they had six months beforehand to rehearse or Matrix theyrehearsed for six months. We didn't have that. I was working on Alias right upuntil the day I started Daredevil and Ben was being Ben off in the world, savingthe planet or whatever Ben does...I say that with love...and so we didn't havetime to get together for months beforehand, so we were under the gun from theminute the movie started. 

We were learning fights and doing them at night and then sleeping until aboutnoon and then meeting at this big warehouse and working with Master Cheung Yuenand his men for three hours on our playground fight, which is our kind of big,courtship, mating-dance, flirtation fight.

It was so fun to do. We would work onthat every single day for six weeks, Saturdays and Sundays, no exceptions.Nobody missed. We were there. I had so much respect for how much Ben just dug inand that made me want to elevate how hard I was working. I just adore that manfor what we went through together on those days.

Q: But were the instructors hard onyou?

Our instructors were not the kind of men who would coddle you and say what agreat job you did today and, 'Gosh, that's so much better than last time.' Wewould do something we felt was flawless and they would go [Instructor Voice], 'Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!No. No. Slow. Slow. Start again.'

And Ben and I were the only two that really spoke English in the room. Therewas an interpreter there but he and I would just look at each other and we'd belike [WHISPERS], 'I thought that was pretty good, did you? Yeah, I thought -- OKlet's do it again,' and we would kind of, maybe think we would do it better --[Instructor voice], 'Ah! Ah! Slow. No. Ah. One at a time. One at a time!'

And so they just hated everything we did, which kind of added to outdetermination to do this fight flawlessly.

Q: You said you were obsessed with learning all this stuff. What is it givingyou to learn all this?

Well I've always been obsessed with acting, since I figured out that it wassomething that existed in the world. I've always wanted to be on stage in someway. I didn't think I would do it for a profession. I just loved it so much, sowhen I was younger I would seek out any opportunity to, not just be on stage,but to learn what I could do to be better on stage or to learn what I could dobehind the scenes that might help me understand what I'm doing on stage evenmore. 

So, whether that was working for free in the summers or working backstageat college or being on stage in college, I kind of felt like I am never going tobe good at this, and that's what always attracts me to it. But I did start outas a ballet dancer and that does start you off with a certain amount ofdiscipline and a certain understanding of your body and pushing yourlimitations. 

So when I first started fighting forAlias, and first started using my bodyin this way, while I was acting, it was like this whole world opened up for me.That I would have an aptitude for this and such a passion for it was such asurprise for me. I was kind of blown away by how much I loved the days when Iwould fight on Alias. I wasn't getting enough. Even though I fought every fewdays I felt like I was learning the fight and doing it and kind of gettingbetter in that moment, but not training. I like to train with something. I liketo pick it apart and really do the nitty-gritty work.

That's why I wanted to Daredevil and that's what this was. Ben and I reallytrained.

Q: Did you know a lot about this comic book character beforehand?

Well, I grew up in a family of three girls so we read "Seventeen".We read "Little House on the Prairie." We didn't read comic books. 

Iwish that I had because I think Elektra's incredibly empowering and now when Imeet women who say, 'Oh, Elektra! It's because of Elektra that I...,' whatever,'Thought I could live on my own,' or ,'became physically fit,' or whatever. Ithink that that's a pretty amazing thing for a comic book character to give ayoung woman. 

Now, of course, I've read her entire saga and her story is pretty epic. It'spretty fascinating. She's a very dark woman and I'm waiting to have a littletime because I might actually branch off and read X-Men or TheHulk. I got intoit.

Q: Does Daredevilset the stage for an Elektra spin-off movie?

I don't know how to talk about it without giving it away, but like I said,Elektra's story is epic. There is no ending to Elektra's story. 

There is talk ofa spin-off but I don't know any more than you do. Mostly I hear from you guysthat there's talk of a spin-off, more than anywhere else. I'm open for it. Iwould miss the big red devil if I had to do one on my own but as long as mystunt double is up for it, I'm up for it.

Q: There's as much talk about the spin-off as there is about the sequel.

Great! Let's do it!

Q: But, are you honestly not aware of it or is it just hype?

That's what I don't know. I don't know if you guys are making it seem like abigger deal than it is or if it really exists and I'm kind of ignorant or beingnaive  to how serious they are about it. I guess I don't want to set myselfup for something that isn't going to happen. I mean, I'm an actor. I've beenpromised a lot of things. 

So, I'm up for it. I'm up for doing a Daredevilsequel. I'm up for watching a Daredevil sequel. It's all fine with me. I'm goingback to Alias so I'm happy.

Q: Will you ever get to the point where you would say goodbye toAlias?

I can't imagine that point, because what makes me feel so lucky is that, yes,I get to come out and take a risk and do Daredevil or do a comedy this summerlike 13 Going on 30 but ultimately, no matter whathappens with these movies, as long as Alias gets picked up, I'm going home to afamily that loves me, who I learn from. 

It's exactly what I thought I would bedoing as an actor. I'm working in a company. It's kind of like reallygreat-paying regional theater. It's what I wanted to do was have mentors andlearn from them and I still, absolutely every day that  I work with RonRifkin and Victor Garber and Carl Lumbly or Michael Vartan or Bobby Cooper. Ilearn something from these people. I have so much respect for them as actors.And they write beautiful stuff for me there. 

So as long as the writing stays atthe level that it is I always, always be happy to go back to Alias.

Q: Tell us about snogging Ben Affleck.

What would you like to know about snogging Ben Affleck?

Q: Did you everthink you would find yourself in a big movie with a big starlike him and be in that situation?

I never gave it a thought one way or another, but it's a pleasure to snog BenAffleck and if he showed up right now I guess we could show you how very good weare at that very thing.

[Quiet voice] That's not going to sound good.

It's fine. It was just part of the scene and it's no bigger deal than kissinganyone else. It's always awkward when you kiss someone you've become friendswith on set because you don't realize what a boundary it is and what an unspokenthing it is, how intimate a kiss is. 

At the same time, of course, there arefifty people around, maybe a hundred people around and that does wipe away anynotions you might have of any...

Q: I suppose what I'm saying is that Ben's in all the tabloids and his lovelife is in the newspapers. I suppose it's a little different for somebody whoseset up that high over a regular, every day actor.

The great thing about working as an actor is that when you're on set it'svery insular. It's just you and him, and he and I had been through a lot at thatpoint. He was not on the cover of tabloids at that point. So it was just anactor and an actor in a scene together and we had to kiss and it was fine.

Q: You've been on the cover of tabloids also, haven't you?

I don't think so. No. I have not been.

Q: At the end of the day, how do you talk about rolling around with BenAffleck with your husband [actor Scott Foley]?

Well you don't. I mean, out of respect to both people, you don't really getinto that. And Scott does understand what I do for a living. He is an actor andhe certainly  has spent his days rolling around and will again. I get whatthat is for him and he gets what that is for me and it's really not nearly thedeal that it would seem from the outside.

Q: Talkingabout 13 Going on 30, what makes Gary Winick the right director for that andhave you seen Niels Mueller's latest draft?

Niels' latest draft is genius and Gary was absolutely my first choice fromthe very minute that I saw Tadpole. 

I felt like the performanceswere deft and subtle and hysterically funny, not maybe in a huge, laugh-out-loudkind of way, but in a true-to-life kind of way. Clearly his approach wascharacter based and I knew that he and I together could take this character andfind laugh-out-loud moments, but starting the way that I have to start withsomething, which is reality and character and playing whatever you need to playin the scene. Not kind of looking from the outside-in of what's funny.

I thought everybody  was so beautiful in that movie and it has suchheart in it that I knew that Gary could help me give the performance that I'mhoping to give in 13 Going on 30. I'm nervous about it and knowingthat he's going to be there alleviates so much of my anxiety. 

Q: Are the supporting roles cast yet?

Absolutely. Mark Ruffalo is going to play my love interest and I can't waitfor that!

Q: You stole your scene inCatch Me If You Can. Have you gottengood feedback on that?

Catch Me If You Can has been nothing but magic from the minuteit came into my life until right now when it comes up. It just makes me smileevery time it comes up in any way.

I mean, imagine, after auditioning steadily for seven years, suddenly StevenSpielberg is calling you to offer you, OFFER YOU a role in his movie. It reallyfelt other-worldly to me, and then not only did he offer it, it happened. 

Iactually couldn't believe that I was finding myself on this set with him andwith Leo and then this scene was so much fun to shoot. It was such a great day,not just because we were kissing, but because Steven was having so much fundirecting it, the whole place just lights up. I think that's the way he directs.He seems to love it so much. That was my experience with him.

Then to have the movie come out and think that it's as fun as I thought itwas, and I'm actually in it. Not only do I love the movie but I'm in it! I lovemy scene! I'm so happy. 

It's just been nothing but great and to go back to Aliasafter the Christmas break and have my crew say, 'Jen! We saw the movie! We're soexcited!' 

That just makes me  happy.

Q: Do you have a toy?

A toy for Catch Me If You Can?

Q: No.

For Elektra? There is a toy for Elektra. I haven't seen this young lady yet.There's also an Alias action figure. I'm about to be like fifteen action figuresat once but I haven't seen any of them.

Q: Is it a thrill to be an action figure?

I haven't seen them. I don't know. I'll let you know. 

Q: Did youget to know Ben from your work in Pearl Harbor?

We were around each other, together a lot. My was role was small enough and peripheralenough that I was given the gift of observation. 

So, I was able to watch andadmire the way Ben treated everyone around him from the crew to people withsmaller roles, like myself, to background performers. He's really a gentlemanand he's not afraid to laugh at himself, or you, and I knew, I just had aninstinct that he would take care of me in my first step out there, and he did. Iwas right and I'm so glad that he was my first, my big red devil.

Q: Do you know your limitations when it comes to stunt work?

I did absolutely almost everything in the movie.

Q: Is there ever a point when they have to say you can't do that?

They don't have to say that to me. If there's something that I feellike...it's almost always something small, like jumping backwards off ofsomething high, in heels, where I'll say, 'I don't trust myself to land and nottweak something.' That's when I'll put my double in because her balance is so impeccable.She's a gymnast.

Or there were a couple of aerials in the movie. I can't do an aerial. Even ifyou put a wire on me I don't know the first thing about doing an aerial soShauna [Duggins], my stunt double would do that.

Or on Alias, if there's a thing falling down the stairs, I have no desire tofall down a flight of stairs. I don't think that that's fun. I don't get it. Ionly do what's fun. That's almost everything to me, but getting hit by a car:'Shauna. Have a good day. I'll be right here. Don't get hurt. Love you. See youlater.'

So I definitely know my own limitations. I push them a little bit, but notmuch. I definitely want to be at work the next day.

Q: Would Ben have made your list of 'Sexiest Guys Alive'?

You know, Ben is sexy because he's so kind, and because he has a great senseof humor and because he's 6' 4" and tall, dark and handsome and all thatstuff. Sure, he'd make my list, but I'd laugh at it at the same time. He's sucha big goofball.

Q: What kind of kidding did you guys do, both dressed in leather like that?

We felt just this side of ridiculous most of the time, especially when you'redangling from thin air on a wire. Yeah, I think we kind of laughed our waythrough the movie. 

It was my summer job so I was definitely going to have a goodtime and I think Ben always has a good time. So, all of us laughed a lot,especially if Colin was around. Then you're guaranteed a good time.

Q: What do you think of that shot of you on the billboard?

Umm...that's something else. As the crew of Alias would call it, that's abiscuit shot. You see my biscuit.

They're always saying to me, 'OK, Jen. This is a biscuit shot. Adjustyourself.'

I think, good for them. Whatever they want to do.

Q: What's it like the first time youwere held up on wires?

I was held up onAlias, during the pilot, the first time and I climbed up abuilding, you know, fifty feet in the air, and the first time, it was terrifyingand exciting and you're looking at the word from this high, but you have toreally trust your stunt coordinator. 

You have to really trust the people thatare hooking you up and Shauna Duggins, my stunt double, is so adamant abouttriple-checking every connection, my harness. 

I know how to put a harness on bynow. No. She comes in with me. She double checks. She triple checks. She tapesit down. She makes sure that I have not missed a beat because, you are danglingup there and because I trust her so much and because she's so careful with me Iknow that I'm going to be OK. So, then you just enjoy the ride.

Q: You trust her after a season on the show, but in that pilot you had to gomore on faith. Where does that come from?

That's just guts. That's just, 'I'm gonna do this and the character's gonnado it and nobody else seems to be nervous about it so string me up.'

Q: How was it watching the film?

I haven't seen it. I haven't seen Daredevil.

Q: How do you think it'll compare withSpider-Man? How do youthink those fans will like it?

I have no idea. I'm interested tosee.

Q: What's your work-out schedule like?

I work out about an hour, not really more ever, a day, most days. It ends upbeing about five days a week. So every day that I can, whether that's at four inthe morning or five in the morning. I do cardio and weights and circuits so thatmy heart rate is always up. A lot of stretching and a lot of injury preventativethings with rotator cuffs and knees and backs and all that stuff. I have a greattrainer, Valerie Waters. I've been  with her for two years. I'm just sograteful for her.

Q: Four in themorning is pretty early. Do you like that?

Yes. It kind of shakes off the day before and gets you started for the dayahead. Once you get over it...lots of people get up at four in the morning. It'snot that big of a deal. It just sounds impressive.