The film is very physical how did you prepare for it?
I did about three months of gym, crav maga, jujitsu , kick boxing and during filming as well and there was a lot with my diet- as much food as I could possibly shovel in my mouth. I had been a vegetarian for 7 years prior and I became a meat eater for it because I was losing too much weight and I was having a ton of protein shakes so it was pretty full on!
So you probably could kick butt then!
[laughs] Not as much as I think I can! I have a much bigger head than I should because when I was doing the scenes all these stunt men had wires on them so I’d punch them and they’d fly across the room so I think I’m stronger than I actually am.
If you had a choice, would you be a moroi or a dhampir and why?
Dhampir because I’ve said it in every other interview and probably because most stories are about the fact that if you have powers you wish you didn’t. In most supernatural stories the superheroes end up wishing they didn’t have them all.
If you could choose anyone in the cast to have a ‘bond’ with who would it be?
Well Lucy and I almost have an altered version of a bond I can sense when she’s off, or needs food or if she’s tired. Probably Danila [Kozlovsky who plays Demitri] because I just don’t understand how he functions as a perfect human.
Did you and Lucy spend much time hanging out when you weren’t shooting?
I didn’t have much time to because I’m in pretty much every scene but when we had our day off we would go out sometimes, hang out and get lunch.
Was it tricky adjusting to filming at night?
Absolutely yes, especially the first 2-3 weeks were pretty brutal because I was on LA time and I go to London and spend a month and a half there on London time and then I go to night shoots. My body clock was everywhere but I kind of live in the mentality of ‘don’t think about it’. People ask me if I have jetlag and I’m like nope jetlag isn’t real! People get really confused by that response. But I’m strong-willed in that sense, at the time I think it was ok but looking back it was exhausting.
Did you get to see some daylight at all?
For the most part no because we would wake up at about 2 in the afternoon, we’d see the sun on the car ride to set and then you’re in a trailer getting hair and make-up so no not a lot of it!
Do you think making a movie about a really successful book series makes it harder to manage fan expectations?
My mum reminds me that it’s none of my business what other people think about me.
Have you had much feedback from fans?
Yeah a lot! Negative and positive but they have every right and I totally respect their passion, so if it means they don’t like me or something’s wrong then so be it they’re entitled to their opinion.
