Directed by Michael Apted and written by Peter O’Brien, the action-thriller Unlocked follows Alice (Noomi Rapace), a sidelined CIA agent who is called back into action by her mentor (Michael Douglas) to help stop a terrorist attack. But when Alice discovers that her mission has been compromised, she must fight for her life at every turn while trying to save the lives of the citizens of London.

During this 1-on-1 phone interview with Collider, actress Noomi Rapace talked about why she likes to be a part of a story that keeps her guessing, what made her want to play this character, why she likes to do her own stunts, hiding her fears from her co-workers, and her experience working with Michael Douglas, who she’s a big fan of. She also talked about why she wanted to be a part of Bright, working with David Ayer, and playing a villainous elf.

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Image via Lionsgate Premiere

Collider: There are a lot of twists and turns in this, and a lot of unexpected ways the story ends of going in. Is that something you really respond to, when you’re reading a script? Do you like a story that keeps you guessing?

NOOMI RAPACE: Oh, God, yeah! I find it so much more fun when I can’t figure it out and I’m like, “I know where this is going,” and then I’m like, “Actually, I don’t know at all!” I love to be surprised. I love to go on a journey and be on a ride, trying to keep up. When I read the script and I came to the last scenes, I was like, “Oh, wow, I didn’t see that coming, at all!” I love that! 

You got this script early, before a director was even attached. What was it that stood out to you and made you want to sign on?

RAPACE: I really loved the character of Alice. She’s real, she’s a real woman, and she’s gone through a lot. She’s strong-minded and she has a good heart, but she also has a lot of demons. I just loved the complexity of her. It has an old school spy movie format to it, but still with a very modern twist. It felt very fresh. Also, the way it was written was raw and real. When I came onboard, I spoke to the producers and said, “If I do this, I want to do my stunts and do it real. I want it to feel very authentic and realistic.”

You’ve talked about the fact that you got injured on this, so when you do your own stunts and something happens and you end up injured, do you ever regret doing your own stunts?

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Image via Lionsgate Premiere

RAPACE: Well, my nose will never look the same. I had a straight nose before, and now I have a big bump. I can look at myself in the mirror and be like, “Oh, that looks like shit!,” but at the same time, I’m not doing what I’m doing to look good. That’s not my main goal. With my job, there’s a little bruising, pain and sometimes broken bones, but I can live with that. I’m a fast healer.

You’ve also talked about being a perfectionist. Is that why you like to do the stunts yourself, instead of letting a stunt person take over?

RAPACE: No, it’s actually not that. I just love doing it. I’ve been doing martial arts since I was a teenager. When I see the actor doing the stunts, it just gives another dimension to the character because it’s the same body doing it. For me, it makes it stronger. It helps me, in my performance. If I come out of a fight scene and I’m in a little bit of pain, it helps the other scenes because it’s organic and it’s all in my system. I want to do it all because it makes more sense for me. Also, as an audience, you can see and feel that it is me and it gives that dimension to it.

You’re definitely very good at being a bad-ass!

RAPACE: Thank you! 

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Image via Lionsgate Premiere

Because the fight scenes and sequences in this film have a level of brutality and rawness to them that makes them feel so real, was there one that was most challenging to do, or were they all equally challenging?

RAPACE: Well, I’m terrified of heights, so when I’m hanging upside down, 12 floors up, that scared the shit out of me. I was terrified and I couldn’t tell anyone. People were like, “You’re so cool, Noomi. You’re so chilled and professional. Does the height not bother you?” And I couldn’t even think, I was so scared. If I’m really freaked out and scared, I don’t tell anyone. I never tell anyone when I’m nervous. They think I’m so bad-ass and hard, but I get super nervous and super shy. I just have a poker face. I don’t show when I’m scared and no one can read me. And I had cold, dark water when I can’t see. Those two things are my two biggest fears, and I had to do both in this film. I really had to talk to myself and be like, “Noomi, get over it and do it! Just get over it and focus!”

There’s a great cast in this, with Michael Douglas, John Malkovich, Toni Collette and Orlando Bloom. What were your favorite moments to shoot, working with this cast?

RAPACE: I loved meeting Michael Douglas. I’m a big, big fan. Since I was 11 or 12, I’ve been watching his films, and have been amazed by his acting and his choices. He’s just an incredible actor. When I met him, I was really nervous, and I got into the poker face because I could not show that. And then, we were rehearsing a fight sequence and I was like, “I can’t just grab Michael Douglas around the neck,” but he was like, “Come on, kiddo!” He was so kind and so sweet. At the end of this film, he came and hugged me and said, “You’ve got it all in your hat, kiddo. Don’t worry.” He was very supportive and very loving.

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Image via Netflix

You also have Bright coming out in December, through Netflix, and that creates a whole new world. What was it about that world and character that made you want to be a part of telling that story?

RAPACE: It was David Ayer, actually. I’ve been a big fan of David’s since I saw End of Watch, and then I saw Training DayHarsh Times and Fury. I’m a big admirer of him. I actually met him on the Suicide Squad set because a friend of mine was in the movie and he brought me there. I spoke to David for about five minutes, and then I met him at a barbecue party, maybe six months later. He had this project and we spoke about it, and I really wanted to work with David. It was also the character. She’s an amazing villain. She’s mean, beautiful, powerful and passionate, and she’s an elf. What else can I say?! I grew up in Iceland, and we believe in elves. My grandmother and my family there believes in elves. Even though you don’t see them, they’re still there. So, that was an amazing journey.

Unlocked is available in theaters and On-Demand.

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