Sienna Miller (Baroness) On Set Interview – G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA

When I heard Sienna Miller was going to be playing Baroness, I’ll admit to thinking WTF. After all, nothing in her resume told me she could play the lead in a big action film,and I also wasn’t sure she could pull off being a dark haired femme fatale. But when you’re wrong, you need to own up to it, and this is me saying I was wrong. Because two weeks ago I saw “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and not only does Sienna Miller do a great job playing the Baroness, I don’t know how she could have played it any better. Also, she looked damn good in that outfit.

But that’s getting a little ahead of why you’re here. Back in May of 2008, Paramount invited a few online outlets to the Downey, California set of “G.I. Joe” while the film was still in production. While we were on set we got to observe some filming (set visit coming soon) and also speak with a lot of the cast. After the jump is the interview we did with Sienna Miller:

Finally, two things before reading the interview. Here’s 4 movie clips from “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”, and here’s my mini-review of the film.

Question: How familiar were you with GI Joe and the comic books?

Sienna Miller: I wasn’t. I thought G.I. Joe was one guy called Joe. I had no idea. I was not a comic book type of girl. I had seen the cartoon I think when I was younger, but it was all very hazy. I didn’t know who Baroness was, but I just loved the script. I loved the idea of doing something so different and so big. It’s a lot of fun. The costume is pretty fantastic.

Did you go back and do research on G.I. Joe?

Sienna: Yeah, I watched the cartoons and read the comic books.

What accent will you have in the movie?

Sienna: I’m doing an American accent.

Will you be wearing glasses?

Sienna: I’m wearing glasses, yes. She has different glasses, but they are these ones that are quite Harry Potter.

You’re doing most of your own stunts I understand.

Sienna: I am going a lot of them. I am. That’s kind of the fun. I know what I signed up for and that was partly it.

Did you have to go through extensive training?

Sienna: We did do a lot of stunt training and also rehearsed a lot of the fights that we do. But inevitably things go wrong. I’ve slipped on a few rubber bullets and all of that, but it’s really fun.

Baroness is a bad guy and Duke’s a good guy so why is he saving you?

Sienna: Well there’s a little bit of history between Baroness and Duke. I don’t know what I’m allowed to say because they’ve got me by a noose on this one, but you know there’s a little bit of a love / hate going on. There’s chemistry between Baroness and Duke. She has a lot of access to some of the information he might need being the baddie.

Give us your take on the character.

Sienna: She’s just a great villain. She’s a very complex, very confused, very damaged woman who is quite vengeful. She’s pretty tough and I know I don’t look it.

I’m sure you can kick some ass.

Sienna: I do kick some ass, yeah.

Does she have a thing for Destro as well?

Sienna: Oh yeah. Yes, there’s a little Destro thing going on. And she’s married so she’s a confused woman.

What’s it like to see yourself with darker hair?

Sienna: It’s fun. That’s kind of one of the most fun things is dressing up. I also wear green contact lenses so it’s a pretty big transformation. These are normally not there (referring to her cleavage) so they’ve done a great job in that department.

How long does it take to get in full costume?

Sienna: We’ve got it down. Initially it was 15 minutes. This one is actually much looser than a lot of them, but we’re down to about seven now.

Are all of your outfits all black?

Sienna: Yes. I think there might be a coat that isn’t, but pretty much all black.

A few months ago paparazzi got pictures of you at a cemetery. Can you tell us about that?

Sienna: Oh yeah, that will be a flashback. That was a flashback scene from when I wasn’t a baddie.

Who has prepared the most for their role in this movie?

Sienna: Not me obviously. Please try to get the sarcasm down in print because sometimes it does not translate. I don’t know. We’re rushing a lot. The [WGA] strike was happening and there wasn’t as much time to prepare as I think there normally is, but I think we all gave a lot to it.

Do you get to use weapons a lot?

Sienna: Yeah, I do. I do physically fighting a lot. She’s a mean kicker.

What do you think is going to be the biggest draw for women to this movie?

Sienna: Channing Tatum. I think it appeals to everyone and I think in the casting they have a lot of the genres covered. It’s great that there’s a romance to it, there’s a lot of action, it’s very fast-paced, it’s very fascinating and it’s a real adventure. I think everybody likes seeing movies like that.

You’re being such a trooper by wearing this costume and being doused with water. Why not have a stunt person do this scene?

Sienna: Because this is the whole fun. I think I wouldn’t want to watch any part of the film and think, ‘Oh that looks great’ and then it wasn’t me. I mean I’d probably lie about it and say it was. This is the whole point and I don’t mind getting soaked and grubby and wet. I don’t think you sign up for something like this to have someone else do all the fun of it. I love throwing myself around.