In "Swimfan," Erika Christensen stars as Madison, the new girl in town who makes quite an impression on local swimming star, Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford). Ben's supposedly involved in a healthy relationship with Amy (Shiri Appleby) but when the sexy Madison starts making her moves, the impressionable Ben acts impulsively, setting into place a dangerous and deadly love triangle.
Erika Christensen initially auditioned for the role of Amy, Ben's girlfriend. But once the filmmakers saw her work as Michael Douglas' troubled daughter in "Traffic," they knew they'd found their Madison. Director John Polson explains, "Erika brought subtle dimension and vulnerability to her role in 'Traffic,' which is exactly what we wanted for Madison."
ERIKA CHRISTENSEN (Madison)
With all the roles you could have done after "Traffic," what attracted you to "Swimfan?"
First of all playing somebody that's that far off into the extreme is on an actor's wish list just because you want to explore that, and it's a lot of fun. Jesse was saying earlier [that] there's sex and violence and it's a beautifully shot movie so, hopefully, we can kind of justify all of that by saying we're discouraging teenage boys from cheating on their girlfriends.
There's a lot of the Glenn Close and Sharon Stone vibe in your performance. Did you watch those performances?
You know the "Fatal Attraction" connection is undeniable. So yes, the thing I really, really admired about her [Close's) performance in "Fatal Attraction" was the vulnerability that she portrayed. You think that she's so strong but she's really not. She's so vulnerable. I wanted to emulate vulnerability in this character.
Your character plays the cello. Do you play?
I took lessons and I really took to it. I liked it a lot. I come from a musical family and now, today, I may be able to play that song, probably pretty off key. But no, I can't play the cello for real.
Can you swim?
I can, yes.
So was it hard pretending to drown?
It was difficult because, oh God, you have to let yourself sink.
Was it you or did they use a body double?
I'd actually have to watch it again to differentiate but it was mostly me, I think. If it's not me, it's a great double. I just had to drown and drown and drown and they'd just roll and every once in a while I'd stop drowning and tread water and say, "Okay, let me catch my breath," and then I'd go, "Okay, I'm drowning again."
You play a strong seduction scene with Jesse Bradford in the coffee shop. Did you rehearse or talk about it?
We kept it on set but actually, that scene in the diner before we go to the pool - I don't remember whose idea this is so I'm going to take credit for it - I was playing footsie with him under the table. Some people are thrown off by that kind of thing and some people just roll with it. He rolled with it. He was like, "Whoa, okay cool, this is good." It just makes you pay attention.
Did you research stalkers for "Swimfan?"
I did research stalkers; there were some websites. Interestingly enough, I think of it as kind of being comparable to addiction, which is basically what this girl has is an addiction for this guy. She's very needy and she'll go to any length to get what she wants. It's in that way very comparable to a drug addiction.
What do you personally find attractive in a male co-star?
I certainly find the same thing attractive in a person, which is the ability to really look me in the eye. That's necessary for an actor and it's necessary for a boyfriend, too. Jesse can definitely do that. He's really intense. You can see in those scenes. He's looking right at me.
Did you consciously avoid the teen film star “I Know What You Did Last Summer” route?
It seems like it was a mutual thing. They didn't take to me and I have been more drawn to different things. As an audience member, I loved them. I am a teen so I have great fun going to the movies and seeing those kinds of movies, but I also really like a movie to have something to say. I don't want to say 'socially relevant' because that's a tall order, but just something that I can put myself behind.
Is it a coincidence that you also have a swimming pool scene in "The Banger Sisters?"
Yes, it is a coincidence.
Can you tell us about that movie?
It's a comedy which makes it different from "Swimfan" and "Traffic." I can tell you that Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon - it was just wonderful for me to be able to watch them work and to discover their senses of humor because they both have great senses of humor. They're such pros. They really know when to stay focused and when to have fun.
What sort of roles were you getting offered after "Traffic?"
Strippers.
Really? Why?
I don't know. I guess people thought, "Oh, she'll go there. She'll do all that kind of stuff." I don't know, now, fortunately, I'm balancing things out. For a long time, four or five years of my career, I was really getting the nice girl next door [roles] so "Traffic" was almost a rebellion. It was perfect. It was exactly what I wanted. I couldn't have asked for better. It was my dream. And now, especially with "Swimfan," I'm looking to play some nicer people.
Why should people go see "Swimfan?"
I think "Swimfan" is just good, scary fun. You know, it's a summer date movie so bring somebody you want to grab on to when it gets scary.
