What was it like working with newcomer Brandon Routh?
“Oh, he so did not need any tips from me. He was so unbelievably professional. He blew me away on many different levels, but certainly on the professional level. He’s in this skintight suit and the cape and his curl and all these things that [there] had to be no, pun intended, hair out of place. He had people constantly picking at him and prodding him and making sure the cape laid perfectly. Because, of course, it couldn’t flip over; you couldn’t see that on the screen. So it was a constant pressure and focus on this person. I just remember sitting there thinking - and I’m usually the one who is getting poked and prodded so much because I’m the girl - you know I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, thank god, it’s all on Brandon this time!’
He was just so wonderful because he never once got impatient or frustrated. And especially when you’re doing a scene where it might be more emotional, there’s heightened emotions going on inside of you. Then when someone’s picking at you it’s just an easier situation to snap or get annoyed, and he never did. He would just kind of close his eyes and zone out. He was just constantly professional and lovely to everybody.”
How familiar were you with the Lois Lane character prior to taking on the role?
“Well, certainly I think every little girl loves Lois Lane. But, for me, it was really from the film, from Richard Donner’s film. I saw that when I was about six or seven. It had already come about because I hadn’t been born when it was originally released. I don’t even think I was a glint in my parents’ eye. But I remember watching it and it’s a magical film, and Superman is magical.”
Do you see Lois Lane as a little stronger in this film as opposed to the earlier movies?
“Yeah. ...Obviously the element of her having a son…it would change a woman completely then when she doesn’t have to concentrate on someone else rather than herself. I think in terms of her being perhaps, as you say, so chaotic or bubbly or frantic, it was my choice because I couldn’t imagine someone being so unfocused when, although I don’t have children, I would imagine that your focus is constantly on that other person. So I think it forced her to mature.”
This is your second time working with Kevin Spacey [the two starred in Beyond the Sea]. How do the two experiences compare?
“It was very different experience, actually. It was just as wonderful and amazing—I love Kevin! He’s such a special person to me. But, you know, we played love interests in Beyond the Sea. He was my husband and in this one he’s my archenemy. That was so fun for us to play on and laugh about.
It was fun because in Beyond the Sea he was directing it and producing it and starring in it, so he donned a lot of hats in that and was juggling a lot of balls. In this one I got to work with him as purely just on an acting level and that was really neat. And I, again, am constantly impressed by Kevin. He came in to do this film and he had six weeks - six weeks and not a day over - because then he had to fly, on the last day of the six weeks, back to London and star that evening in a production at The Old Vic. So in between playing Lex Luthor — where he’s brilliant — he would finish a take, go to his trailer, sit outside and be learning lines for that play. I’m sitting there and I’m watching him saying, ‘Kevin, how are you doing this? How do you do it? I just want to know?’ He just wants to do it all and it’s constantly impressive to me. I just adore him so much.”
Did you know he was suggesting you for the role of Lois Lane?
“I didn’t know, not when it was going on, no, not at all. I went in and met with Bryan [Singer]. I can’t really remember how I heard that, if it was from Bryan or if… I know it wasn’t from Kevin. It must have been from Bryan. I’m sure I sat down with him on one of those first meetings and he said, ‘Oh, I spoke to Kevin about you.’ I can’t really believe that I’m sitting here and I got this experience. It’s really wonderful when you get to make friends and companions like I have with Kevin in this business. Because, as we all know, [there are] people who aren’t as constant and supportive and loyal.”
Page 2: Kate Bosworth on the Love Triangle, Flying, and Superman Sequels
