Lucy, what was it like getting back into action with Red One?
Lucy: Action is something that I enjoy watching and I love being a part of that. It’s so unexpected because when I was growing up watching Chinese movies, I never expected that I would be able to do something like that. It really started with Charlie’s Angels when I was asked to perform action in that franchise, that’s when I realised that I actually looked really good doing it. I don’t necessarily know if I know what I’m doing. When we did this movie, they originally said I’m just going to do a couple of kicks, I don’t need to do training. And then when I showed up, they said, this is what the scene is going to look like. I was like, “Oh my God, this is not what I expected.” But when they gave me the sticks, I had muscle memory. So, I was able to pick it up really quickly and I realised how much I missed doing action.
Kiernan, what was your experience of playing a witch again after Sabrina the Teenage Witch?
Kiernan: Yes, I guess witches and holiday movies are my niche now. It was so much fun. I liked playing someone who had a villainous streak. I found her to be written in a way that was very fun to play. I loved knowing that the movie was in a lot of ways, hinging on this character. The stakes were appealing to me. I loved learning about the folklore of Gryla. She was in Sabrina too, so that was sort of fun to be able to play her because I played opposite her before. It’s funny to say that it was so fun because I played someone who was definitely not so fun. But it was really delightful.
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You got to intimidate Chris Evans onscreen…
Kiernan: You just have to not think about it [that Chris is Captain America]. I was like, “Push everything aside. You are Gryla. This is Jack O’Malley. Kiernan, forget about it.” These are all major heavyweights of this movie. To be the one who’s scaring people is crazy.
Lucy: I loved working with both Chris and Dwayne. They are such, as Kieran said before, heavyweights. And they bring a gravitas to the set and to the movie. I love that in some ways, Chris pretends he doesn’t know how to do anything. He’s like, I don’t fight. I’m a tech guy. I’m a bad guy, a criminal but not somebody who picks up a gun or hurts people. I think that combination was so wonderful. I had a lot of scenes interrogating him. And he’s just a sweet, wonderful person. And DJ [Dwayne Johnson] is so nice with you on set. He asks you questions about yourself, your life, your family. He wants to get to know who you are and I appreciate that because sometimes you’re talking about the weather, you’re not really getting to know somebody. It’s nice when you really can connect with people.
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Lastly, Lucy, do you have a message for your fans in India who grew up watching you on screen?
Lucy: My message is to everyone. It’s important to be yourself and to understand how unique you are with all the bells and whistles that other people think are flaws and you might think that, too. But they’re really not. It makes you a special person. A lot of people, because of the internet and social media, think from the outside in. They should think from the inside out. We often forget that. I wish that I had that message when I was younger. My mom had cut all my hair off when I was 10. I was having a birthday party, the only birthday party that I had. And right before the birthday party, she cut my hair off. It was gone. I’m not even saying bangs. I had no hair. I was so humiliated. I just remember being really upset and stewing. If I had the confidence to know even if I didn’t have hair at all, she cut it off in such a ragged way, it wouldn’t matter. I’m still me, no matter what I look like. That’s such an important message for kids now. Everyone wants to show the best side of themselves in their lives. Everyone’s like, ‘Look at me. Look at my car. Look at my house.’ That’s not what’s important. What’s important is, who are you with? How are you with them? How are they with you? Do they make you feel good? Do they make you sit up a little bit straighter? I hope that people understand that. And be proud of who you are!
Red One is currently streaming on Prime Video.