Aug 09 , 2000

by Veronica Mixon

She recently delivered a stunning performance as twins in Mike Figgis' "The Loss of Sexual Innocence and she just wrapped "Miss Julie" also directed by Figgis. So, it's not surprising to learn that she and the director are currently involved romantically. Ms. Burrows lives in Los Angeles and flew to New York to talk with me about her latest film, "DEEP BLUE SEA."

THE INTERVIEW

Did you expect this film to be tough to make?
No, I don't think I did. I really was rather like my character - I had a serious case of denial. I met Renny and became very infused by his ideas and the cast. The actors that he talked about I thought were so unusual for this genre and [they were] actors that I really respected.

You mean like Stellan Skarsgård and Sam Jackson?
Yeah, Stellan who spent twenty years working with Bergman in Sweden and here he is in Mexico, and he's my colleague. And, in some strange way, I'm meant to be his medical superior. I don't know how that happen. I must have started at a young age. And, Sam, of course, who I think is just brilliant and gives an amazing dignity to everything he does and manages to look dignified in a wet suit. And, Jackie MacKenzie is formidable. The casting of Jackie, especially, meant that Renny didn't want this stereotypical woman on the screen who would be a copout and who would just giggle and scream.

Are you surprised at the anger hurled at your character?
Yeah, I saw it with this audience and I've never seen anything like it. I got a phone call a week ago from Akiva Goldsman, the writer producer saying "Saffron, I've got to tell you. The good news is that they love this film. The other good news is that they really hate you and they're screaming 'Die bitch!' But, not to worry."

They did hate you. Did you want that?
Well, I practiced my little Alan Rickman thing in front of the mirror snarling. [Laughs]. It seems to me that they were bristling pretty much the moment I walked in. I thought to myself, this woman is really on the brink of an anticipated discovery here. She's done something phenomenal which could save thousands of lives so, no wonder she's a little obsessed, you know. The moment before the limps started being pulled off. I thought she could have a little more congratulations from the people.

How involved were you in the action scenes?
The thing with a Renny Harlin film, you hope that there will be more blue screen than there really is. But, we really were there! I have to say that every image we lived through. You think, they'll add the tide wave later. Then, you walk out and there's these dump trucks throwing this stuff onto you. I was knocked out at open point - by one of these waves. [Afterwards], I rang my mum. Then, everyone's nice to you for a few days. And, then you feel your heroic because something dramatic has happened.

Are you a good swimmer?
No. I swim in England for all of thirty seconds. My friends laughed when I told them I'm wearing a wet suit. 'What do you mean?' Because I'm one who's known for not running for a bus.

Do you know when something is working or not? Like Wing Commander?
Oh, we knew. We knew with that one. [Laughter] We found a very good hip-hop club on a Wednesday night in Luxembourg. Freddie Prince Jr. and I went. We had a good boogie and that was the highlight of our week. I'm naturally, really caution when I'm making a film to predict any kind of outcome. LL [Cool J] to give him credit was like this amazing mouthpiece for us throughout the film and would come up and give you a hug and say, "this is going to be brilliant." We're all kind of neurotic actors.

What was it like working with Freddie Prinze Jr?
Oh, Freddie's lovely. He's one of the most charming young men you could ever hope to meet in the world. And [he's] a very wise man. I was deeply impressed by him as a person. I can't say anymore than that. I think he's a fine actor and very generous to work with. It's hard to believe the age he was when we worked together. He's astounding.

You're in a film called "Miss Julie."
We shot Miss Julie in 3 weeks. Mike Figgis directed it and Peter Mullen from "My Name is Joe" is the lead man. I don't think I've ever felt so challenged and so alive at work. Partly because of the nature of the way we shot it. It was like a sprint. Really this energy that begins and continues until the last frame of the film. You just keep going. We did fourteen-minute takes in this room. I don't know if you know it? It makes "Virginia Woolf" look like a WB sitcom. The intensity of the way these people feel about each other is extraordinary.

What else have you worked on?
Just wrapped "Gangster Number One" last week which is this film with David Thewlis and Malcolm MacDowell which is set in the Sixties crime world of London. I have this relationship which was unusual of the women of that time. The relationship endured. Thewlis is the main man of that era and based on a real person. Not the Crays but I guess I'm not allowed to say who it is. They fall in love and this is sort of resented by the Malcolm MacDowell character that eventually wants to possess both of them in some way. He's incredibly jealous of their relationship.

Sexually?
Sexually and sort of sadistically. I would say just on the level of wanting to obtain power, he's upset by the Thewlis character and so pretty upset by my indifference toward him or my seeming indifference toward him.

Do you prefer Indies or big features?
I think it's extraordinary if you can do both. It's such a privileged world to be in. I think there's nothing like the environment when you're really enjoying the work. There is this camaraderie that's extraordinary and you know the experience is finite. If people don't quite get on that well, then in a month you go on to something else.