Hollywood Rising
Agnes Bruckner may be reaching new heights of success, but her feet are planted on the ground.
A Starlet is Born
Most young women with a leading role in a major movie and a handful of other resume-boosters would already be lined up at the A-lister Hyde Lounge, straining to rub elbows with Linds, Paris, Brit and the rest of the Hollywood ingénue crew. But for Agnes Bruckner, the star of the new werewolf flick 'Blood and Chocolate,’ the best night going out is actually one chilling out with her friends.
stepping out of a car with no underwear."
In the movie, Agnes plays Vivian Gandillon, a 19-year-old who has a big secret to protect: she's part of an ancient clan of werewolves. But when her crush on a sexy American artist threatens to expose her family's secret society, she’s forced to decide between running with the pack, or running from the truth. RED’s got an exclusive clip of 'Blood and Chocolate' just for you:
Get to Know Agnes
We caught up with Agnes just before the movie’s release to find out what it’s like being an up-and-comer in Hollywood, what it was like shooting 'Blood and Chocolate' on location in Bucharest, and if it’s hard to resist going to Hyde on Wednesday night…well, is it?AD: Did you always want to grow up to be an actress?
AGNES: I always loved being in front the camera, I was the kind of the crazy one in the family. I wanted to be a dancer since I was five. [I took] hip-hop, ballet, tap, I was really into dancing, and I still am, but that’s what I wanted to be -- dancing, and doing that kind of thing.
So I saw myself being a dancer, and then I started going on [acting] auditions, and then [I got a part in the movie] 'Blue Car,' which really changed everything for me, it just shifted. I was 15 [when] I did 'Blue Car,' and I decided then that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
AD: So what’s it like making your way in the acting biz as a young woman in Hollywood? With girls like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton dominating the media, do you feel any particular pressure about your image in the media?
AGNES: I’ve never had a problem with how I’m portrayed and how people think of me. Ever since I was 12 [acting in a soap opera], and people ask me, “How do you want to be seen when you’re in the public eye?,” all I could say is, “Myself.”
I don’t want to be extra sexy, or dark and weird, and I think I’ve always maintained that, since I was 11 and on a soap, to now I’m 21 and doing movies, it’s been the same. I keep myself grounded. You’re never going to see me stepping out of a car with no underwear. I don’t enjoy going to clubs, I enjoy going to bars with my friends and hanging out. As far as going to a place just to be seen, it’s not me.
It’s not even hard [to live like that in Hollywood]. People make it hard … and they do it because they like it -- versus “poor so and so,” well they did that to themselves. Because I am 21, and I know I’m going to be compared [there’s pressure], but I know who I am, and I know my family knows who I am—I want some people to hate me, some to love me. Not everyone is going to love or hate, everyone has a different opinion—which is great.
AD: In your new movie, ‘Blood and Chocolate, there’s a lot of intrigue and action. What was the biggest challenge for you on set?
AGNES: As far as the character is concerned, and the issues she deals with -- the stunts and stuff were the hardest thing. The fighting was a bit easier, you think, ‘Oh I’ve been in a fight,’ but you have to fake punch, but you can’t fake it too much, and flying around in harnesses, that was a big challenge for me. I’m a very athletic person, but it’s such a different boat [on set.]
It’s not like you’re not going to run for an hour on the treadmill. You have harness on, and kneepads, and there’s safety precautions, and you’re in that harness for two hours. But nobody [who watches the film] sees that, because it’s only a couple seconds on screen.
So that was tough, but I pulled through. It was fun! I’ve never gotten to be suspended like that. You started running, and at a certain mark, someone would pull this huge cord, and you’d go flying in the air. It’s probably the most uncomfortable thing you’ve ever [worn, but] I’ve always wanted that ability.
