The Edge of Love: Sienna Miller and John Maybury Interview

We caught up with actress Sienna Miller and the director of The Edge Of Love, John Maybury, to talk about their new film. Sienna gave us the lowdown on what it was really like working with Keira Knightley, cartwheeling in pubs and her relationship with Heath Ledger…

LOVEFiLM: How much time did you have to prepare for the role of Caitlin?

Sienna Miller: Maybe a little under two weeks. John and I had been great friends for years and so I knew all about the project anyway and I heard that there were a few problems so I had an inkling maybe. Normally I like to research the role thoroughly, you know I'm a bit of a boff, there's a lot to read; especially as she's a real person. It was just two weeks of sleepless nights and waking up with night sweats.

John Maybury: I called Sienna to get Lindsay Lohan's phone number. I'd been speaking to Lindsay by email and I hadn't had any response so I needed to speak to her directly. Sienna didn't have it and so I said just stay out of the sun so to speak…

LF: Did you have to scrub off the tan by the way when they started shooting?

SM: I have actually got a bit of a tan, but then I think in the 40's they did, it wasn't about being porcelain white, and she was so outdoorsy and bohemian anyway. It had pretty much faded by the time we started shooting anyway.

LF: Your character's personality is free-spirited, feisty and independent. Is that close to yours?

SM: Yeah I'm pretty feisty and free-spirited I think. Maybe not quite as much as her! I think that's pushing it. But you know I'm open; I might do a cartwheel in the pub!

LF: Have you done a cartwheel in a pub?

SM: Yeah!

JM: She's certainly done one in the back garden. I don't think I've done a cartwheel since…

SM: You did one that night!

JM: Maybe I did…

LF: What did you make of the relationship between Caitlin and Vera?

SM: I thought it was extraordinary to have the opportunity for there to be two female leads in a relationship that isn't one dimensional. You know here are these two strong woman and they both stand up to each. I just love that opening scene. It's really rare to find women who are really well written, let alone two in the same film. So it was kind of bliss!

LF: John, when you were casting the role of Dylan, was Matthew Rhys always the first choice?

JM: Well the weird thing was I'd seen a whole raft of actors, but Matthew had very cleverly put himself on DVD in LA and when I saw the tape I was blown away. It had the kind of quality and the sound of a young Richard Burton. To have a real Welshman playing one of the most important Welsh poets did seem to be a plus for the film.

LF: Sienna, this was a physically and emotionally harrowing film; was it hard to get the character out of your head when the cameras stopped rolling?

SM: I think inevitably, and this is something I've realised in the way I've worked, it comes home with you. If you're being something for 12/14 hours a day; whether you like it or not you're kind of in that frame of mind. It's more a mood. I think you are affected in the spirit of the person you are playing whether it's invented or whether they existed. It was a fun head to be in it for a while anyway.

LF: The Edge of Love varies dramatically to the most recent film you've been working on, G.I. Joe?

SM: I like the variety you know; I've never been in anything like that. The idea of running round with two MP-7' rifles shooting, and blood, and sprinting, and stunts! It was just a new experience and it was all very impulsive with me. I think at some point I very much resisted being in a big $200 million film and I was scared by that.

I love independent films, but it's really fun being in something where there's huge sets and everything's exploding. I wrapped yesterday and every day I'd see somebody I hadn't seen before - like a 1,000 people in the crew. It's a machine, but you know I think fundamentally you create the set that you wanna be on. I like to be best friends with everyone and have a good time.

LF: Is that not quite hard with a 1,000 people?

SM: Well not everyone! But you know…by the end of it…

JM: She'll work her way through them all!

SM: He's joking. Sienna is a right slapper I can see it now. Thanks John!

LF: Do you feel like you're career is gaining momentum?

SM: I feel like I'm in a place now where I understand more the kind of films I want to do and the kind of roles I'm better at playing. I have to be interested in order to be anywhere near decent and more opportunities are opening up to do the kind of work I want to do.

LF: Keira talked about being frightened of the singing scenes; what was the scariest aspect of shooting it for you?

SM: The entire thing because I had no time! I was just generally terrified, but John doesn't stand for any of that. He gives you one take! He'll say 'do it f**king better then' and turn his punk music up full blast. He's got the whole film cut in his head, he does all this ground work before. He will manipulate you into doing what he wants without you knowing you're being manipulated, you don't really rehearse things. He's a horse whisperer.

JM: Well you've got one go; you've got to imagine this is like a documentary. Of course you would do a second or a third take if there was a technical problem but if the performance is there the first time - you do a second one maybe for coverage, just in case.

SM: John will have a conversation with you that morning that's totally not relevant to the scene, and he'll somehow manage to put you in the headspace that you need to be in and inevitably you do what he wants. And he'll sort of smile and pat me on the back and go off for another fag. Well it's genius, is really what it is.

LF: How did you like Wales in general?

SM: I adored Wales. I have banged on about it for the last year; I think it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. And the people, we were so welcomed.

LF: Were you able to have privacy there?

SM: We were. The paparazzi were there in swarms and hoards, but they never managed to find out where we were staying so we'd go for long walks and horse rides. It was just gorgeous for me. I love the countryside, I never spend enough time there and to just be out with my dogs - that's very much a part of personality that I don't get to indulge in often so I was in heaven.

LF: You've talked about Heath Ledger and your friendship with him; do you want to see Dark Knight?

SM: Oh god yeah I can't wait. I mean you know it's about as upsetting as anything can be but I want to see that - his last film. I spoke to him when he was doing it and I can't wait to see it. Inevitably it will be a bit upsetting.

LF: So, what's up for you next?

SM: I'm doing a film called Nottingham with Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe playing Maid Marion which is the most exciting thing that's ever happened! Apart from this of course!

JM: What you mean is it's your pay day- unlike this!

Helen Cowley

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