I can appreciate (and respect) a woman going after what she wants. However, if she is not careful on how she goes about doing it, she can quickly go from being described as “ambitious” to being described as “straight up evil”. While I would never want to be evil in real life, I do have to admit that it would be fun to play the part of someone who is “straight up evil” (especially if I am getting paid to do it). What about you? (Don’t worry, you can admit it..this is a safe place). Well. Rachel Weisz had the chance to do just that in her role as Evanora in Disney’s upcoming film, Oz The Great and Powerful, and during our interview with her she shares that she had a blast in the process.



*I had the chance to interview her when I attended the red carpet premier of Oz The Great and Powerful, you can read about it HERE.

When Rachel Weisz walked into the room she looked absolutely beautiful! Once she knew she was in a room with fellow mom, she said “So, are we gonna change the world together?” [LAUGHS] I wanted to respond with “Mommies Unite!!!!!” but I thankfully decided against it. (I just can’t help myself, our family loves super heroes so it happens naturally). At that moment I was reminded that although she is famous, she is a mom like you and I.


Moving right along to the interview (which has some edits to keep it flowing smoothly & to keep you reading)

Q: So, you were so deliciously evil.

Rachel: She’s bad, isn’t she?

Q: What did you like slipping into more, the costumes or the character?

Rachel: You know what? It’s weird. They were kind of like the same thing. When I put that costume on I became that character. I couldn’t have played her without that corset, and sequence, and feathers, and lashes, and lips, and pushed up boobs [LAUGHS] and the whole thing. The costume was a huge, huge part of the character, and it was very fun to be so nasty. [CHUCKLES]
*See, I told you that being that evil in a movie would be fun!

Q: Because you were so nasty, how did you feel about being so evil and knowing this is a children’s film?

Rachel: Well, I think fairytales traditionally have really, really evil characters. Like all the Grimm’s fairytales have got bad people in them, so I think kids are used to evil characters. I think she’s dark but she’s having a lot of fun being bad. So, it’s Disney bad but not really, really bad. [LAUGHS]

Q: What was your most memorable moment while filming?

Rachel: Well, Evanora really enjoyed torturing Glinda when she was chained [CHUCKLES] in the Emerald City and I do, too. It was just really fun. I mean I get along brilliantly with Michelle, she’s a fellow mom and she’s a lovely lady. That was just a really fun scene, being that bad. Flying is also really fun, a little scary and quite exciting, like having a really good rollercoaster ride.

* I agree with her statement about Michelle. You can read my interview with Michelle Williams by clicking HERE.

Q: How was working with the rest of the cast?

Rachel: Really great. I mean I did most of my scenes with Mila, my sister, and a few scenes with James, and then a few scenes with Glenda, and, then, of course, with my monkeys. Scenes with my [LAUGHS] army of monkeys was really fun…they’re my soldiers and I got to scream orders at them. It was really fun!

Q: What was your favorite part of making the movie?

Rachel: I guess flying in terms of just sheer, silly fun. It was really fun being hoisted up really high on a wire…like we’re on a zip line

Q: How much flying and stunt work did you actually do yourself?

Rachel: All of it.  Yeah. I don’t think there is any flying that isn’t me. They didn’t head replacement or anything. It’s me all the way. [LAUGHS]

Q: What helped you prepare the most for your role in the film?

Rachel: There was nothing that could help me prepare. Obviously, there’s no witches I could interview or talk to [LAUGHS], it’s just pure fantasy. So as I said, the costume was a huge part of finding the character and it’s just pure make believe. There was no research, just make believe, just like being a kid basically.

Q: Were you nervous at all about accepting this role because of the Oz legacy? Were you a little bit nervous jumping in there?

Rachel: I’m nervous for any role that I do [CHUCKLES], because there’s the fear that you might suck LAUGHS]. So, I wouldn’t do a role unless I was nervous about it because that’s what’s exciting, trying something new and I’ve never done anything like this. I’ve never played a fantasy character. Of late I’ve been doing very kind of gritty, earth-bounds gals with no makeup…very different kinds of things. So, for me it was scary, ’cause it’s a new thing but that was also a plus for me.

Q: What was your reaction to the film the very first time you read the script?

Rachel: I loved it. I loved it. I just loved the idea. I didn’t know that Frank L. Baum wrote ten books and that the Wizard of Oz film is just one-tenth of the whole cycle of stories, and I loved it. I loved the character of Evanora, and how mercilessly horrible she is [LAUGHS].

Q: Now, that you’ve played an evil, magical, make believe character, did you enjoy it enough that we can hope to see you in similar roles?

Rachel: I don’t know. I’d have to read something. I’m not planning on it but I’m open to other bad girl roles, yeah. [LAUGHS]

Q: What’s your personal relationship with Oz? Did you watch it as a kid? Did your kids watch it?

Rachel: I remember going to the cinema to see it when I was about five and I vividly remember the seat in front of me and trying to see over it and hiding. Witches really terrified me. They seared into my mind as properly terrifying…I think there’s a reason why there’s been hundreds of years of children seeing scary [CHUCKLES] things. I don’t think fairytales are damaging,. I think they’re kind of important, archetypal stories that teach children about good and evil and morality.

It’s one of those movies you never, you never forget, yeah.

Q: Besides your own character, which character did you enjoy watching on the screen?

Rachel: It’s really hard for me to pick because it’s a big family of characters. I thought Theodora was just delicious and the Wizard is great. I guess the most surprising for me was China Girl and the Monkey because I never got to work with them and they’re really delightful characters.

Q: As a role model, what advice do you have for women and girls?

Rachel I am a role model?

Us: Of course. [LAUGHTER]
Rachel: How do I think of myself as role model? I don’t know. I just try and do what I think is right, and responsible and try and be true to myself.



Movie Synopsis:

Disney’s Oz The Great & Powerful will be in theaters on March 8th.

When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.

Make sure your following Disney Oz Movie on Twitter and “Like” the Oz the Great & Powerful Fan Page. You can also check out their website.

Pictures courtesy of Disney

Disclosure: This post was facilitated as a result of a press trip. As always, ALL opinions are my own.