This movie looks terrifying. Were you scared on set?
All the time. First of all, a lot of what you see is actually there. It’s not all CGI. The face-hugger aliens and the Xeno were moving props and were terrifying. The Xeno was made by the same team who made the original film. Also, Fede did everything he could to shock and surprise us. You would be shooting a scene, and you never really knew what was about to jump out at you and when or what was about to fall on you. So, a lot of the screams and reactions you see in the film are just genuine shock.
What was the scariest scene to shoot?
That would be the scene where my character is face-to-face with the Xeno. It kind of felt iconic because everyone remembers the Sigourney Weaver Alien scene. But Fede did this thing where he just let the camera run and run. By the end of it, I was totally freaking out at this thing coming at me.
How does it feel to be part of such a huge blockbuster franchise?
It hasn’t really sunk in yet. Alien is part of cinema history. To see myself on screen as part of that world is just incredible. It’s surreal and exciting.
Did you take any souvenirs from the set?
I didn’t. Most of it was just too gross to take. The pulse-rifle was cool, but I wasn’t allowed to take that (laughs).
You have done everything—from drama to horror, television and film—in your career so far. What are you looking to do next?
Anything and everything. I don’t think about genre when I’m choosing projects. I just want to work with good filmmakers and play interesting characters. I have been lucky so far.
Finally, aliens are scary in space, but what scares you on Earth and in real life?
I don’t like the dark—like pitch-black darkness. And, the idea of going into space for real. I would be terrified to be in space.