Actress Keri Russell makes her animation debut as the voice of the
title character in Wonder Woman, the next entry in the popular series
of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies arriving today (March 3)
from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. Warner
Home Video is distributing the all-new film, which will also be
available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download
today.
Russell is best known for her Golden Globe-winning lead role in the
popular television series Felicity. One of the Mouseketeers on the
1990s incarnation of The Mickey Mouse Club, Russell has appeared or
starred in numerous films and TV series, including Mission Impossible
III, The Upside of Anger, We Were Soldiers, and the recent Bedtime
Stories. The New York-based actress drew widespread acclaim for her
performance opposite Wonder Woman co-star Nathan Fillion in last
year’s Waitress.
Following her first-ever voiceover recording for an animated film –
that would be Wonder Woman, coming out on Tuesday, March 3 – Russell
chatted about the cool factor of owning an invisible jet, Halloween
costumes of her youth, potential future Russell-Fillion co-starring
roles, and a super hero supplies store. True story.
Please feel free to utilize some or all of the final Warner Home
Video-distributed Q&A with a member of the cast/crew of Wonder Woman …
Wonder Woman herself, Keri Russell.
QUESTION: What was the extent of your knowledge of Wonder Woman
before accepting this role?
KERI RUSSELL: I have vivid memories of being four years old and my
mom making a Halloween costume for me – and I was Wonder Woman, thank
you very much. It had the tiara and the wristbands, and I remember my
younger sister was clearly upset that she didn’t have that costume.
I’m standing there very proudly in my Wonder Woman outfit, and she’s
standing just naked in a diaper and a cape, looking at me as if to
say, “Where’s my costume?” So I guess that was my first official
Wonder Woman stint.
Obviously, growing up, I knew of the show. I can remember folding
laundry with my mom while watching Lynda Carter on TV. So I knew a
little bit, but I didn’t know all the depths of the story we discover
in this film. Ultimately, she’s a very cool, strong, female warrior.
QUESTION: What do you find enticing about this story and the
character arc of Diana/Wonder Woman?
KERI RUSSELL: I think the good stories are those where the character
decides to break away and do something different. In this case, Diana
is at that age where she’s breaking away from her mom, and from the
whole island of Amazon women. She wants to explore. She’s walking that
fine line of child and good kid, and wanting to become a woman who can
make her own choices and explore the world.
QUESTION: “Wonder Woman” is filled with action and humor, but can you
discuss the love story aspects of the film?
KERI RUSSELL: I think love is a great catalyst for many characters to
further the story or their own growth, and in this film Diana is
intrigued by learning about man and the outside world. Seeking that
knowledge and experience definitely propels her forward, and away from
the safe haven of her family.
QUESTION: How do you feel about stepping into a role like Wonder Woman
that could very well inspire a future generation of females?
KERI RUSSELL: Any story that inspires you is great, male or female.
It doesn’t have to be one or the other. I just think Wonder Woman is
cool (she laughs). She’s got her invisible jet, and her armbands.
There is something to be said about the gender issue, but I think more
than anything Wonder Woman was just a good, cool comic, and that’s why
people read it. It wasn’t like just throwing one to the ladies. She
was tough and smart, and her super powers were cool, so that’s why I
think Wonder Woman has staying power.
QUESTION: How did you arrive at the voice used for Diana/Wonder Woman?
KERI RUSSELL: I was trying to focus on her differences – she's a true,
strong warrior, but she's also right at the break of being a young
woman standing on her own and fighting out in the world. So it was a
question of playing the innocence in her voice against the strength of
a warrior, and then balancing that against Virginia Madsen playing her
mother with such warmth and wisdom already in her voice. So finding
Diana's voice was trying to figure out how to walk that line.
QUESTION: Was there anything in particular that made you agree to make
this your first animated performance?
KERI RUSSELL: I personally adore origin stories – they're so
intriguing, learning what shaped and formed a character. And this
story is funny and action-packed and adult in a nice way. Then they
said Nathan Fillion was playing opposite me, and that made it that
much better. I adore Nathan and, after spending so much time with him
making “Waitress,” I could hear exactly how he'd read every line while
I was reading the “Wonder Woman” script. Then you've got this great
cast with Virginia Madsen and Alfred Molina and Oliver Platt – so I
kind of wanted to do it to be in the cool kids' group.
QUESTION: You and Nathan Fillion just came off the acclaimed
“Waitress” and now you’re back together – and with seemingly great
chemistry – in “Wonder Woman.” Can you frame that relationship for us?
KERI RUSSELL: Nathan and I have decided to do all our movies
together, animated or non-animated (she laughs). Can you imagine it?
In our next film we’ll be playing Jamaicans – it has nothing to do
with anything, but we’re just going to be in it together (she laughs).
Nathan Fillion is so lovely, and so funny – he really is a huge part
of the reason I took this. When I heard he was doing this, I thought,
“Oh Nathan’s doing that voice – I want to act with him,” even though I
don’t even see him once the whole time we’re recording this. He’s so
funny for this – he has the old kind of 1940s swagger, that sharp
rah-rah-rah dialogue that he does so well, and it’s written so well
for him in the script. I think he’s perfect for Steve (Trevor). I just
want to know what we get to do together next.
QUESTION: So what’s special about playing Wonder Woman?
KERI RUSSELL: I love watching animated films, so it sounded exciting
and fun because I had never had the opportunity to do voiceovers
before – and ultimately, recording this film was a blast. There were
some challenges – I haven’t been impaled too many times in my life
with swords and spears and things like that – so I didn’t have a lot
of experience making those sounds. Voiceover work definitely requires
it’s own specific muscle. And because you’re not seeing what you’re
recording, and all these things are going on, you really have to use
your imagination and stay focused and kind of be able to tap your head
and rub your belly at the same time. Luckily they surrounded me with
people who really know what they’re doing – to guide me through the
technicalities that I had never done or used before. I loved being in
this little dark room and not having to worry about the way I looked
or anything other than just really concentrating on the intention of
the words on the script.
QUESTION: Do you take any guilty pleasures in playing a super hero?
KERI RUSSELL: Um … yes. I think it’s because all those things
describe me perfectly (she laughs). I’m smart, beautiful, strong (she
laughs harder). I don’t really feel I am any of those things right now
– but I think it’s really cool they asked me to do it. She’s the
epitome of amazing. I mean, she’s WONDER Woman! My husband is having a
good time with that. As I was leaving the house, my husband was
already making jokes about me being Wonder Woman. But I do take some
pleasure – and pride – in being chosen to play this role.
QUESTION: Is it difficult for women these days to find a good role model?
KERI RUSSELL: I think they’re out there. Growing up, I would say
Wonder Woman and Nancy Drew were definite role models for me.
Historically, I know Amelia Earhart stands out for me. Even today,
there’s no shortage of female role models. They’re everywhere – in
history, in literature, in the news. Just look around.
QUESTION: Do you ever wish you had some of Wonder Woman’s goodies –
like an invisible plane or lasso of truth?
KERI RUSSELL: Who doesn’t want an invisible plane – that would be so
cool (she laughs). I wish I had an invisible plane to take me home to
Brooklyn, and I wouldn’t have to ride the subway. But a lasso of truth
might be a little too much at times. Sometimes you don’t want the
truth. Sometimes you’re like, “Oh just tell me the good answer. I
don’t want the truth.” On the other hand, a lasso of truth could be
interesting on the streets of New York. And the tiara I can do
without. But the invisible jet is definitely the way to go.
QUESTION: Now that you’ve been chosen to play Wonder Woman, has the
super hero world revealed itself to you in any greater detail?
KERI RUSSELL: The funny thing is that my husband and I were going to
brunch in Brooklyn, and across the street, all closed up, was a shop
with this big sign that said, “Super Hero Supply Center.” It’s set up
like a real store. Inside, there’s cans of what looks like paint, but
when you look closer, it’s like anti-gravity powder, and then there’s
advertisements inside for maps to find your best hide-out, and a rack
with capes on it. It’s filled with all these actual super hero
supplies. I think we figured out that it was either for little kids or
a creative writing workshop place.
Please visit the film’s official website at www.wonderwomanmovie.com