Berenice Marlohe talked to 007.com about her audition process, working with director Sam Mendes, working with Javier Bardem, her training and more.

How many auditions did you end up having?

Berenice Marlohe: There was the one in Paris, the second at Pinewood with Sam Mendes and the third one was with Daniel Craig and Sam. The final one was more of a meeting and discussion. I was trying to focus and not be afraid so I wasn’t too nervous. The key for me was to focus on the scene so that it would diminish the stress. I could sense when I saw some of Daniel’s interviews that he had a huge amount of humanity and a beautiful nature so I was totally confident he would be a great guy. So that reassured me.

Your character is described as “enigmatic and glamourous”…

Marlohe: They have done a wonderful job with the clothes, hair and make-up so I’m being helped out regarding the glamorous aspect. It was up to me to create the enigmatic side of her and I loved it.

What’s it like being directed by Sam Mendes?

Marlohe: He has a wonderful sense of humour. He’s easy to work with, one of the qualities of great people and he makes you feel relaxed which is what you want as an actor. On set these are the perfect conditions.

Do you have any scenes with Javier Bardem?

Marlohe: Yes. When I work with both Daniel and Javier I try to really enjoy the moment. They are both great actors so I try to cherish every moment I can with them.

Does Severine get to have a Bond love-scene?

Marlohe: Well, I hope so. If not I will have to have a quiet word with Sam, ha ha.

How far into the shooting schedule are you?

Marlohe: I have just finished shooting.

And what sort of training have you had for the role?

Marlohe: I fired some guns. I really wanted to try it and I felt it would help me inform my character if I knew what it was like to fire proper guns. I enjoyed it but I’m not sure how good I was. The target we were aiming at was already full of holes so I don’t know whether it was me hitting it or not, ha ha! I’ve also worked on my accent to be more English-sounding.

The SKYFALL sets at Pinewood are incredible aren’t they? They’re vast but also astoundingly detailed which is really unusual in these days of green-screen and over the top CGI?
Marlohe: They are so well done that it makes your job so much easier to believe where you are. Half of the work is already done by the set. I have felt very lucky working in that environment.

Did you watch any of the classic Bond films to prepare for SKYFALL?
Marlohe: I felt I should watch CASINO ROYALE again, which I had already seen twice, and QUANTUM OF SOLACE but I also went back and watched some of the old ones. Even though I had already seen them all over the years, I wanted to refresh my memory. I have watched the Bond films since I was very little, especially the Sean Connery ones. It was why I was so determined to have my reels and work seen by the production to get a chance to audition for this film because I felt instinctively connected to these movies. I think the characters and villains are always very colourful and I knew that I could have a lot of fun with that.

How do you feel about being part of the Bond legacy?
Marlohe: I’m so happy to be in a James Bond movie. To have an attachment to something like this is incredible as it lasts for so long. It’s very moving to be part of it. Everyone is so kind, especially the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. It really feels like a family. My own family are so proud of me too.

It must be hard not letting anything out of the bag about SKYFALL’s plot – are you good at keeping secrets?
Marlohe: Yes I am. It’s so important as you have to preserve the surprise. It’s like a game, I find it very funny keeping it a secret. When I do interviews I’m very careful about what I say so as not to give away too much information. Sorry!

Before this you appeared mainly in some French TV dramas (R.I.S. Police Scientifique and Équipe Médicale D’Urgence). Did they prepare you in anyway for SKYFALL?
Marlohe: Everything I have done up to now, since the day I was born, are experiences and training to get to where I am today. You train, you learn who you are as a human being and then you see an audition you really want to do and are prepared for it because of the roles you’ve had before.

What do you get up to when you’re not filming?
Marlohe: Since I was a child I wanted to be an artist, so I love to draw. I also did eight years of piano so I love music, whether it’s classical or rap, I use it for my job to stay focused, then to relax and to give me inspiration.

Do you have a favourite Bond girl?
Marlohe: I liked Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp in GOLDENEYE. She was so bold. I could tell she had a great sense of humour. I like people who play psychopaths so straight away I liked her. And she portrayed it in a really original way, especially the way she killed people.