Video:Alice Braga Interview - The Rite and On the Road

Transcript:Alice Braga Interview - The Rite and On the Road

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the World Premiere of New Line Cinema's The Rite.

Alice Braga - 'Angeline' in The Rite

Tell me about working on this film and did it change what you believe in at all?

Alice Braga: "Definitely. I think once you're involved in a project that you're talking about this controversial subject for like four months definitely opens your mind a little bit. I'm not sure if I believe it or not, but definitely it opens your mind for the idea of it."

Did you do any research other than looking at the script and talking to the priest who was helping out?

Alice Braga: "I did actually. It's based on a non-fiction book written by Matt Baglio. I got the chance to talk to him a lot. He's a journalist so it was great to get the chance to be so close to someone that had lived the reality that my character lives in the film. I read a lot of books. I tried to walk around Rome figuring out about the Vatican and all that. So I did some research. It was wonderful."

What was the most important thing you found out from talking to Matt Baglio that helped inform your character?

Alice Braga: "It was wonderful because he spent a lot of time with Father Gary which is an exorcist priest based in Rome. He was telling me that in reality it's not just about turning heads and all that, but it's normal people that go there, and what's their reality? If it's a psychological problem or if it's really a possession and all that. So we went through that discussion a lot with the producers, with the director, with Colin [O'Donoghue] and Tony [Hopkins] and everyone, so it was an interesting discussion during the four months that we shot. It was a bit scary."

There's no pea soup and it's nothing like The Exorcist. It's more a story of faith than a horror story, isn't it?

Alice Braga: "Yes, exactly. It's more about faith. I think it has some horror which is great for the audience that loves that type of film. But at the same time it's a bit of a psychological drama. It has some suspense, thriller... I think it's interesting to have those qualities. The great thing is it's not only a horror film. That's what I love about it. It has a discussion, which I think is important."

On the Road - how did that go?

Alice Braga: "It was phenomenal. It was such an honor to be part of such an amazing book. Kerouac is just phenomenal, and Walter Salles which is the director and Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley... I could go on and on and on. It was wonderful. It was a great ride to be involved."

Is that going to introduce Kerouac to a new generation of fans?

Alice Braga: "I hope so. I really do hope so because he's such a phenomenal writer. It's amazing how the book keeps on going with all the generations that are still to come. I do hope the film brings a curiosity to read this book but other books from the Beat Generation. I think it's important. I really hope people connect to it. I connected when I was reading the script. I read the book like 10 years ago or something, and reading the book again and reading the script just brings you so much. I hope people read the book after watching the film again."

More on The Rite:

The Rite Photo Gallery

The Rite Trailer, Clips, Poster and Cast List