Video:Maria Bello Interview-The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
with Rebecca MurrayMaria Bello joins the 'Mummy' franchise in place of Rachel Weisz for the third film of the franchise, 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.' Bello's always wanted to star in an action film and says she's willing to do 10 more 'Mummy' movies.
Transcript:Maria Bello Interview-The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con.
Maria Bello – 'Evelyn' in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
We don't see 'action movie' and 'Maria Bello' – they don't go together usually. So why did you decide to do a Mummy movie?
Maria Bello: "This was my dream since I was a little kid. Over the years my agents would ask me, 'What role do you really want to play?' And I'd say, 'I want to be Indiana Jones.' That's all I ever wanted so it was a real dream come true when Rob Cohen asked me to do The Mummy."
Now that you've got that action taste, do you want to do more of it?
Maria Bello: "I do. I want to be the first woman action hero at 80."
You've got decades and decades to go before that so do you want to do another Mummy movie maybe in between?
Maria Bello: "I sure do. I hope there's like 10 more Mummys."
Working with Brendan Fraser who is the seasoned veteran – he knows all the Mummy stuff – and you're the new kid on the block basically, what's it like and how easy was it to connect with him?
Maria Bello: "Incredible. He's just the most generous person. He's everything that he seems. He's incredibly sweet and funny, but he also has that testosterone thing where you know he would take care of you at the end of the world."
How tough were the action scenes for you to handle?
Maria Bello: "I have to be honest, the action scenes weren't tough for me because I was such a tomboy as a kid. I was a little scrapper, always getting in fights."
I don't picture that for you.
Maria Bello: "I know. Isn't that funny? I actually have a broken finger from when I was a kid punching somebody."
Do you get the better end of them or did they walk out better?
Maria Bello: "I think I did pretty good."
So why should people like this Mummy movie? We're revisiting the franchise after a little break there. Mummy 3 - what's so good about this one?
Maria Bello: "You know, it's like a whole new franchise. You didn't have to see the first two Mummy movies to get this one. It's on such a bigger scale. The effects are huge, the action is amazing, and there's a real family drama that the action comes out of."
What's next for you?
Maria Bello: "I have The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Rebecca Miller's film with Robin Wright Penn – incredible. And Towelhead's coming out, Alan Ball's Towelhead, and Yellow Handkerchief with William Hurt."
Wow, you've been busy.
Maria Bello: "I have."
What's your Comic Con experience been like so far? Have you seen anything here yet?
Maria Bello: "I haven't been on the floor. I'm so bummed."
Are you going to try to get down there?
Maria Bello: "I am. My 7 year old and my boyfriend are down there right now and I can't wait to see what they have to say."
Were you a comic book-type person growing up or not?
Maria Bello: "Never, never a comic book person."
So it's going to be a total weird experience for you.
Maria Bello: "Yeah, that's right."