Red carpet interview with Rosamund Pike
Interviewer: Zoe Ball
Q: First time BAFTA nomination. Congratulations.
A. It is a wonderful feeling. I am a terrible presenter at the BAFTAs historically so I decided after my last stint of running to the podium as a presenter that I would never do that again, so it is very nice to be back as a nominee where, who knows.
Q. I was going to say, I often wonder when we watch awards ceremonies, do actors and actresses get very nervous?
A. I think so. I have done a few award ceremonies this year and I am not expecting to win any, but at the point your category is announced, suddenly there is a feeling of absolute terror, of, you know, even if it is wonderful what is bestowed on you, the terror of going up. Even though this is what we do. We appear in front of people for a living and somehow there is something about the nature of these nights that just, you know, gives you the wrong kind of nerves.
Q. But also playing a character, you have got a character to get into. When you are just playing yourself, it is quite difficult. Amy Dunne, what a beautiful role to have. It must have been so much fun?
A. It was fun. It was the kind of role where you get to do everything. You get to to, you know, exorcise and exercise every insane notion that has ever come through your mind. It was being every woman. It was being all facets of being a woman, to be sexy and fun‑loving, to be manipulative, to be devious, to be challenging, to be angry. I mean, it was the full gamut and it was really, really fun. Frightening at times, too.
Q. How was it to work with David Fincher? I mean, what a man.
A. It is funny. On the night before I started filming, and I was petrified and I thought I have never been on a film set on day one before because I have played a lot of supporting roles and usually you get a warm‑up period, you get to arrive a week or two into it. I thought: who has been in this position? And I realised Tom Cruise is always in this position. So I e‑mailed him in the middle of the night. I said: I am terrified, I've never been there on day one. And he e‑mailed back. He said: you are going to crush this. He said: remember, you have a director who will not allow you to fail and that was my long‑winded way of getting what it was like to work with Fincher, because you felt, you realised, he wasn't going to allow anyone to fail, and he would keep going until you got it. And that was an amazing thing. Because I think, you know, I don't know if you feel this, but most actors leave a day's work thinking: if only I had tried that. Now I know exactly how I should have played that or delivered it or whatever, and with David you have the time to explore it. You do try everything.
Q. A fantastic role and an amazing film. Congratulations, and you never know tonight. And I love the fact that you can e‑mail Tom Cruise for advice the night before shooting. That is wonderful.
A. I know. Well, that I mean, you know, to get even, now, that was pretty great, wasn't it?
Q. Good luck, Rosamund.
A. Wonderful to meet you. Thank you.
