After sharing some of the most recent ‘Kate’ interviews Mary did with the likes of GQ & Men’s Health, I wanted to add a few more here in case no one has read them. The first one is with The Hollywood Reporter where she talks about the film and hoping she’ll someday get her own Huntress spin-off (or series) & possibly appearing in Jurnee Smollet’s Black Canary film. As always, be sure to click the links provided to read the interviews in full.
On possibly appearing in Jurnee’s HBO Max Black Canary movie:
“If it came together in the right way, it would be so much fun,” Winstead shares. “I know that Jurnee [Smollett] is doing a Black Canary movie, which I’m so excited for. She’s amazing and she’s going to kill that, so I can’t wait to see where that goes. I don’t know if that’s going to involve Huntress or not, but I love that character and I love the version that we were able to create in Birds of Prey.
Which role was quite difficult given your skillset at the time?
I would say Gemini Man was harder for me because that was my first big step up in the action realm. I did a lot with Scott Pilgrim, which was also really hard. But I trained a really long time for that as well, and then had a bit of a break. I did action films, but I didn’t have as much stuntwork to do in them until like ten years later. And then I jumped into Gemini Man training, but I didn’t have as much time as I wanted to have to really feel like I was nailing it. So I did it, and while I hope I did it well, I was a bit stressed out from wanting to get it right. (Laughs.) And with all the gun work and choreography, and especially being there with Will Smith, I was just a little intimidated. But now, with Birds of Prey and Kate, I feel like a much different person in the action realm than I did with Gemini Man.
I’m just starting to look at stuff now, but I don’t really know when I’ll actually end up back on set. So I’m not rushing. I’m going to just do it when it feels right, but I am just now starting to read things at least. I’m giving five minutes here and there to at least open an email occasionally. (Laughs.) So yeah, I’m excited about what this new version of life will look like when it happens.
She also did another great interview with TatlerAsia and her co-star Miku Martineau. Here is the first question on what drew her to the role of ‘KATE’:
“I was instantly drawn to the idea of Kate when it was first brought to me and I knew that Jojo (Jonathan Eusebio, the stunt coordinator) and his stunt team were going to be involved so that instantly piqued my interest because I worked with them on Birds of Prey and I loved them so much and the idea of getting to continue that relationship is exciting. I was a little hesitant about doing more action because I was a bit tired and also kind of seeking a break, but then I read the script and it was so good, and Kate is such a great character. It’s something that felt more challenging than anything I’d ever done before on so many levels, physically as well as emotionally. Just going as far as the film goes was something that was really exciting for me and I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.”
“I love Japan. We didn’t get to spend very much time there and it’s probably the ultimate place that I’d like to go back to as soon as I can travel abroad again. I’d like to spend more time in Tokyo but also explore beyond the city. It was just an incredible place to be.
“I ended up going to a little piglet café. Where else in the world can you just sit on the ground and have little piglets crawl all over you and cuddle them? (laughs) It’s just the most unusual thing to do there that you can’t do or see anywhere else. And the food, the sushi, you just can’t stop eating. It’s a beautiful and unique place that’s unlike anywhere else. I only got a tiny taste of Japan and it wasn’t enough.”
Here’s an interview with WhereIsTheBuzz talking about the training/stunt work she completed for the film:
I love working with Jojo and his whole crew. He’s so smart in the way that he trains. He sort of trains you to learn the choreography without really knowing that you’re learning the choreography. You’re learning all these moves, and then you’re slowly building them up and building them up and getting more comfortable with them, and then you’re ready to go without really realizing it. So, he sets it up in this way where he can throw different stuff at you on set, and you can roll with it and do it because you’re trained. And that’s an amazing feeling.
Well, working with 87North they give you a really good baseline in jiu jitsu. Then they throw in boxing drills and things like that. And that’s one of those examples, when I said I didn’t really know that I was learning the choreography. It became: “Ok, you’re punching like we’ve been doing in these boxing drills. but with a knife in your hand this time.” So I’m using the proper power behind the force of the punch now it’s a knife.” They’re just really smart, in terms of building it into your body in a way that you don’t even realize what’s happening.
Mary also did some quick interviews with USAToday, Decider, ComingSoon, and Goggler.