By FEDERICO MONSALVE
A quick word with Zoe Bell, stuntwoman to the stars, whose CV includes doing Uma Thurman's rough stuff in the Kill Bill movies as well as enduring a 67m freefall for Sharon Stone and dying at least twice for Lucy Lawless.
Q. So what's Tarantino like then?
A. Oh
the guy is fantastic. Kill Bill Vol I was the first movie I worked on so I don't have much to compare it to but he is just the most energetic man I know. He made everything interesting because he was so passionate and enthusiastic and, I must admit, we connected over the fact he cusses all the bloody time.
Q. How much screen time did you get in Kill Bill?
A. On the first episode, shitloads. Not so much on the second because there is much more character development on that one, a lot more script-driven scenes. I remember watching the films with my dad and I would squeeze his arm every time I was on, and there was definitely a lot more arm squeezing on the first episode.
Q. How much do you get paid to do the hard work while Uma sits there wiggling her toes?
A. [Laughing] Let's not go there. I would make a lot of people pissed off if I say how much I earn per film. Let's just say the standard, union required rate here is about US$2000 ($3200) a week. On top of that there are adjustments for particularly difficult stunts, and then there are residuals, which are based on distribution and DVDs and stuff like that.
Q. So what's Volume 2 like?
A. They are quite different, they are both obviously Quentin, but I think this one will reach a broader audience. The first was quite shocking, the second might help people understand what it all means.
Q. Have there been many adjustment payments lately? Have there been any particularly scary stunts you have had to perform?
A. I can't really get used to being hit by a car. You are constantly fighting your instincts to run away. I do get a kick out of freefalls, though. But the thing is you are always so full of harnesses and safety equipment that it's quite okay. I did have an accident while filming Kill Bill Vol 2. I was being catapulted backwards and the landing mat was placed in the wrong place and I broke my wrist. It left me a bit shaken but it's part of the job, I guess.
Q. The most embarrassing?
A. Oh [giggles] my undies being flashed around happens all the time. I remember one of my boobs popping out while filming Xena and there is that thing about farting while you are in mid-air, yeah, well ...
Q. You've been working alongside Sharon Stone in Catwoman how is that going?
A. We finished shooting about a month ago. I enjoyed it like hell. She was quite respectful to me and what I do which is very, very rare in this town. I also had a chance to fall off a 26-storey building, jump through glass. Yeah, all that fun stuff.
Q. Is their anyone's ass that you are just dying to kick?
A. Oh man, that's a tough one. I know Quentin would love to get me in the ring but he would probably wipe the floor with me. I don't really know though - oh wait, Johnny Depp is a hottie. I could go for beating him up any day.
Q. Any advice for anyone accidentally stapling their fingers together while at work?
A. Be afraid, be very afraid!
By FEDERICO MONSALVE
A quick word with Zoe Bell, stuntwoman to the stars, whose CV includes doing Uma Thurman's rough stuff in the Kill Bill movies as well as enduring a 67m freefall for Sharon Stone and dying at least twice for Lucy Lawless.
Q. So what's Tarantino like then?
A. Oh
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