Browning quotes from Sucker Punch (2011)

You have to perform this character in several different levels of fantasy and reality on top of all of the physical stuff. Is it extremely challenging?

I think for me there is no real differentiation in character in all of the fantasies worlds because it is my fantasy. For the other people, I think maybe there is more a difference with the girls being in the asylum and then in the brothel. I think it’s more different. But because it’s from my point of view, I sort of get off a little bit easy there.

Each of the characters have a sort of iconography that goes along with them. Did you have any input on that and how do you feel about the schoolgirl aspect that you have going on?

I love it. I mean, I love that in terms of aesthetics I am the most innocent looking, but Baby is really kind of the…I don’t want to say the toughest because all of the girls are tough in their own way. But I love the fact that it’s this total flip of what you would normally expect from that really innocent schoolgirl. She’s totally stoic, tough, and kind of angry. I just like that kind of juxtaposition. I think it’s pretty cool.

You wear a lot of different outfits in this film. Can you talk about what you wear and what was your reaction when you realized the revealing or non-revealing nature of your outfits?

Well, when I signed on the film was still R-rated. There was going to be a scene where I was going to be almost completely nude. So I was sort of prepared for that from the beginning. But I think almost all of the costumes are sort of more intimidating to wear than actually being there topless because everything is so like pushed up, sucked in, and it’s kind of this weird crazy version of it. I felt like a women, which I’ve never felt like before. [laughs] It was this mental thing. I don’t know, it’s kind of fine I guess because the set is so comfortable and it’s so much just part…it’s not nudity for nudity’s sake. They work in a brothel and it’s kind of necessary. I don’t know, it’s ok. Michael Wilkinson, the costume designer, was so careful to make sure that we felt comfortable and that he wasn’t revealing anything that we didn’t want to reveal.

For a lot of movie fans Zack Snyder is the guy who did 300, which is this big testosterone macho dude picture. This is a really woman centric movie with five great lead actresses in it. Were you surprised that Zack was able to get women the way he did or is that something that you think comes natural to him?

I don’t know. I mean, I think in terms of the emotional stuff and the female relationships – I think that the girls all definitely had an input into it. I also don’t think these are regular every day women. They are kind of just a little different. Yeah, it is kind of surprising that he understands the way that he does. But a lot of times he’s also like…in terms of that emotional stuff, he will tell us to do something and he will be like, “Is that okay?” I think he’s very careful to make sure that we…

So he kind of turns to you guys for the input?

I think so. I mean, I don’t want to say that we are directing it. But he is definitely really sensitive. If we feel like something is not right, he is totally sensitive to that. It’s pretty cool.

There are four action set pieces that we have been told about. What have you filmed already and can you talk about it?

The first thing we did was World War 1. I’m filming my sword piece for that right now. That’s what I was doing today. Those guys are all fighting in the trenches and then I go into the bunker to fight the Colonel. They all get locked out. So my big fight piece is in the bunker. That is what I’m doing for this whole week while these guys dance. So there is that and there are these kind of crazy zombie robot Germans, who we fight. Then, we also filmed the dragon world, where we fight orcs and knights. We go and slay a dragon at the end. It’s ridiculous. It’s like nerd fantasy, which is just awesome for me. It’s the most exciting thing ever! Then, the last one is train world, which we don’t really know much about yet, but we are filming in two weeks. I think it’s not so much martial arts. It’s mostly swords and guns. So it will be a little easier to learn. The first sequence is actually me by myself and it’s the samurai world.

What is your connection to the other girls in the film?

Well, I come into the insane asylum.

Is it an immediate bonding or something?

No, when I get to the asylum, I don’t really…it’s really just me seeing them and then I guess they then kind of get incorporated into my fantasy. Rocket and I sort of become really close. Sweet Pea and I sort of butt heads a little bit because I think she worries that I’m going to lead Rocket astray. Vanessa, Blondie, is kind of Sweet Pea’s little offside and she doesn’t like me very much. Amber is really kind of naïve and sweet, and really wants to be my friend. I sort of take this weird leader position and try to help them escape.