Sharni Vinson (Blue Crush 2, Step Up 3D) : Exclusive Movie Interview

Since the dawn of time (or 30 years ago to be exact), Australians have marvelled at the efforts of fellow actors and actresses who have schmoozed their way into the glitz and glamourous Hollywood life.

Often starting from humble beginnings such as Neighbours, Home & Away and Heart-Break High, (there was also that guy who played Joe King on The Ferals on Rockband INXS) we here in Australia now appear to be producing a steady line of  boys and girls who take America by storm.

The latest is Step Up 3D and Blue Crush 2 star Sharni Vinson. Watch Out For | Movies‘ own Sean Lynch caught up with the sweet faced star to talk all things surfing, Aussie accents and Bond girls…

You play the token “bitch” of Blue Crush 2. Do you think you have a bit of that ‘tude in real life? Or is all that just something you’ve created for the film?

I think everybody has their good and their bad side. For this role I just had to tap into all of my evil [Laughs] and really pull that out.

It’s a lot of fun to play the mean girl – and knowing where it actually comes from… it is the surfing culture. She’s kind of mean, but this is what exists in the surfing world. So it’s actually nice to portray that reality of it, because most people just think that surfers are happy-go-lucky, relaxed…

… Stoners?

[Laughs] Well, yeah.

You’ve gone from Step Up 3, to Blue Crush 2 – is there another existing franchise that you’d love to be a part of?

I want to be a Bond girl! I want to be in a James Bond movie – that’s a great franchise.

What would your Bond girl name be?

Hmmm, I don’t know. Mole?

Mole?! That is the unsexiest Bond girl name I’ve ever heard [Laughs] !

I’d make it attractive [Laughs].

“What’s up Mole? Mole… from Puberty Blues”. Mole’s my name, so that couldn’t be her name – that’s my nickname. I don’t care what my Bond name is…

Hold on, how are we glossing over the fact your nickname in real life is “Mole”?

It has been forever… why, is that weird for you? [Laughs]. All my best friends and boyfriends, they’ve all called me Mole.

I think you may need to have a discussion with them, I hate to break this to you – but I think they’re making fun of you…

I told them too [Laughs]! Never mind…

Step Up 3D made a few bucks at the Box Office ($165M worldwide), how does something like that change the role choices you make and are offered?

As far as choosing the roles, I don’t think it’s really made a difference in terms of how picky I am, or anything like that. I just think there are more opportunities coming.

So you really just need to know what you do want to do, and what you don’t want to do. So if it’s a good script and there’s good people attached to it, then I’m happy to be involved.

Other than that, it’s still an industry where you can’t afford to be too picky, it’s very fickle. So even if you know where you want to go – it doesn’t mean you will get there.

With so many Aussies working in Hollywood, have you noticed a change in the system? Do you really ham up the accent in auditions now?

It’s interesting, because my tactic has changed since I first moved over. When I first moved there – I was hamming up the Aussie thing.

Recently I have tried to really pull back on that. So when I go into an audition I’m American from the second I walk into the room. I try to not let on that I’m Australian. I do the audition, and once you’ve finished and you’ve impressed them – [in Aussie accent] “Thanks mate, seeya later!”.

You sneaky bitch!

[Laughs] Exactly, then they go “Wwwhat?! I had no idea she was Australian, that was the best American accent I’ve ever heard”.

Because if you walk in as an Aussie, then you have to do an American accent, they know you’re Australian, then the whole audition they are just waiting for you to mess it up or listening for you accent to come out. So if you don’t let on that you’re not from there – they are really just invested in your performance.

So my tactics have completely changed.

Finally – a question we ask everyone – if you were about to die a horrible graphic, history making death. What would you like the last words of this unfinished sentence to say “SHARNI, WATCH OUT FOR…”

The bright light! Take your sunnies!

Because you want to look good on your way out…

You just don’t want to be blinded. Apparently it’s really bright that light. Take your sunnies, take your D & G’s.

BLUE CRUSH 2 is OUT NOW on BLU RAY & DVD