Carla Gugino on Sex Appeal, Women in Trouble, and Her Sucker Punch Musical Number

Was the second Elektra Luxx film shot as quickly?

On that one, we had a little bit more time -- we shot that in about eighteen days. Some of the characters return, and then we have Timothy Olyphant, Vincent Kartheiser from Mad Men, Kathleen Quinlan, and some really wonderful cameos. It was definitely down and dirty still, but maybe even more ambitious.

Did Sebastian write this with you in mind? Did the two of you get to collaborate on this character?

Sebastian did write this with me in mind, and I had as much room for feedback and collaboration as I would want. The truth is, there were a couple of points where I was like, "Oh, I don't think the character would do this," or "I don't think she would give this breakdown yet," but for the most part, I loved the character so much that there wasn't a lot that I wanted to change. It's funny -- sometimes a part will seem like the best part you ever got to play, but you really have to give a lot of notes and have a lot of input. And then there are other ones, like the role I played on Entourage -- I literally read those first five episodes and I was like, "I don't want to change anything. I love this character exactly as she is." It was like that with Women in Trouble, too. Elektra really came to life for me in this movie. She has one of my favorite speeches that I've ever gotten to do near the end, where you really get a sense of who she is and how her life has brought her to this point.

You also reunited with Zack Snyder on Sucker Punch this year, where you play Mrs. Schultz. What can you tell me about her?

I'm actually in the middle of filming right now -- I go back tonight and shoot tomorrow morning. I play a dual character: this Polish, 1960s psychiatrist, and in the alternate world, I play a dominatrix-slash-madam of a brothel. The character's last name is now Gorski.

Zack Snyder really loves to make you Polish.

I know! [Laughs] I know, it's so funny. We kinew we wanted her to be Eastern European in some way, and I was exploring different things and found this Polish voice that felt right for her. Zach really loved the idea, and then we were like, "Oh my God, Sally Jupiter was Polish! How bizarre!"

Are you involved with all the weapons training and fight sequences for Sucker Punch?

No, unfortunately I'm not. I do have a really cool song-and-dance number that I've been working on. The truth is that I would love to have been involved, and I'm actually training with the Navy Seals [with the other actresses] because I'm there, and it's like, why not? So I've been working out with the girls, and they've been kicking ass. It's going to be like nothing you've ever seen, for sure.

Do you get to actually sing in your musical number?

Oscar Isaac and myself, we sing a duet. I don't know if I can say what the song is yet, but yes, I do sing and dance.

Have you done that onscreen before?

You know what's funny? I've just been terrified of singing for most of my life, and of late, I've done so much of it. I did a short film that Joe Gordon-Levitt directed me in where I play a rock singer, and in Elektra Luxx, there's a very small dream sequence where I sing and do a little dance. I'm like, I've gotta get my act together! This is a new chapter for me, and I love it. I love having my limits be pushed.

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