Jordana Brewster Credit: John Sciulli/WireImage
There are very few movies where you can use phrases like “oiled bodies” and “torqued to the max” and accurately describe both men and machines – but “Fast & Furious 6” is one of them. It’s the series’ latest petrol-head film where American muscle Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and the rest of his car-thievin’ gang smash, bang and wallop their way through yet another international criminal threat.
The sixth installment brings its hefty carbon footprint to London to stop the evil Brit, Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), with all the death-defying stunts, explosions and sick-making driving we’ve come to expect from the franchise. Amongst all of the testosterone-fueled fist pumping and steely looks, there’s the relative calm of Jordana Brewster, who plays Mia Toretto, Vin Diesel’s on-screen sister and linchpin of the “criminal family.” We chat with Jordana about real-life speeding, lingerie and why guys who drive souped-up cars are “douchebags.”
This is an intense, high-octane movie that frankly gave me heart palpitations. What gets your heart racing?
Ah, you know, I’m really claustrophobic, so that’ll get my heart racing.
Any bad experiences?
I think it’s something that comes with age (laughs) and I’m only 33 but it happened in my late twenties: I got in a plane and it felt really enclosed and I started freaking out and I just couldn’t breathe.
You play quite a maternal role in the latest “Fast and Furious.” Has the film made you broody at all?
Has it made me broody? Meaning wanting a baby? Yah. I definitely want kids really soon. I would like two or three, so I better get started. And my husband, who is 11 years older than me, is game whenever I’m game.
The girls do as much fighting as the guys here. Are you a little envious that you didn’t get a few more fight scenes?
A little bit. That was a sacrifice … I love what the baby brings into the mix. I love that it shows [Diesel’s character] Dom’s very sweet, vulnerable side. The fact that he has a new nephew shows the new dynamic in Mia and Brian’s relationship but I didn’t get to kick ass like Gal [Gadot], Michelle [Rodriguez] and Gina [Carano].
I’ve been in quite embarrassingly pathetic scuffles. Have you ever been in a proper fight?
A girl slapped me once. I went to an all girls school in New York and a girl slapped me in the dark room – I was developing pictures – and she slapped me and I slapped her back. It was a bitch slapping.
Is that the worst girly battle you’ve been in?
Actually no, my sister and I would get in really bad fights when we were younger and I would threaten to bite her all the time. So I would bare my teeth and that was my threat. Yeah, we were just really aggressive.
Who’s got the shortest fuse on set?
I’m really impatient. I like getting stuff done, so I’d say my fuse is pretty short. I just get pissy. You don’t want to see it. [Laughs]
I’ll try not to piss you off.
Yeah. [Laughs]
The girls in the movie are quite adept at manipulating the male characters. When have you used your feminine charms to get your own way?
I only pull it out for special occasions [Laughs]. Um, I would say if I’m trying to get out of a ticket, or if I’m trying to get on a plane at very short notice. I flirt, and you know compliments help a lot. I find that disarms people.
Another bald man, who we’ll leave unnamed, appears at the end of the movie. What is it with “Fast & Furious” and bald, muscular, epilated men?
Some people say that bald men have a higher testosterone level – it seems to be in this franchise.
Would you say that your looks have typecast you as a wallflower? Are you happy with your career to-date?
Very. I’m happy I’ve been working since I was 15, so that’s 18 years, so that’s pretty good to work consistently in this industry. Wait … that’s 13 years; 13 years — I just had an actress moment.
You were right the first time. You couldn’t drive prior to the “Fast & Furious” movies. I take it that you’re not into cars — and what kind of car do you drive?
Well, I don’t know much about cars. I love my car. I love the car I drive a Range Rover Sport. I love it – and I love speeding.
Were you ever caught speeding?
I have twice and I got the ticket. Yep, it’s a bummer.
Guys that drive souped-up, flashy cars look a bit ridiculous. Do you think that they’re a bit of a penis extension?
I think they can be for some men … and you usually know when you see it. The car that’s the loudest and the flashiest will have a douchebag behind the wheel. Yeah, it’s like jewelery or the bag you’re wearing, you shouldn’t have to show off too much through something material.
You must get men honking their horns at you all the time, but have you actually been charmed into a guy’s car before?
Never. That would be the precursor to getting murdered. In New York [honking] happens more and I kind of enjoy the attention because in L.A. it doesn’t happen at all. In L.A. everyone is so self-absorbed, but in New York the guys are very aggressive and complimentary, which I now enjoy. [Laughs]
You now enjoy it?
In the past, I was embarrassed by it, but now at 33 I’m like, “I’ll take it. I’ll take it while it lasts.”
How do you expect to be picked up?
I like to do the chasing. I like a guy who’s a little bit hard to get. It makes it more interesting.
Over the years, you’ve spent a lot of time being photographed in lingerie for magazines like Maxim. Am I right in thinking that this is how you hang out in your home?
[Laughs and says sarcastically] Of course I do. Absolutely. And I look just as beautiful as I do at the shoot. I’m in full makeup and hair and I’m just glowing. No. No, I miss my Uggs now – I really want to ship them in. I just like being comfortable.
Do you go for Bridget Jones-style bloomers? What are you wearing right now?
Oh, it’s just very practical because you can’t show any panty lines with clothes this tight (laughs). But I like little cute boxer shorts from Victoria’s Secret, so it’s not totally sloppy.
Clearly there’s going to be a “Fast & Furious 7.” What can you tell us about it?
Well, nothing is settled at the moment. I’d like it to be stripped-down a bit more and I’d like go back to our roots and go back to L.A. I think that would be really fun and explore what the characters are like on their own turf.
