Imogen Poots Talks “Need For Speed”, Female Empowerment, Stuntwork, Fear Of Heights, and More

What scene stood out for you?
I remember the scene where Julia gets out of the car, and lies along the side of it and steps on gas. It’s the gas (laughs)? And I think that was because we had practiced it a lot the day before and felt very comfortable to kind of just go and use – your fear is replaced by exhilaration. And trust again the people around you, and I realize when I prematurely tried to get out of the car I was like “Oh, I;m attached to a rope,” so people have got you covered from literally all angles. And it was fun a part from the crazy wind burn, that was like a wild crazy situation, not normal.

Did that scene need a lot of takes?
We did a few for the different camera angles, and there were obviously moments where I couldn’t reach the nozzle, you know, that happens, so they were like: “ah shit, we have to take it back to the start again,” and that is actually interesting; it’s the whole idea of you work with maybe kids or animals, and there’s time limit to that kind of thing, and there’s limitation to that kind of shoot, but working with cars you dirve 65 miles all the way down the street it’s like if you mess it up, you have to take it right back up the street.

How fast were you going?

I think it was around 65 – 70 mph. It was really fast. It really really was. And that is something I appreciated too, never would they put you in a place of danger, but the guys were like “if you are going to do it, do it.” Otherwise it’s not going to have the impact or effect, so you have to go along with it.

So you seemed to gain a lot of experience while on set.
Totally, and the education you get necessarily – in terms of “oh now I know this, and it’s a good thing,” you don’t come away necessarily thinking “Oh now I gained this knowledge and it benefits me because…” you also can have an experience and think “you know what I’m not crazy about cars, but I have learned that if you are in the hands of a director who is wiling to do something different or attempt to find a character dynamic that’s fresh and electric that’s great, but had this been in the hands of a different director, well I guess I wouldn’t be a part of the project then, if they were just like “this is just going to be fun,” that mentality is unfortunately very common, so I think the experience was certainly informative, but thank goodness there was good people that got involved.

This movie does a great job of not oversexualizing the female character, can you tell us a little bit more about that?
That was more for you in a sense that I wasn’t going to be a part of this project if I didn’t think that – I wouldn’t be a part of this project if I thought she was going to be completely dismissed or diluted as a character. So there’s that, but you’re right, it felt cool and fun. I still stand by the fact that by Scott in terms of casting Aaron and I in the film he did kind of make a choice there, I myself don’t see myself being the classic choice for this kind of film.

Do you see yourself in this character or are you very cautious or are you a very fun person?
I think the latter. Yeah, I think going out and having fun. Obviously the differences, her feels it necessary for physical things, putting herself in danger physically. But i see it differently, I’m cautious in terms of I would think twice before I would get out of a car and lie along side it. In terms of life – no I think following your intuition in terms of artistically is really really important cause its better to kind of have – I think having regrets about things you didn’t do is worse than having regrets about things you did do.

If you are not into cars, then what are you into?

I really like books. I really like movies. I love old cinema. And new cinema, but I think it’s kind of fascinating to see what came before. Am very very happy completely disappearing into the Criterion Collection, and never seeing a human being. But I think those things are really important. Long walks.

On the beach at sunset with dogs?
Exactly. I’m allergic to dogs actually. Maybe I’ll get a cardboard cut out or something.

Was it nice to use your native British accent?

Yeah it was cool. Kind of wanted to play – I really really wanted to play her as an American at first. They said the British accent is so exotic, and when your British you think “Is it?”, it’s not at all, to me an accent from the south is far more exotic. But it was okay, I mean you don’t want to be the Brit in an American film, that would suck if that would happen which it kinda did. But it was nice, it gives you the kind of freedom to make choices.