Fifty Shades' Bella Heathcote says she is 'psycho'

'Links to the Illuminati', Masonic masters and a corpse that was evicted a year after being buried: The story behind America's bizarre pyramid mausoleums - and even Nicolas Cage has one
'Go buy Ivanka's stuff': Kellyanne breaks federal regulations to shamelessly plug Trump daughter's fashion line during TV interview after Nordstrom pulled plug on her label
Top U.S. general says thousands more troops are needed in Afghanistan and Russia is meddling in the war-torn country
Russian newspaper tells women beaten by their husbands to ‘be proud of their bruises’ after Putin decriminalises domestic abuse
'I'm putting it off until I get my birthday gift': People reveal their VERY cold-hearted reasons for waiting to break up with partners they don't love
Trafficked by her own family: Brave survivor of sexual abuse reveals how pedophiles made her 'star' in vile porn videos from the age of TEN and let police officers rape her
Mother-of-two is charged in child pornography case involving an ex-firefighter who dressed as clown for kid-safety program
Michigan mother, 19, 'sexually abused her three-month-old son and created child porn'
Married couple arrested after 'targeting two of their 16-year-old daughter's friends and trying to make them have paid sex'
Mother of girl, 14, 'molested by a female teacher for months found sexts from the married 32-year-old woman on daughter's phone'
What a difference a day makes! Schools closed, 3,800 flights cancelled as huge storm dumps up to a FOOT of snow in the Northeast... just hours after basking in record high winter temperatures
Revealed: How Madonna charmed Malawian adoption judge who asked 'uncomfortable' questions because she feared pop queen was 'robbing country's greatest asset'... its children
Mystery red sprites, blue jets and pixies are spotted in space: Astronaut captures best ever images of the strange sights from the ISS
Can YOU spot all TWELVE British soldiers hiding in the Brunei jungle in this amazing camouflage photograph?
'I know this wasn't your intention': Mom FORGIVES home invaders for killing her nine-year-old daughter as she begs them to come forward
Pictured: Former auctioneer, 51, who 'hijacked a taxi while drunk and went on a naked joyride through crowded streets in Philadelphia'
Are these the worst selfie fails EVER? Hilarious images sweeping the web feature rogue photobombers (including pooping dogs and sex toys)
Experienced sheriff is sacked after he was filmed pinning an inmate to a metal table and smashing him in the face
Luxury cars, flash hotels and celebrity links: Inside the high-flying lifestyle of a suspected Asian 'drug lord dubbed Mr X' who was arrested at a Thai airport
'I don't have to lie about nothing': New York Knicks star Charles Oakley, 54, says he was unfairly targeted during arrest after 'hurling abuse at team owner and punching three guards'
Filming in the eye of the storm: Footage gets VERY close to a tornado that destroyed homes in Louisiana and injured dozens
Fifty Shades FITTER: On-set personal trainer reveals how she prepped Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan for THOSE steamy sex scenes
'I'm going to kill myself': Mischa Barton threatened suicide during meltdown and said that she 'wanted to die' neighbors reveal in 911 calls
‘I’d slept with the boss’: Applicants reveal their most embarrassing job interviews EVER (including falling off their chair and bursting into tears)

The 29-year-old Australian actress plays Christian Grey's troubled ex-submissive, Leila Williams, in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades Darker
Bella said she loved taking on the 'completely unhinged' character; however, she noted that heartbreak does make you 'do some pretty crazy things'
In the extended trailer for the film, Leila is seen pointing a gun at Dakota Johnson's character Ana, asking her to 'tell me what you have that I don't'

Published: 12:41 EST, 9 February 2017 | Updated: 13:01 EST, 9 February 2017

e-mail

View
comments

Bella Heathcote may be in a seven-year relationship with her fiancé Andrew Dominik, but she understands how heartbreak can make you 'do some pretty crazy things'.

The 29-year-old Australian actress tapped into her inner angst for her role as Christian Grey's troubled ex-submissive, Leila Williams, in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades Darker, and she admitted she found similarities between her and the character.

'I’m just a psycho myself,' she joked to Cosmopolitan.com about getting into Leila's mind-set. 'I don’t know ... it was a weird experience. It was weird — OK, maybe alarming — how much common ground I found with her in a way.'

Thriller: Australian actress Bella Heathcote plays Christian Grey's troubled ex-submissive, Leila Williams, in the film adaptation Fifty Shades Darker

Going for it: The 29-year-old said she loved taking on the 'completely unhinged' character (left) who stalks her ex and his new girlfriend Anastasia Steele (right)

'I loved playing Leila, taking on [a character] who's completely unhinged,' she added. 'I saw her as a girl who’s grief-stricken and she just doesn’t have the tools to cope. Grief and heartbreak, it makes you do some pretty crazy things.'

In both E.L. James' erotic trilogy and the film adaptations, Christian's submissives are all brunettes, and Bella colored her hair a chocolate brown to play the scorned woman who stalks her ex and his new girlfriend Anastasia Steele.

In the extended trailer for the film, she is seen pointing a gun at Dakota Johnson's character Ana, asking her to 'tell me what you have that I don't'.

Finding common ground: 'Grief and heartbreak, it makes you do some pretty crazy things,' Bella said

Back at it: Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson reprise their roles as Christian and Anastasia in the Fifty Shades of Grey sequel. They are pictured in a scene from Fifty Shades Darker

The film was directed by James Foley, the man behind the 1996 movie Fear, and Bella said the thriller aspect is what excited her most about Fifty Shades Darker.

One of her favorite scenes to film was one where she sneaks into their apartment and creepily stands behind their while watching them sleep.

And while Leila is clearly disturbed, the actress pointed out that her character's obsession with Christian, who is played by Jamie Dornan, is somewhat relatable.

Glittering girl: Bella stunned in a gold lamé dress at the film's premiere in Los Angeles last week

Devoted: Bella has been in a relationship with her director fiancé Andrew Dominik, 49, for seven years

'Leila goes off the deep end, yes, but you can understand that insecurity around your ex's new girlfriend, or finding out that they’re seeing someone else and losing your mind. Everyone goes through that,' she explained.

The blonde beauty recalled being broken up with before her shift at a free-standing pie stand, and while she was crying in the storage unit, customers were trying to get her attention.

Although she can relate to the pain and suffering of a break-up, Bella sought inspiration from social media stalking instead of actual stalking to prepare for the role.

Pretty in pink: Bella struck a pose before heading to an event last month

New look: The actress dyed her hair chocolate brown and wore hair extensions to take on the role of Leila

'I just pushed myself down the other end of the spectrum a bit,' she said. 'Like, you know, physically stalking as opposed to Instagram stalking, which was kind of great. Leila puts my Insta stalking into perspective.'

Bella declined to say whether or not the film features flashbacks of Christian and Leila's relationship, but she did note that she had a great time working with Jamie and Dakota, who put her 'immediately at ease'.

As for the characters' penchant for S&M, Bella said she wouldn't be against spicing it up a bit for her 10-year anniversary with her boyfriend, joking it would be 'hilarious' and 'an anniversary treat'.