'I'm just a psycho myself!' Actress Bella Heathcote dishes about taking on the role of 'completely unhinged' Leila in Fifty Shades Darker, as she admits she found 'common ground' with her
- 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'
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'.
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