STACK #140 Jun 2016

CINEMA NEWS

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Megan Fox has some serious turtle envy in Teenage Mutant NinjaTurtles: Out of the Shadows . By Gill Pringle FOX ON THE RUN

H e’s played a zombie hunter, an ecstasy dealer and comic book villain Lex Luthor, and received acclaim for his portrayal of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network . But Jesse Eisenberg’s favourite role to date is as master magician J. Daniel Atlas in Now You See Me , which he reprises for sequel NowYou See Me:The Second Act . “This movie is like the greatest relief I can have, because this is a character that’s also a professional performer, and yet he is totally MAGIC HAPPENS AGAIN

made up; Bay casting her in the first TMNT movie two years ago. “He loves me. We’re best friends now,” she says. Wed to Brian Austin Green, the couple have two sons and a third boy on the way. As a mum, she feels strongly that TMNT 2 shouldn’t be inappropriate for young audiences. “If you ask me, I don’t think April should even kiss,” she teases. She even considers herself a role

I can’t stand that they all get to eat pizza. I used to love a good cheesy pizza, but I’m dairy free now,” says Megan Fox. Reprising her role as journalist April O’Neil, don’t expect to see her playing a shrinking violet. Its just not in her DNA. “I was always really strong as a kid. Where I’m from in Tennessee, it was considered that I had a masculine personality because,

at that time, women are damsels and ladies and they’re gentle, and I was very fiery and no-nonsense, so I think that’s always been a part of my personality. I definitely wear that and put that out there because in this industry it's important for people to understand that I am not a dumb girl. I’m a very clever girl and you’re not going to get anything over on me. There has to be a level of respect. I’m not like a silly, stupid little actress.” Fiery Fox famously fell out with Transformers director Michael Bay, the man responsible for catapulting her to stardom nine years ago, casting Rosie Huntington- Whiteley in the third Transformers movie instead. But they’ve since kissed and

model. “That’s subjective of course. It depends on what your version of a role model is. If a role model to you is someone who encourages kids or people to embrace eccentricities and be counter-culture, then I definitely believe I’m a role model. I’m strong and have never worried about fitting in or belonging and have always shunned needing praise or the validation of other people’s opinions. But if you’re looking for a role

comfortable with himself,” explains the actor who openly discusses his own anxiety and guilt issues. “He has no self-doubt, he’s worked really

CINEMA

hard on his skill set and yet feels no guilt

about his success, so it’s all this stuff that I kind of aspire to but don’t feel, feeling like a confident performer, feeling like I’ve earned the right to be at the table so to speak, and so I really like playing this character. In a way it’s like a more comfortable version of myself.” A huge Penn and Teller fan, the magicians have even let Eisenberg into the secrets behind some of their famous tricks. “I’m a naturally curious person, and they could see how infuriated I got when I couldn’t figure something out. The great thing about Penn and Teller, and also about Now You See Me , is that they tell you how their tricks are done and it’s not any less impressive. In fact, in a way, it’s even more impressive because it shows you how much effort it takes to do these things.” Gill Pringle

model that’s very traditional and encourages traditional morals and values, then I would say I’m not

your kind of role model!”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is in cinemas on June 9.

Now You See Me: The Second Act is in cinemas on June 2.

JUNE 2016

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