ABBIE CORNISH Q&A

Q. Were you a fan of the original 1987 RoboCop?
A. Yes, I grew up watching it with my brothers, and it became a big part of my childhood and a very nostalgic film for me.
Q. What was it about that movie that appealed so much to you?
A. RoboCop was a big film for my generation that provoked thought and imagination. And I liked the social, political and futuristic aspects of it too. It was really cool.
Q. And how relevant are those themes today?
A. Well, now they are at our doorstep.
Q. How excited were you to get the role of Clara Murphy, RoboCop’s wife?
A. I was really excited and also wanted to work with José Padilha, because he is such a talented and unique director that makes movies I love. To have the opportunity to be in a big studio film like this, stemmed from the original that I loved, with a director like Jose and actors like Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton was just an absolute “Yes!” for me all the way.
Q. How has your role grown in this movie?
A. Yes, it’s a role that has grown in comparison to the original and even to what was pitched to me at the beginning. The filmmakers expressed hesitation by saying, “We don’t know if you’ll want to do this because it might be only three or four scenes…” But I said I didn’t mind, and it ended up being quite a significant role. In the original movie we see this family through flashbacks, whereas now they are very much the center of Alex Murphy’s heart and soul.

Q. So, what did you think of the script when you finally read it?
A. I loved it! And I thought, “Great, I get to be in more than just three or four scenes and really be able to devote more time to develop the character.”
Q. The character of Clara Murphy grounds the emotional aspect of the film that has to do with RoboCop’s relationship with his family, before and after the events that change him into a robot.
A. That emotional storyline really highlights the man versus machine side of the story and also gives a great gravitas and depth to the film and to Alex Murphy, because you care about him and his family. Also, Clara Murphy is the spark that sets him off to investigate his own murder.
Q. What kind of a woman is she?
A. She is strong, caring and compassionate. Clara is grounded as a woman and very much within herself, embodying a lot of the characteristics I believe women exude in this day and age. I was very drawn to her from the beginning, and there was no doubt in my mind about who she was as a devoted wife and mother.
Q. What would you say is her main mission in the story?
A. The film is dealing with the idea of the progression of technology and how far it can go, and my character has to keep their family and home together while protecting her son.
Q. What was it like to work with Joel Kinnaman, the actor chosen to play Alex Murphy/RoboCop?
A. The very first scene we filmed was the opening family scene in the kitchen so that was a perfect setup for us. And then shooting the moment when RoboCop comes back home was just beautiful. I really enjoyed working with Joel.
Q. How is he in that lead role?
A. I think he is really effective as RoboCop. And a lot of the time it’s just his hand and his face on screen. It’s pretty cool…
Q. And what surprised you about young Canadian actor John Paul Rutten, who plays your son in the movie?
A. He is a talented young actor and just a dream to work with. J. P. is smart, funny, talented and absolutely adorable. Actually, as soon as he walked through the door I knew he was going to play my son. We were in rehearsals at the time when José had narrowed down a bunch of kids and asked Joel and I if we had any interest in reading with them. So, we agreed and starting seeing one after another until we met him. Then we just knew he was the one.
Q. How does your character deal with the fact that her husband comes back as a robot?
A. One of the themes of the film has to do with what makes a human being; but, at the end of the day, what she is driven by is love: for him and her son. And I liked that it was never selfish, but compassionate. It’s something I’ve seen in the mothers I’ve spoken to in order to prepare the role. There was a calm to Clara Murphy and a solidarity that I liked. In the beginning of the movie, when they are all together, she is in a very happy place in her life with a husband that she loves and a very healthy child. There is a peace and serenity there that obviously gets blown apart…
Q. What is director José Padilha like on set?
A. José is wonderful on set. He has a unique sensitivity and a calm to him, so his sets are very light and professional at the same time. Everybody loves working with him because he lets people do their job. Then he sort of sits back and steers things in the way he needs to. José Padilha does his job and lets other people do theirs.
Q. How would you describe him as a filmmaker?
A. He is a very talented filmmaker that positions the camera in a way that is really conducive to the scene, the characters in it and what’s happening. José tells the story with the camera.
Q. But the film wouldn’t work without a good villain. What did Michael Keaton bring to that role?
A. Michael is so good in this movie! I love the character of Sellars, even though he is the villain of the story.
Q. What do you like the most about this film?
A. That it has it all! It’s entertaining and action filled, but it also has a heart and depth. It’s just so well made. I believe people are going to come out of the theatre feeling they got more than their money’s worth; so, maybe they will even watch it again and again!
Q. And how was the experience of being in Toronto during the shoot of RoboCop?
A. I love Toronto because it’s an easy city to travel and navigate and the people there are really nice.
Q. It seems you like to alternate big studio movies with smaller productions in your career.
A. Yes, I like to do everything. I don’t really have a plan, so I just wait until there is a film I am really excited about creatively and in a collaborative sense, that could also pose a challenge. Then, when the role, the story and the people creating it are interesting to me, I go for it.
Q. Going back to one of the themes of this film, how is your relationship with technology?
A. I’m a big fan of technology that is for communicating and that helps accessibility to information, but I’m not a fan of technology that supports violence in the world.

RoboCop is available to own on DVD, Blu-Ray and EST from 9th June 2014.