When Tanya Newbould tried out for her first film you could say she had beginner’s luck. Originally cast as an extra in “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey,” she ended up scoring not one but two parts in the film. After a few minor roles she began a long association with director Brett Ratner, appearing in the Nicolas Cage comedy “Family Man.” She also worked with the director on “Rush Hour 2,” “Red Dragon” and “X-Men: The Last Stand”. Her next role is in the Strause brother’s new film “Skyline”. Movie Mikes had the chance to talk with Tanya about from her start in the business to her latest role in “Skyline”.
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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role in the upcoming sci-fi film “Skyline”?
Tanya Newbould: It’s pretty intense. My character’s name is Jen, she’s married. And what’s really neat is that the first time you see the Alien it’s through my eyes. It’s a very pivotal role…very intense to do…very high energy. All kinds of you know what is going down so it was very high octane stuff the entire time I worked.
MG: How do you think this film will compare to similarly related film like “Cloverfield”?
TN: I actually liked “Cloverfield.” When I watched it I was drawn in because I didn’t know exactly what it was about. I think “Skyline” has a similar feel only in that sense but everything else is entirely different. When I read the script I couldn’t stop turning the pages. It was a really good script. I’m not surprised it’s gone to the level it’s gone to. Working with the Strause Brothers…they’re an incredible team of co-directors. They really complement each other. It really was an honor to work with both of them. The writers 
were great…the producers…everyone was really, really awesome.
MG: What was the most difficult part of working on that film?
TN: Probably the twelve hour days. And my character, because of what she goes through, it’s not one that you can act or pretend or be low key. I was doing heavy emotion the entire time and that’s not something you can fake because we know when people are being real and when they’re not and as an actor you can’t fake that because in order for the audience to believe it you’ve got to believe it. It was very interesting. We shot in a parking garage, where people live, and we’d get ready to roll. I’m getting ready to run screaming through the parking garage, crying hysterically and I’d hear “hold please…someone is coming through.” And we’d have to stop, wait for them to come through, get in their car, back out, drive off. OK, perfect! So all day you’re constantly going through this where you’re ready to go but you have to stop everything and wait.
MG: The Strause Brothers are best known for visual effects work but here they return to the directing chair (the brothers also directed “Aliens vs Predators: Requiem”). How was it working with them?
TN: For working on a film with a low budget I never felt like I WAS working on a film with a low budget. I’ve worked on big studio films, I’ve done four of Brett Ratner’s movies. I’m used to doing bigger budget movies. But I really felt that since Colin and Greg have been in the industry so long they knew 
what they were doing. They were great. The entire cast and crew…everyone who worked on the film….they knew what was going on. They had it together. It was very well done.
MG: You started your career in “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey,” whose co-star Alex Winter we just interviewed. How was your experience on the film?
TN: I love Alex! I would love to talk to him, he’s amazing. And I love Keanu too. He was such a sweetheart. They were so much fun to work with. It was a really, really cool shoot. What’s interesting is that I had just started out acting and was actually an extra in the opening scene…I’m one of the college students. And from there I ended up playing Marilyn Monroe in the “heaven” sequence and then the director hired me to play the rock and roll reporter Kate Axelrod. So I actually have three parts in that movie.
MG: What do you have planned next?
TN: I just wrapped a movie I shot a few weeks ago called “The Victim” with Jennifer Blanc and Danielle Harris. Michael Bien not only stars in it but he also directed my sequence. I play a reporter. Now that one was a low budget movie, but it was very well done. Danielle is my best friend. In fact, she’s Godmother to my baby.
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