| 
Compiled by: Jack Foley
Q. Were you aware of the comic books as a child?
A. I never heard of The Fantastic Four, didn't
know of their existence, and I certainly wasn't a comic book reader
as a child, so like Jessica and Chris I'm a total newcomer to
this project. Obviously, subsequently I did a lot of research
and rather a nice bit of research it was too, sitting on a beach
reading comics.
Q. Have you had any experiences with fans whose expectations
were really high?
A. I certainly didn't have as much of a standing ovation
as Jess did. They were in fact a little bit shocked that there
was this guy speaking in a broad Welsh accent - how dare this
Brit represent this American, iconic character.
Any jokes I tried to crack there was deathly silence, 10,000 people.
Subsequently, I researched the character and worked on the accent,
and I think I've pulled it off.
Q. Did your relationships off-camera contribute to the
way in which you were perceived on camera?
IG. The success of the film is based on the fact that
you believe this is a dysfunctional family of superheroes - and
I think that's a testimony to our relationships off camera.
If you've got any sort of relationships off camera, it always
informs the relationships on-screen, and I think you do believe
that Chris and Jessica are always bickering like brothers and
sisters, while Michael and I are best mates and I feel guilty
for all I've done for him...
To be honest, the process of making a movie like this can be quite
tedious, because it's so technically-based. But I think we did
our duty as actors to bring the characters to life and to make
them three-dimensional, and then the video effects team have just
gone and run with it, and married those two together to create
this believable film within this genre.
Q. How did you combat wearing the spandex?
IG: Six months down the gym! To be honest, you need a
little bit of help from the sculptor who sculpted our muscle-suits
that we wore underneath. Myself and Chris that is, Jessica is
perfectly natural.
|
 |
Q. If you had a super-power
for the weekend? How would you enjoy it?
A: I wouldn't mind the ability to stretch. I think we
could all do with a bit of help now and again, especially after
ten pints of lager!
Q. Do you think that you might like to come back to Britain
in a few years time and maybe return to TV or theatre?
A: To be honest, I'm always aware of what's happening
here in the UK. I'm just physically living in LA, and I'm really
enjoying living there. I certainly went out with the ambition
of making movies, and they make more movies in Los Angeles.
As regards to Hornblower, I'd love to continue with that character
- I think it would be interesting to play the character through
every stage of his life.
Q. Do you think you'll go the way of Anthony Hopkins
and get American citizenship?
A. Maybe for tax reasons.
Q. Was it disappointing to kiss the Invisible Woman?
A. Well Jessica kindly allowed me to feel what it was
actually like, before I started kissing the air, miming it.
Jessica: Well that was because you were groping
me low.
Ioan: You'd given me the green light, you know.
Those moments in the film, we'd do it once, naturally, and then
Jessica would step away and then I would physically resort to
mime.
(Physical demonstrates kissing the Invisible Woman to much laughter]
Q. How tempted were you, as a Welshman, to play your
character with a Welsh accent?
A: I had to fight to get this part. I auditioned and
pursued this part. And part of that was convincing the casting
director and the director that I could do the American accent.
There was no doubt in my mind that it wasn't going to be American.
Q. How did you enjoy the glimpse into the future with
your grey sideboards?
IG: That was a tedious process as well. We went from
the full shock of white hair as in the comic, and it looked ridiculous;
like a racoon! So we make it subtler, and made it look a bit more
distinguished. George Clooney was the original idea.
Related stories: Fantastic
Four review
Fantastic Four feature
Fantastic Four - clips and
footage
Michael Chiklis interview
Jessica Alba interview
Chris Evans interview
Fantastic Four sets
US box office alight
Ioan Gruffudd - King
Arthur interview
|
