Megan Fox

Megan Fox is quickly becoming an international megastar. Her role in the first Transformers propelled her into the public eye and this is where she has remained since. She talks candidly to Dan Higgins about this transition, losing her private life to the media and, the new film, Revenge of the Fallen.

In the film, you’re back as Mikaela, how do you find the role of being Shia Lebouef’s girlfriend and the romantic connotations of that?

Megan Fox: Well, you have to have some sort of romantic element to the movie or it’s just all non-stop robot violence. Something else has to happen to make it a bit real or believable I don’t think any of the kissing scenes are too intense. In fact, most of the love scenes are really tame.

As your character is a mechanic, you start the movie provocatively leaning over various vehicles; did you have to learn a bit about cars for the role?

MF:  When I auditioned for Transformers the first time, Michael [Bay] made me come in the studio and pretend to work on a Ferrari for a screen test. I never saw that tape again actually.

What was it like working for Michael the second time?

MF: It’s like a confident chaos which the crew initially named ‘Bay-os’ and there’s also the term ‘Bay-hem’ which you experience working with him. It is exciting, he is rough on actors on purpose. I think he wants to be a known for doing that so he becomes a legend.

You have always spoke your mind in interviews. Is there anything you have said that you have regretted?

MF: Anything that I have ever said? It’s possible. It’s something I struggle with because I feel like I have the best intentions when I do these sorts of interviews and when I speak the way that I do and it’s unfortunate when journalists and the press choose to knowingly twist the meaning of my words and that discourages me from being outspoken. But, I feel it is something that I have to do because I grew up hating reading and watching old shit interviews and watching all these created images and things that people present to you on television that you know are fake and manufactured. I try not to be one of those.

In the film it says “the internet is the pure truth” which is obviously a joke but have you ever read or heard something on the internet about yourself that has made you angry?

MF: I don’t research any of my own press because it makes me angry and gives me anxiety so I like to pretend that none of it is real.

Megan Fox and Shia LeBouef running in Revenge of the Fallen

Someone recently asked you about recreational drug use in reference to an article in GQ and about the sort of message you are sending out to your fans. How do you respond to this?

MF: I wouldn’t call it recreational drug use because that makes it sound like I’m going to clubs and doing cocaine and things like that. I talked about the legalization of marijuana which, I think, in the United States it should be. If alcohol is legal, I don’t see why we still have a ban on marijuana. I mean he was asking me how that was going to influence twelve-year old girls…are they really reading British GQ?

You have been recently voted as the prettiest woman on the planet. How has the first movie changed your life?

MF: Well, things like that I think. The movie was so successful and it reached such a global level that clearly it exposed me to people who had never seen me before.  That’s why things like that have happened. The movie made over $700m so a lot of people then all of a sudden knew my name. Other actresses who are more successful sometimes don’t get the chance to be part of a film like this where their image is taken around the world.

Do you find it quite limiting to be put in that kind of basket?

MF: No, it’s not that it’s limiting. I just get really embarrassed. I mean, have you ever been given a compliment and you just can’t take it because A, maybe you don’t agree with it or B, you’re uncomfortable taking it? It’s like that nonstop all day every day and I’m really embarrassed by it. I don’t know how to react. I mean, if I told you that you were the sexiest person I have ever seen in my life, how would you react?!

You have previously said you are afraid of Hollywood and losing your private life, is that still the case?

MF: I think I was probably talking about the inner workings of Hollywood and the Hollywood lifestyle and how you quickly become overexposed. And once people know too much about your private life, there’s no mystery and there’s no reason for them to pay to see you in a film. I think that is something that it is impossible to avoid in Hollywood currently and maybe that’s why there are no real film stars anymore like there were in the fifties. I think there is a dying breed of the movie star and that’s down to the rumours on the internet and in the media.

Your career has taken off astronomically since the first movie. How has that affected you?

MF: I don’t know if you can ever be prepared for public scrutiny but it is part of the job and it’s not the most pleasant part. I’ve experienced so many things that are blessings that I shouldn’t have been able to experience. So, that’s the trade off.

Read the Pure Movies review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen by clicking here.

Last edited: 18th June 2009