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Monday, May 12, 2008

Rachael Taylor Video Interview

Here is an Interview of Autralian Beauty Rachael Taylor

Rachael Taylor's star twist



LOS Angeles, Tokyo, Bankstown . . . admittedly, it's not the most conventional of career paths for a gorgeous young actress whose star is very much on the rise.
But after nailing the lead in a major US studio production - the thriller Shutter, which opens on Thursday - Rachael Taylor is thrilled to be shooting her next film in Sydney's Bankstown.

The 23-year-old actress will play a key part in Cedar Boys, an adrenaline-charged $1.5 million drama that focuses on the city's Lebanese community.

She got her big break in the Transformers, but has opted out of the sequel - a role understood to have been snapped up by fellow Aussie Isabel Lucas.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

RACHAEL TAYLOR does not want to be known as "The Hot Chick"


Nicole Kidman did it in The Others; Naomi Watts in The Ring. With Shutter, it's Rachael Taylor's turn to be the Australian starlet carrying a sizeable Hollywood horror-thriller. Like her compatriots, Taylor also gets the chance to act in her scary movie.

"I'm not really interested in being exposed just as, y'know, 'le hot chick'," the 23-year-old says matter-of-factly, her Tassie twang intact even though she has spent the past few years in Los Angeles. "I was kind of hesitant approaching it because I think sometimes you run the risk of being in pretty-blonde-female-in-haunted-house-running-away-from-ghosts kind of territory. I really felt Shutter has more to offer than that."

Taylor plays Jane, a blissfully happy newlywed who heads off with her photographer husband, Ben (Joshua Jackson), for a honeymoon in his old stomping ground of Tokyo. (He has also sorted out a glamorous gig snapping models while there. Who said romance was dead?) They're driving to a honeymoon retreat in the woods when a pale Japanese woman (Megumi Okina) suddenly appears on the road and they unintentionally run her over.

Or so they think. There's not a trace of blood on the road or on the car, so Ben urges Jane to forget about the accident, suggesting it must have been an (apparently bloodless) animal they hit. He gets over it quickly enough but Jane can't. The fact they're in a country where Ben knows everything from the language to the customs, while she knows next to nothing, doesn't help their fledgling marriage, either. Especially when the creepy woman from the accident keeps scaring the pants off them, showing up in their residence and even, somehow, in the now-not-so-happy couple's photos.

This brings us to one of the film's central themes. So-called "spirit photography" involves undoctored snaps featuring what seem to be ghosts - hence the title, which refers to the part of a camera that's crucial to capturing images. In the movie, a theory emerges that the mystery woman might be a ghost trying to speak to Ben and Jane from beyond the grave. He is sceptical, she less so. Audiences will also have to indulge this conceit to get their money's worth.

"Well, spirit photography does actually exist," Taylor says. "There are sort of inexplicable images that have occurred on photographs ... Whether or not you wanna think that's, y'know, a person from the afterlife trying to send us a message is up to the individual. I'm not sure that spirit photography is something that I categorically believe or disbelieve in. I like to think that I just sort of remain open to the world of the supernatural."

It's clearly a popular theme in the Far East. In common with the spook-tastic Ring and Grudge films, Shutter is a Hollywood remake of an Asian box-office phenomenon, in this instance a 2004 Thai film of the same name.

"Well, in some senses it isn't just another remake of an Asian horror film," Taylor says. "What made this one stand out for me is that I think the bones of the story are still really interesting, regardless of whether it's a remake or not.

"What I liked about the Western remake is there's very much a shift in perspective ... in the original film it's very much driven from the male character's perspective. Our remake is more about her [Jane] kind of putting the pieces together.

"When I originally read the script I sort of thought, well, if you take the supernatural elements out of this, it's still interesting. It's still a fairly timeless story about a betrayal and about a secret and about a relationship."

Shutter is by no means a classic of its genre but it serves its purpose fairly well. Taylor made her first mark in Hollywood in a notable supporting role in Transformers -"I may as well have been a piece of prop in that film because it was really about the robots and about big explosions and not so much about me," she says - but she takes her chance to shine here, alongside the comparably watchable Jackson, with even more aplomb.

The film also has several effective scares. But the clues as to where the story is going may, for some, feel all but telegraphed.

"But this is made for a specific audience, I think, a fairly young demographic," Taylor says. "From what I've heard, those kids that this film was kind of made for have been really positive about it and suitably surprised by the twists.

"I think it was probably a conscious decision from the writer and the filmmakers that the film should kind of have those telegraphed moments because I think that's kind of satisfying in a genre like this. Y'know, you're not asking for that kind of Fight Club, completely blown out of the water, cerebrally challenging kind of thing; you're asking to have little hints and little kinda jabs all the way through the movie. I think there's enjoyment in that for some people, too."

It's clearly a popular theme in the Far East. In common with the spook-tastic Ring and Grudge films, Shutter is a Hollywood remake of an Asian box-office phenomenon, in this instance a 2004 Thai film of the same name.

"Well, in some senses it isn't just another remake of an Asian horror film," Taylor says. "What made this one stand out for me is that I think the bones of the story are still really interesting, regardless of whether it's a remake or not.

"What I liked about the Western remake is there's very much a shift in perspective ... in the original film it's very much driven from the male character's perspective. Our remake is more about her [Jane] kind of putting the pieces together.

"When I originally read the script I sort of thought, well, if you take the supernatural elements out of this, it's still interesting. It's still a fairly timeless story about a betrayal and about a secret and about a relationship."

Shutter is by no means a classic of its genre but it serves its purpose fairly well. Taylor made her first mark in Hollywood in a notable supporting role in Transformers -"I may as well have been a piece of prop in that film because it was really about the robots and about big explosions and not so much about me," she says - but she takes her chance to shine here, alongside the comparably watchable Jackson, with even more aplomb.

The film also has several effective scares. But the clues as to where the story is going may, for some, feel all but telegraphed.

"But this is made for a specific audience, I think, a fairly young demographic," Taylor says. "From what I've heard, those kids that this film was kind of made for have been really positive about it and suitably surprised by the twists.

"I think it was probably a conscious decision from the writer and the filmmakers that the film should kind of have those telegraphed moments because I think that's kind of satisfying in a genre like this. Y'know, you're not asking for that kind of Fight Club, completely blown out of the water, cerebrally challenging kind of thing; you're asking to have little hints and little kinda jabs all the way through the movie. I think there's enjoyment in that for some people, too."

RACHAEL TAYLOR Stands on her own in TRANSFORMERS


IN one of the year's biggest Hollywood movies, one Australian accent stands out.

The twang in question belongs to Tasmanian-born actor Rachael Taylor, who scored a major break with a role in the action blockbuster Transformers, directed by Michael Bay.

Taylor plays computer data analyst Maggie, whose skills are put to the test by the US Government when Earth is invaded by two races of robotic aliens – the Decepticons and Autobots.

"In the third or fourth workshop I did with Michael, I was reading in an American accent and he said 'let's just mix it up, let's do it with your Australian accent'," Taylor says. "When we did, he found it more comical and thought that it made Maggie's status as an outsider more acute."

Maggie believes she may have an answer to the mysterious events the government and army are struggling to understand. Yet, no one wants to listen to her computer geek theories.

"She's a female in a man's world, so there's a story within the story about a girl who's trying to stand up and be heard," Taylor says. "The environment is fast-paced and frenetic. It's difficult for her to be believed."

Director Bay is known as LA's $2 billion dollar man. His films, which include Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys II and The Island, take vast amounts of money, yet the director's take-no-prisoners style is both abhorred and adored.

He likes car chases, explosives, tough guys and sexy women. Bay also has a reputation as being an extremely tough director to work with. In a press conference this week, he made no effort to hide his impatient, blunt manner. He also claimsto be unfazed by criticism.

He's passionate about his work, he makes millions and with Steven Spielberg as one of the executive producers on Transformers, his worries lie elsewhere.

It was important, he says, that the film didn't go over its $145 million budget. "I shoot very, very fast," Bay says. "I'm into everything on that set. What does the wallpaper look like?"

Taylor, diplomatically, says that Bay is a victim of "something we know about in Australia, it's a bit of tall poppy syndrome".

"It was a privilege to work with someone who is absolutely at the top of their game," she says.

"Michael is extremely smart and he certainly can be challenging, but all the sweat and tears that he puts into making a film, you see that right up there on the screen. I don't know anyone that creates image like he does."

Making a film about Transformers, the popular cartoon and Hasbro toy franchise which began in 1984 with the release of a range of toys which changed from cars to robots, was an idea Spielberg had been keen on for years.

He approached Bay and asked him to direct the film version. Transformers still has a huge following worldwide, but the phenomenon, born in the same year as Taylor, understandably passed her by.

"I didn't know much about it when I started the film," she says. "I thought the interest in it was a cult underground following, but I didn't realise how far-reaching it was.

"In fact it's not underground at all. People are really passionate about it, especially boys from about 22 to 30. They're obsessed."

In the film, Taylor stars alongside Shia LaBeouf and sultry 21-year- old Megan Fox.

While LaBeouf is a familiar name from films such as Disturbia and Bobby, Transformers is a huge leap for Fox and Taylor.

The actress, who broke into the industry with a role in the short- lived Australian TV drama Headland, says the move to try her luck in Hollywood "just made sense" to her.

"I was a little daunted," Taylor says. "You certainly hear the horror stories about how challenging it can be, but I was very committed and very determined to make it work.

"I also believe in taking risks. I had no plan. I don't think I even knew where I was staying when I got on that plane. I just thought I should throw my hat into the ring." She has recently finished shooting a movie in Tokyo with Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson. Shudder is a psychological thriller about a newlywed American couple (Jackson and Taylor) who have a car accident while travelling through Japan on their honeymoon.

"All these sort of supernatural, mythical things start to happen," she says.

"The accident has terrible ramifications for their relationship and my character discovers who the man she's married to really is.

"It's a creepy, tense, psychological drama and my first leading role. I'm really proud of it." While the Transformers team travels the world promoting the film, Taylor is happy to go along for the ride.

"Then, who knows what's next?" she says.

"I keep crossing my fingers that I can continue doing different things.

"I'm not a very thick-skinned person. I'm a sensitive little creature, but I just try and remain upbeat and positive.

"You can't take yourself too seriously. Same with the film. It's about duelling races of aliens fighting on planet Earth.

"Really, it's hilarious."

Transformers opened on June 28.

The Early days of RACHAEL TAYLOR


Who is she?
She's a 22-year-old Tasmanian-born actress.

So what's she done?

The usual TV movies - she played Catherine Oxenberg in a Dynasty biopic - and a few direct-to-DVD horror flicks. Her stock should rise massively with the imminent release of Transformers.

The big, loud Michael Bay toy/cartoon adaptation? How will she even get noticed in that? Is she a robot in disguise?

No, not unless it's a really good disguise. She plays one of the computer geeks the government employs to deal with the robo-menace.

Does she have a good fake US accent? Unknown, as she keeps her Aussie tones and has much more to do than Megan Fox, the ostensible female lead, whose acting range only goes as far as looking up in awe at soon- to-be-added CGI creations and baring her midriff.

What's next?

She's landed a plum role alongside Hugh Jackman and Ewan MgGregor in the forthcoming racy-sounding thriller The Tourist. Following that, she'll be taking the lead role in the remake of creepy Thai horror Shutter - the original version of which opens today.

RACHAEL TAYLOR talks about her Roll in TRANSFORMERS

Rachael Taylor is every bit as lovely and gracious and talented and intelligent in Transformers as she is on the phone. Needless to say, she's got a bright future ahead of her. And she's also come a long way since she made the move from Australia to the United States. I'd say she made the right decision, because Transformers made a ton of money! Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rachael Taylor to talk about the recent DVD release of Transformers. I think you'll be hearing a lot more from her in the future.

TONY: First of all, thanks for doing this interview.
Rachael Taylor: It's an absolute pleasure. I'm always happy to talk about Transformers.

TONY: Great. Have you had a chance to step back and fully grasp how big this movie is?
Rachael Taylor: You sort of have your moments of being kind of blown away by just how excited people are about it. I've been lucky enough to be able to sit down and talk with some really hardcore Transformers fans. And it's really thrilling as an actor to see that people can get so excited about a particular concept. I just consider it a real privilege to be a part of something so massive.

TONY: When did you first meet Michael Bay, and what were your first impressions of him?
Rachael Taylor: He's really got such a keen eye, that man. He doesn't miss a thing. He sees everything. So, I guess my first impression of him was that he's a distinctly visual creature.

TONY: It's easy to see that Michael Bay is really enthusiastic and really full of energy. As an actor, how much do you feed off that energy?
Rachael Taylor: This is absolutely 110 percent Michael's movie, so it was really up to him to set the bar and the energy on set, which was, you're absolutely right, a really enthusiastic one. This is a really fun and vital movie to be a part of. And that energy is something that Michael created really consciously, because it's a fun movie.

TONY: Before you got involved in the film, how much did you know about Transformers?
Rachael Taylor: I knew nothing about them. I was born in 1984, and I was also born in Tasmania, which is a wee little island off the south coast of Australia, so it didn't exactly penetrate to my Tasmania youth. I got online as soon I got the part, and I figured out that Transformers fans are certainly a zealous bunch. And I was excited by their excitement.

TONY: Did you do any computer research to prepare for your character?
Rachael Taylor: I did, actually. That was something that was really important to me. Steven Spielberg was also really particular about it, and he's an executive producer on the movie. I set myself up with a real-life code breaker, which is pretty exciting. And what I learned about them was that they are very cool, young, and vibrant people. The computer geek kind of cliche doesn't really stand at all. These are super smart and active kids, and that's what I wanted to bring to the role.

TONY: You just mentioned how your character really breaks the nerd cliche. Do you also think it breaks the cliche of computer geeks always being male? I think your character really shows that it's not just a man's world, and girls can do it, too.
Rachael Taylor: Completely. I think it's such a ridiculous cliche that people would go, "She's a pretty blond girl. She can't be a computer-code analyst." Because it's just not true, ya know? There are lots of women in different fields doing fascinating and difficult jobs these days. It's not like the old days. And I really applaud Michael's decision to put a female data-analyst into the story. And more than that, to make her international, because I kept my Australian accent. I think that's one thing about the film which is really nice. In a lot of ways, you expect action movies to completely conform to stereotypes. But Michael was really good about breaking them on this movie. And I think that's really impressive.

TONY: Transformers features an incredible cast of tremendous actors. Did you get a chance to pick anyone's brain?
Rachael Taylor: Yeah, Jon Voight has been a huge influence on me as a result of that movie. And I know he was very important in terms of Shia's career in terms of guiding him, and he was very much a source of inspiration to him. And he was the same for me. Jon is an extremely generous man. He's absolutely and completely involved in working out a scene and wanting to rehearse. And there's this cool little story that I have: Before we went on set to shoot one scene, he handed me a bunch of notes from his script. It was very, very sweet. And it just goes to show you how seriously invested he is as an actor now. You would think that Jon Voight would be showing up to work and phoning it in, and that's not the case. He's incredibly supportive and incredibly energetic on set.

TONY: When you were on set, were you in awe of all the explosions and everything that was going on?
Rachael Taylor: I will never in my life make a movie that is as big as Transformers, I'm sure. It was like being a part of the small cities that Michael created. My most mind-blowing moment, and it didn't actually make the movie, but it's a scene where I land in a helicopter on the lawn of the Pentagon. And I remember looking around and going, "This is so ridiculous. I'm from Tasmania, and this is the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me." It was a very cool experience.

TONY: You mentioned that you came here from Tasmania. Has L.A. been what you expected?
Rachael Taylor: No. Up until this moment, knock on wood, I've found it a little bit easier than I thought that it would be. I expected that I would be waiting tables at this moment, and I got to star in a movie that people love. Even though it was a small role, sort of, it was like an absolute privilege to be a part of it. I've only been in L.A. for a year, so I thought that I'd still be making lattes at this moment. So, I've been pretty lucky.

TONY: As an actress, how important was it for you to play this character as a real human being and not just eye candy?
Rachael Taylor: That's one thing that really motivates me as an artist. If there's one overriding goal that I have as an actress, and I know it sort of sounds like a potential conundrum, because I appreciate that Michael has a particular aesthetic, which I don't personally have any problem with, but it's not something that I want to move towards in my work. It wasn't a sexed-up role on the page, to be honest. There was no battle that I had to fight. It was always written as a smart, intelligent individual. Not a man, not a woman, but she's just a smart individual. I absolutely think it's important, and I'm not ever gonna be in a movie where I'm just strutting around with a short skirt and lip gloss. That's just not my bag. I wouldn't be good at it. It's not what I am as a person. I'm an intelligent person, and I can't get rid of that. It wasn't a battle. It wasn't a battle, because I think Michael, and the producers, and myself were all very clear that she had to be the real deal.

TONY: Since you've been in The U.S., what's the biggest difference that you've noticed between the Australian Culture and our culture?
Rachael Taylor: I'm a little biased, and I don't know how I can articulate the difference, because I am so happy here in the United States. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of my own country, but I'm so happy here. I feel like I was supposed to be born an American in some way. I'm deliriously happy in Los Angeles, and I'm happy in New York. I just love the openness of the American culture. You guys are just so open to outsiders, and I don't think people really articulate that so much anymore, and they should. I've been absolutely welcomed with open arms by everyone, and so have a lot of my Australian friends. It's such a pleasure to be in a country where my experience of it has been just overwhelmingly warm.

TONY: You mentioned earlier that you were able to use your own voice in this film, and you didn't have to put on an American accent. How important was that to you and Michael?
Rachael Taylor: I shouldn't say that it was important to me, because I auditioned as an American, and then Michael got to know me, and he said, "Why couldn't she be Australian?" And I think it was a very wise choice on his behalf, because this is an International film. And I think it was a smart decision as a filmmaker to really broaden the audience appeal. And, also, the truth is we do live in an International community now. If you're in Washington D.C., which is where in my head the story took place ... If you're in L.A., Tokyo, New York, Sydney, London or wherever, you're part of an International community. And I really applaud that. I applaud that not everyone in the film is American. And why not make her Australian? There's no substantial evidence that would support that being out of the question, because it's just not. You meet with a bunch of code breakers, and it's people from all over the world that have come together and formed communities, because they have a particular skill. And that's the case in any field.

TONY: You mentioned earlier that Steven Spielberg was an executive producer on Transformers. How involved was he in this film, and did he show up on set a lot?
Rachael Taylor: What was so impressive and so thrilling, as a young unknown actress, was that I noticed Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg are both still incredibly passionate about what they do. They're incredibly passionate and excited and invested in the magic of making movies. You would think that they'd be jaded or it would be business as usual for them, but it's not at all. They absolutely are still thrilled by it and still completely invested. And I noticed that from Steven the few times I saw him on set. At the same time, I will say that this is really Michael's film. There's no one that tells Michael what to do. That's my impression. My impression is that this film is distinctly his.

TONY: What's your most vivid memory from shooting this film?
Rachael Taylor: Anthony Anderson's beautiful face. I love the man to death. I think he's such a treasure of a person. I was quite nervous shooting this film, because it was my first sort of movie ever and it's sort of a big one to kind of handle, and Anthony was just so supportive and funny. Michael Bay had this thing about not wanting any food on set, so Anthony would hide hamburgers around the set. He's just a gorgeous human being, and I love him dearly.

TONY: Do you have a favorite Transformer?
Rachael Taylor: Everyone always says they like Optimus Prime, but I like Megatron. I think he's kick-ass. I really like the big, bad Megatron. And I remember shooting on that set, they built this enormous set piece, like an enormous Megatron literal robot. And it was one of the most extraordinary pieces of art I've ever seen. The art direction on this film is impeccable.

TONY: We talked earlier about how you've made the move to L.A., and I'm sure you're well aware of a lot of the problems that people run into in Hollywood. As an actress, how do you avoid falling into that trap, and how do you focus on your work?
Rachael Taylor: I don't know. I just don't think I'm very cool!

TONY: I'd say you're very cool. Don't worry!
Rachael Taylor: Oh, bless you. I think that's the absolute truth. I would like to go to some of those parties sometimes, but I just don't know how to tap into that whole cool VIP world. To be honest, I would just much rather work. I probably shouldn't say this, but I get quite critical around these wonderful young actresses that have these great opportunities to tell brilliant stories. Why on earth would you want to be out at a club when you can go to work the next morning? You can show up early and have Jon Voight pass you a script with all of his notes on there. That, to me, is just the most exciting thing. And that's why I moved countries. I didn't move countries to party. I can party at home.

TONY: I have one question for you that's not about Transformers. What was it like working with Kane on See No Evil?
Rachael Taylor: I suppose I'm not doing publicity on that movie, so I can say whatever the hell I want. (laughs) I think we were instructed at the time, I shot that movie years ago, to say that he was this really gnarly and scary dude, but I remember him as being an absolute sweetheart. I remember him being like a complete puppy dog, and him just being totally adorable and very quiet and very kind. I suppose I'm probably disappointing people by saying that, but he's definitely not an aggressive dude. He's a very chilled person.

TONY: What kind of scripts do you want to seek out in the future? What gets your creative juices flowing?
Rachael Taylor: I couldn't pick a specific genre. What I gravitate towards most, and I hope that I'll continue to in my career, is to be interested in women that are strong, passionate, and driven individuals. I'm not interested in women within stories that are affected by things, as much as I'm interested in women that affect things, if that makes sense. I'm interested in women that have a driven story behind them. In the case of Maggie, she was speaking some sort of truth. It's the same in the last two movies that I've done: Shutter, which I shot in Tokyo, and Bottle Shock, which I shot up in the Napa Valley. I play a woman who's trying to uncover the truth about the man that she thinks she loves. That's the Shutter movie. In Napa Valley, it was a story about a woman who wants to learn how to make wine. I'm interested in women that are passionate and intelligent.

TONY: Finally, what are your plans for the future?
Rachael Taylor: My immediate plans are to do AR on the last two films that I shot. As much as I enjoy being in the United States, it would be great to go back to Australia and try and do some work down there. A lot of Australian actors go back and try and feed back into the Australian industry the things that we were originally given. So, that would be nice. At the moment, I'm hanging out in Los Angeles up in The Hills, and it's really pretty glorious.

TONY: Thanks again for your time. I really appreciate it.
Rachael Taylor: Thank you for all of your very vibrant questions. Have a great day.

RACHAEL TAYLOR in TRANSFORMERS


AUSSIE starlet Rachael Taylor led a stellar cast, including Josh Duhamel, Jon Voigt and newcomer Shia Labeouf at the action film's glitzy LA launch.

The star's walked the web carpet talking to fans and autograph seekers at the premiere.

Taylor, who wowed the crowds in a floor-length cobalt blue gown fit right in with the Hollywood crowd.

The star of axed Seven series, Headlands has revealed she is excited about her lucky break.

The Australian star says she marvelled at being part of a big screen spectacular.

"Being part of hundreds of millions of dollars of work and working with (director) Michael Bay and (producer) Steven Spielberg has certainly been a ride," the Tasmanian-raised actress says of the $145 million film.

"It's an extraordinary piece of work in every sense. It is a big Hollywood blockbuster and to be part of it in any way has been fantastic. It's like a dream."

Struggling Australian actors make the pilgrimage to Los Angeles every year, determined to launch their international careers. Some can spend up to a decade plugging away before landing their break- out role.

Taylor had no such problem.

In the 12 months since she left Sydney, she has featured as computer data analyst Maggie in Transformers and secured her first leading role opposite Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson in the psychological thriller Shutter.

"I never expected to do a big action movie when I went to Los Angeles, I expected to spend the next 10 years waiting tables," says Taylor on a recent trip home to promote Transformers.

In the film her character Maggie's skills are put to the test by the US government when Earth is invaded by robotic aliens.

"I have been extremely lucky to go over to Hollywood and do exactly what I have always wanted to do and it's mind-blowing," she says.

"It's all been about getting up, doing your job and sort of keeping your head screwed on straight at the same time."

The striking blonde first rose to prominence as feisty vixen Sasha Forbes on doomed Seven network program Headland. The soap made its debut in December 2005 and by the end of January had been given its marching orders. Despite its demise, Taylor says it prepared her for the fast-paced filmmaking world Bay immerses himself in.

"I would never have been ready to work on Transformers if I hadn't worked on Headland," Taylor says matter-of-factly. "Shooting a television show for a year was such good grounding and good training for me. You have to work hard and fast in television and Michael Bay shoots really fast, so I am grateful that I had a year cutting my teeth on something I am really proud of."

In Transformers Taylor shares the screen with rising US actors Shia La Beouf and Megan Fox, as well as Oscar-winner Jon Voight, the father of Angelina Jolie.

Taylor says the prospect of working alongside Voight was exciting but daunting.

"At first I was a little bit intimidated by Jon Voight because he's Jon Voight, but he's so generous and funny and quirky and was so invested in making films still," she says.

"He's not too cool. It's not like he's done it all and seen it all. He's still really committed to making good movies and making the scene work. He would write notes all over his script and then give them to me and ask me what I thought. I have been really lucky to work with people that I have learned so much from."

After Transformers Taylor embarked on a three-month filming mission in Tokyo for Shutter. The storyline was intense, forcing Taylor to dig deep for the role.

"I used to be a huge Pacey fan ... I adore Joshua," she grins about Jackson's character on Dawson's Creek, which also starred Tom Cruise's wife Katie Holmes and Heath Ledger's partner Michelle Williams.

"Shutter really, really stretched me as an actress. It was a great learning curve."

Relocating to Tokyo for the duration of filming also took its toll. "It was very intense because Tokyo is such an intense environment," she admits. "It's very compressed and very chaotic; I was very much an outsider there."

While she'd love to party up a storm at the night spots Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan frequent in Hollywood, Taylor says she's not sure she fits that mould.

"I would love to go to some of those parties, but I can't get on the list," she jokes. "At the end of the day you are who you are and I am just not a Hollywood girl. I am from Tasmania and keep it fairly simple. I don't go out that much and I am just never going to be part of that LA cool crowd. I would love to try and participate, but I am sure I would do a disastrous job of it."

Taylor says she will stick it out in LA for a while longer but constantly misses the securities of home – Tim Tams, Vegemite, Cadbury's chocolate and of course her family.

"I am very homesick," she says. "But as much as I miss Sydney I have been a lucky girl and I want to stay a bit longer."

Tasmanian Born RACHAEL TAYLOR talks about her Career

Who does that? Who rides in a helicopter and lands on the lawn of the Pentagon?

We've all heard of the Tasmanian Devil, but Tasmania isn't known for breeding a hotbed of talent when it comes to actors. Even though the Australian province hasn't churned out Hollywood stars en masse, it appears the town of Launceston has a hometown hottie to export. Rachael Taylor was working on an Australian TV series when she jumped ship and headed for L.A. Somehow, with a lot of luck and the blessing of Michael Bay, Taylor landed a sizeable role in Transformers as Maggie Madsen, a signal decryption expert hell bent on cracking the Transformers' code. With two more movies under her belt since last summer's gargantuan blockbuster, it's safe to say that Rachael Taylor is one of the hottest new actresses on the Hollywood scene. Judging by the 15 minutes that we had with her, she's also one of the coolest.

UGO: Did the Transformers hype reach Australia like it did in the U.S.?
RACHAEL TAYLOR: You know, it did but I wasn't aware of it. I grew up in Tazmania, and I had a different childhood . I'm an only child and I grew up playing make believe in the back yard, so I never really got the Transformers thing. But people are certainly very jealous about it.

UGO: So what did you geek out about as a kid?
RACHAEL: You know, I was an absolute little girl. I was completely girly and I was in the back yard and I had this fairy thing. I was always doing some sort of mystical fairy, far away land thing. I was a bit of a geek, and I would just geek out over Enid Blyton books, like "The Magic Faraway Tree", and stuff like that. Not very exciting.

UGO: Since you went from Australian TV to the biggest movie of the year, how did it all come about for you?
RACHAEL: The truth is that it was just really lucky. I've got one of those stories where you'll go, "Oh man, did you luck out or what?" It was the first movie I auditioned for when I got to the United States. I finished by TV show in Australia and I hid my head shots in the bottom of my luggage, and I came into Los Angeles on a tourist visa. I auditioned for Transformers and Michael [Bay] saw the tape and gave me the job. From then on it was like they got me a visa, my passport stamped, get a job, get a house, get a car, and it's just like my life turned on a dime. I mean, I still go, "What? How did that happen?" I really expected I would waiting tables at this point in my journey to Los Angeles, so I'm incredibly lucky.

UGO: Your character was crucial to the plot, but you didn't get much screen time. Were you ever worried that you'd fall into the territory of being just another "Bay Beauty".
RACHAEL: A Bay girl, yeah. I thought about it, but I think the absolute reality of it is that I just took stock of myself, and said, "You will never be like a Bay girl, but you're just not." I don't know how to be on screen and be sexy. I don't know how to do that. Maybe that's not as interesting as saying, "I've got no interest in doing that." I'm never going to be the girl you'll catch making the attractive face in the movie, because it's just not interesting to me. It's not why I became an actor. To me, I would much rather have limited screen time and actually take my character on a journey that has some sort of gusto to it. It's a small little role, but I think it's a good one. I play an intelligent woman who's after something, and that's interesting to me. A woman that's looking for some sort of truth - in this case, she's trying to find out the mystery of Transformers, and trying to get the Secretary of Defense to listen to her, which he won't do, but that's a really solid journey to me. That doesn't reek of Bay Girl at all. I think it's up to you as an actor to decide what you are in a movie. You make your own bed, I think. If I wanted to show up to work and shorten my skirt and put a bit of extra lip gloss on before a take and pout seductively at Michael Bay, then I could have done that. But you're not going to catch me doing that, because it's just not interesting.

UGO: Were you nervous on set? I mean, you were playing opposite the Secretary of Defense, who, in this case, was Jon Voight.
RACHAEL: He's won an Academy Award, I'm from Tazmania! Yeah, I was really nervous. This was my first movie in the United States, and it was kind of a big one. There were helicopters, robots, Jon Voight, and Michael Bay doing his Michael Bay thing, and it was scary in its own right. But I have to say, Jon Voight is an incredibly supportive and generous man. He's extremely interested in young actors, and he's very nurturing of young actors. I only have nice things to say about him. Michael is a slightly eccentric individual. You could have absolute trust in him, because he's so good at what he does. I think my nerves were somewhat quashed by knowing that I was in very capable hands.

UGO: In what ways did Anthony Andersen help to ease the nerves? Were there any pranks or practical jokes on set?
RACHAEL: Anthony is hilarious. I adore him. He was very kind to me, and he was extremely generous. There's this one thing - Michael Bay hates having food on set, and Anthony would hide hamburgers - In 'n' Out Burgers, actually - around the set, and it would drive him mad. Anthony is, at the same time, extremely professional, which perhaps you wouldn't expect from him because he is so comedically gifted. But thank God for Anthony, he just lightened my load completely.

UGO: Since the DVD brings on another round of press, are you glad to be moving past Transformers after all of the hype?
RACHAEL: That's a really good question. You know, I think it is, but I think I had already put it to bed. I consider it a really nice thing that I can pick up the phone to you and re-hash it and go, "That was that, and that experience was great." The reason why I am an actor is because of the thrill of it. I think I had a good, solid role in this, but I'm capable of a lot more and I want to go explore what those things are. I've shot two movies since Transformers, and I hope that I shoot a lot more, and I'm committed to doing that. I'm committed to stretching myself and I'll probably never do another movie that's as big or widely-watched as Transformers again. I don't know how it would be possible. This was huge, but that's okay with me. I'm looking to stretch myself in different ways, and I know that seems like a passe thing to say as a young artist. I appreciate that I have a lot of dues to pay yet, but I'm prepared to pay them.

UGO: Like living in Tokyo while filming Shutter?
RACHAEL: Yeah, that was quite enduring. But it was wonderful, though.

UGO: How does shooting a massive blockbuster like Transformers compare to a four-month shoot in Tokyo?
RACHAEL: They are extremely different. For that movie in Tokyo, I was in pretty much every scene of the movie. Out of the 62-day shoot, I think I worked 59 days. Whereas on Transformers, it was a smaller role, and I had space to breathe within that. But going to Tokyo, my experience of that was like being sucked into some sort of other world experience. I was so completely absorbed in the character and the story. But Japan was cathartic in its own way. It was a healthy proposition with that movie to get out of L.A. after having done a really big film, and decompress and get back to really telling a story on a much smaller scale. And then, after Tokyo, I went to Napa Valley and shot a movie about wine up there, which was fabulous. You know, Shutter was difficult subject material. It involved the supernatural, and it involves a woman trying to un-pick the man that she's married while making some really difficult and heartbreaking discoveries. It was a difficult movie to shoot, but I'm becoming more aware that maybe you can't actually compare one film that you shoot to another. They are such strange creatures, films. There's such a funny alchemy, making a film, and each one is very specific and really its own world, which is I guess why it's so enjoyable and so fascinating. Each time it's just another job, it's another group of people, and it's a completely new environment.

UGO: What's going on with Bottle Shock?
RACHAEL: It's about an international wine competition that was held in 1976, and this small little America vineyard up in Napa Valley beat all of these very prestigious French wines in blind taste tests. It's about how they came to make this exceptional and award-winning Chardonnay. I play a girl, a young university student, who is very much a free-spirit. She's very open-hearted, and she comes to the vineyard looking to learn about viniculture. It was just a delightful experience. It was just me, Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Freddy Rodriguez, Chris Pine, hanging out in Napa Valley, drinking red wine. It was fabulous.

UGO: That's not a bad bunch of guys to drink wine with.
RACHAEL: Yeah, they've been great. I've been very lucky with my leading men until this moment. Josh Jackson was my co-star on Shutter and I love the man to death. Then you look back at Transformers, and Tyrese Gibson is just a gem of a person. I reality adored working with him. He's a very generous man and extremely talented. Shia LaBeouf, who is exceptionally talented himself, and Anthony, Jon, Joshua Jackson and Alan Rickman... I am ridiculously lucky.

UGO: So what was it like to work with Shia and Tyrese?
RACHAEL: Tyrese is the kind of person that would go out of his way to connect with you, because he's just genuinely a nice man. I had enough little pieces with Shia that I got to appreciate him working, and Shia is also a great, friendly, lively person. That was the really nice thing - I look back on the first big American movie that I shot, and I've only got good things to say about every one of the cast members. They were all just lovely to me. You hear these horror stories about how some actors are like problem children, but that was not the case. They were all extremely warm and generous.

UGO: What was the biggest "Oh-my-God" moment for you after landing Transformers?
RACHAEL: It was definitely the riding in the helicopter moments. It was like, "I'm from Tazmania. I have working-class parents. I drive a Chrysler." I have a really simple sort of life, and to be in a helicopter landing on the lawn of the Pentagon, which I think was a shot that didn't make the movie, but there's another scene when Shia, Anthony, Megan and I are in a helicopter. I was just blown away by that. I'm not a particularly cool person and I couldn't hide my excitement. It was ridiculous! Who does that? Who rides in a helicopter and lands on the lawn of the Pentagon?

Another RACHAEL TAYLOR Interview


Tasmanian-born Australian beauty Rachael Taylor is rapidly emerging as one of Hollywood's newest young stars. Originally from Launceston, Tasmania, Taylor attended Riverside High School. After leaving Launceston College at the age of 18, Rachael moved to Sydney to further her acting. She studied politics and history at the University of Sydney, before deferring her Law/Arts degree to appear on the acclaimed local series Headland. Taylor has subsequently appeared in a number of United States productions - such as telemovies about Natalie Wood and the making of "Dynasty'' (where she played Catherine Oxenberg), and the horror movies ''Man-thing'' and ''See No Evil.'' She played Sasha Forbes on the short-lived Australian drama series ''headLand'', the first time she had played a character with her natural Australian accent. On April 3, 2006 it was announced that she had been nominated for a Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent for her role on the series, in spite of the show having been removed from television 2 months earlier. The actress then took the plunge and moved to Los Angeles, where she landed a major role in Michael Bay's much anticipated ''Transformers'' and just completed the 2008 remake of a 2004 Thai film ''Shutter''.

In a quiet corner of a Beverly Hills hotel bar, Taylor talked to PAUL FISCHER in this exclusive interview.

Paul: So I understand that you came off the boat virtually and landed this role in Transformers. What was the process like for auditioning?
Rachael: It was not unlike any other - the only significant difference was, I mean you show up, you audition for a casting director and then they call you back and you have another reading with a cast director and I think by the third audition I was workshopping with Michael and then the fourth one we went to the studio. And the difference for Transformers was, because it's such a pop culture phenomenon in a way, they didn't release the script, so essentially when you're auditioning you're working just off of sight. You have no idea what the story is or what the character is or where it goes. So I didn't actually read the script until the fourth audition at which you have to sign a confidentiality agreement and you go and sit in a room and it's just a complete lockdown. So it was the only sort of significant difference.

Paul: Were you concerned at all that, yes it's a big movie and it's obviously a huge break for you but you didn't simply want to be another one of Michael Bay's girls?
Rachael: Absolutely. That was my primary concern I think. But having read the script, I didn't think that was it. I don't think that's the role that I'm playing. Firstly I'm not the lead role in this movie, it's just a nice little piece, it's a nice little introduction for me and it is a smart female role like, you know,, she is what she is, like she's a computer expert and I know, that it's a film movie version of that but I still think it's ground in reality and that was my main challenge as an actor and that's one thing that I really committed myself to. And you know what? I was really proud when I saw the film. Because I don't think I'm highly sexed in it. I think that I actually look like a person who is doing a job and I look like I'm invested in the pursuit of this kind of history and the deconstruction of this data. I don't feel like I have been highly sexed. I'm not like really tanned or in a low cut top. I think I've sort of avoided it. And I am really proud of that. It's something I really stuck to my guns on.

Paul: Have you been entrenched already or initiated in any way into the Australian Acting Mafia?
Rachael: Acting contingent? The other really great thing about being Australian here is that we all sort of support of each other and I have a bunch of Australian friends that are sort of people I go and do barbecues with, and there is a lack of kind of pernicious competition amongst a group of us. Like it's just sort of, we're all happy to be here I think and we're all sort of supporting each other through some of the challenges of Hollywood. Australians are really good at that actually. When things get a little bit challenging people do tend to band together. I suppose a lot of cultures do that.

Paul: Tell me about your journey to acting. Tasmania is not a breeding ground for actors so where did this bug come from?
Rachael: Interesting. There are no sort of performers in my family and it was always a very inaccessible world but I was always fascinated by cinema. I was an only child and I think that might have a bit to do with it. I always had a hyperactive imagination and I liked the idea of a fantasy world. Even in games that I used to play as a kid, it's funny - on this junket everyone's been asking about what toys we liked. You know, I didn't really have any. I was always about creating imaginary worlds and going out in the back yard and pretending to be a fairy or, you know, just liked playing pretend. And I always just loved the escapism of cinema and I didn't understand that it was something that you could actually do. I didn't understand that film was actually an industry and that people had jobs in that. All I knew was that it was a make believe world an I wanted to be a part of that. And I had the very lucky thing of having an absolutely inspirational teacher when I was in maybe seventh or eight grade, an English teacher who really sort of changed my life. He got me really fascinated with words and reading and plays and writing and somehow I started to feel like encouraged as a creative person. And then when I was sixteen I left Tasmania and I moved to Sydney because I decided very firmly and strongly that I wanted to be an actor and no one was sort of going to talk me out of it. So I went and I did it.

Paul: How tough was it for you to move to Sydney.
Rachael: It was a lot tougher moving to Sydney at sixteen than it was moving to Hollywood at twenty-one.

Paul: What was the thing, the first break that told you that you could do it.
Rachael: Actually, hilariously, it was very Hollywoodesque, my first Australian break. I worked for Peter Bogdanovich in a miniseries that he did called Natalie Wood, Hollywood's Last Child and that was my first role. And he was a very supportive kind of man, Peter. He was a creative kind of, you know, genius and madman in his own way but he was extremely encouraging and made a real impression on me. And then after that there were little bit roles on little indie films and little horror movies down there. And then I did an Australian television show, which I'm really proud of -Headland. It didn't last for very long on our screens at all. I'm less proud of it as a result, as a journey for me. I don't think I would have been able to move to Los Angeles and get an agent and get work and do this film if I hadn't have had a year and a half of training on television, which is essentially what it was. That was my stomping ground, TV in Australia.

Paul: How scary was it moving to LA?
Rachael: For some reason it wasn't - I always had an instinct, even from the time I was quite young, like maybe thirteen and fourteen, that I would be lucky in the United States. Isn't it funny? I'm completely honest. I felt like I always knew that Sydney was going to be a hard slog and it sort of was in it's own way. I mean I worked, I'm a lucky girl, like I've been a working actor probably since I was seventeen now. I always knew that Los Angeles was not going to be easy. I knew that it would be tough and it has been in its own way but I just felt really positive and enthusiastic about the idea of being here. I felt committed to it. I didn't feel like I was going to run home with my tail between my legs at any point. I knew that it was going to be hard but I knew that I was going to stick it out.

Paul: Are your parents wary of you being here? I mean are they concerned about all the stories that you hear.
Rachael: Yeah absolutely. I think my parents' main concern is me driving on the freeway, driving on the other side of the road thing. Look, you know, my parents know me and they know that I'm a pretty ambitious, strong kind of girl. They know that I've like kind of got my eye on the prize and that I will sort of truck through it. But also, you know, I'm not a part of Hollywood. Like I'm here in Hollywood but this is my first press junket and I'm really new at it. I'm not going to be sucked down the rabbit hole. I'm just not that girl. I'm not part of that world. I mean they hear about girls in LA sort of losing their way a little bit and that's just not my game. I've never been like that. I've always been a bit of a bookworm, talked a bit too much and all of those things, but I'm not that girl.

Paul: What have you done since Transformers.
Rachael: Shutter. A film, I was in Tokyo for four months. It was my first leading role.

Paul: It's a thriller?
Rachael: Yeah it's very much a thriller because there's no sort of horror element. There's a supernatural thread through it but it's more about a girl discovering her husband's past, which is very, very surprising to her. And also kind of like, you know, has that Lost in Translation element. Tokyo is a life force as a city and it was a pleasure experiencing what it was like to be an outsider as a person not only in Tokyo but as a character too, like she's very much out of her element which sort of has it's own vulnerabilities inherent to it which is kind of fun to play around with.

Paul: Are you auditioning for stuff now as well?
Rachael: At the moment - you know, I came back from Tokyo a week and a half and then it's been sort of Transformers world but absolutely. Like I'm still ready for a fight. I don't expect to start arriving -

Paul: But then the doors are opening for you as a result of this movie.
Rachael: They are, sure. Like you notice that things are starting to be a little bit more responsive or you don't have to beat quite so hard on a door. But you know what? For the roles that I want, and I have a very particular idea about the roles that I want to play in the future, and it's not going to happen immediately. I'm still going to have to beat down the door.

Paul: Strong women, you want to play obviously.
Rachael: Smart women. Absolutely. Which is not, you know, I want to play a whole range of things.

Paul: So none of the sexed up characters?
Rachael: You won't find me doing that. Oh that's on record now. Oooh.. But it's true. Like I've never wanted to do that.

Paul: You know you'll do a sexed up character and I'll come up and 'By the way, you said to me that you would never play a sexed up character'. What about a sexed up character with brains?
Rachael: Or a sexed up character that backs the story.

Paul: Halle Berry played a sexed up character in a Bond movie and there was nothing wrong with that.
Rachael: That's true. I just don't want anyone to see me in a swimsuit just yet. I just feel like I still don't have the - I can't answer why that's an interesting thing for me to do yet, you know. I feel like it's about time that we got back to strong women on film. The roles that I loved are seeing like Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs. Strong women. Where have they gone? Where have they gone? It's about time we saw more of them I think. Michael Bay was an interesting way to start.

Some PICTURES of RACHAEL TAYLOR





WOW, this Australian Actress is definately a beauty. Here are some pictures of the very beautiful RACHAEL TAYLOR.

RACHAEL TAYLOR INTERVIEW


As career moves go, it’s rare that a cancelled soap opera screened over summer provides a lucrative leg-up. But for local blonde bombshell RACHAEL TAYLOR, her current rise through the US film industry is built on Seven’s failed Home and Away spin-off, Headland.

While most of her soapie colleagues retreated behind coffee machines awaiting their next acting adventure, RACHAEL TAYLOR was snapped up by Hollywood’s insatiable appetite for talented, fresh faces - especially those who could double as a model.

She landed a part in Michael Bay’s blockbuster, Transformers, a critically panned extension of the ’80s cartoon, and followed it up with sexy romp The Tourist, opposite Ewan McGregor and Michelle Williams.

Again the film was mostly forgettable, but it was another strong vehicle for RACHAEL TAYLOR to further her stateside career. Women’s magazines began to take notice, shooting the glamorous youngster for several spreads - under taglines such as “Australia’s next big thing” and “The 10 fresh faces of Hollywood”.

It may be a long way from the small-town sensibilities of Launceston, Tasmania, where she grew up, but it’s apparent RACHAEL TAYLOR is making a name for herself in Tinseltown. That said, during a recent interview, RACHAEL TAYLOR professed her continued love for the Apple Isle, where her parents remain and to where she escapes when not filming.

“You know, I go off and then I come home to the house I was born in and we sort of talk about the dog,” she said. “(My parents) genuinely really like their life in Tassie. They have this simple thing going on.

“I’m sure they’d love to come and visit me at some stage, but at the moment it just sort of seems like daughter’s off doing this kind of mystical thing out in the universe somewhere and it sort of involves movie-making.”

In May, RACHAEL TAYLOR returns to the horror genre - a class of film she’s familiar with, having completed gruesome local flick Man-Thing in 2005 - starring opposite Joshua Jackson in Shutter.

RACHAEL TAYLOR admits to a few initial issues given that Shutter is a US remake of the solid Thai film of the same name. “I think the reason the Western market has tapped into the Asian horror films is that they’re so good,” she says, thankfully maintaining her Australian accent. “I think when a movie’s good, it’s like trying to remake apainting. “I was hesitant about taking another crack at it because you don’t want to offend the fans of the genre.” Shutter explores the lives of two newlyweds (RACHAEL TAYLOR and Jackson) who discover their honeymoon photos also feature some ghostly images.

Although many actors bemoan Hollywood’s current obsession with special effects and working with green screens, RACHAEL TAYLOR admits she enjoys the process. The 23-year-old compares the process of making a movie where creatures, robots or ghosts are added long after her input is completed, to childhood imagination. “It’s like going back to that time when you were eight years old and you’re pretending about monsters and fairies,” RACHAEL TAYLOR says.

But the hardest part of making Shutter had nothing to do with special effects. It was the real world that kept throwing her for a loop. The movie was shot in Japan and RACHAEL TAYLOR kept having what she called “lost in translation moments”. She found herself feeling isolated and detached from the world because of the language barriers. “I actually felt like a ghost in Tokyo,” RACHAEL TAYLOR says. “The journey my character goes on in the film is a lot like that. She has to figure out what’s real and what’s not.”

As, we’re sure, does Taylor as she navigates life in Hollywood’s fish bowl.

RACHAEL TAYLOR BIO



RACHAEL TAYLOR (born July 11, 1984) is an Australian actress. She made her leading role debut in the Australian short-lived program Headland and has starred in the big budget film Transformers.

RACHAEL TAYLOR plays a lead role in Transformers directed by Michael Bay, where she keeps her native accent to emphasise the global scope of the movie. Her role is an important signal detector and decoder, who helps to solve the Transformers mystery, alongside her co-stars. She is also set to star in the 2008 remake of a 2004 Thai film Shutter.
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