Photo: WireImage

Us: What about The Dead Girl attracted you the most?
BM: [The director] Karen [Moncrieff] asked me to be a part of it and I was a huge fan from [her first film] Blue Car. I loved the honesty and the rawness of that film. I was really intrigued that she was doing a second picture. I read it and thought I was reading a psychological thriller at first. They say the journey is the destination, and as clichéd as it is, it’s true in this case. I started to get engrossed in the lives and being a voyeur of these really richly written characters. There’s so much depth. I adored the script, so I met with Karen, heard her vision and then I signed on.

Us: The whole film is gearing up to you as The Dead Girl and your portion is so important. How did you prepare to play this character?
BM: When it comes to choosing material or characters, my job is strange. My job is to believe I’m someone else more hours of the day than I am my [real] self. First of all, I like to make sure I’m part of a story that I think is imperative to be told, or extraordinarily entertaining. The older I get, the more particular I become. Then, who’s telling this story? Who is this person that I’m going to be, and does that make sense for me? It’s very visceral. I also felt it was a responsibility to Krista’s life. She was a real person.

Us: Was there a line or one particular scene that cemented who this character was for you?
BM: It was very evident to me. I did ask Karen a lot of questions: how would you like her to sound? Exactly what kinds of drugs is she on and how much? Karen told me she’s bipolar and self-medicating, so I spoke with some counselors and had them break down exactly the kinds of drugs Krista was on and what the chemical reaction in a human being’s body would be. These reactions are absolutely atrocious, and that’s why she was played so mercurially. It’s sad and tragic. Plus, she was a chain smoker and using crack.

Us: One of the things that was so powerful in the film was the inevitability of her death. Did you have that same experience knowing what was going to happen to your character?
BM: Interestingly enough, no. There was no foreboding feeling because she [Krista] didn’t have that (in her own life). I have had that experience before, and I didn’t feel that here because Krista loved life so much. They say to live in the moment, but she was about the second, or maybe the millisecond.

Us: Krista embodies many of the same characteristics of your previous characters, like Daisy in Girl, Interrupted and Alex in 8 Mile. Did you find yourself drawing on those experiences for this role?
BM: Girl, Interrupted was one experience where a character killed herself. In that film, Daisy’s death scene was shot first. That helped me a lot in understanding who she was.

Us: Do you ever worry about doing “too good” a job, thus inherently glamorizing this kind of lifestyle?
BM: No, I would hope the very, very opposite. If I’m ever a part of something like this—with this film especially—it’s to be a part of a very small film with a very large message, which is that violence is wrong. So many peoples’ lives in this film were affected by the violent act that occurred. Why must something tragic happen to kick us in the rear in order to make life-altering decisions for the better?

Us: How do you select projects? Are you trying to make choices that balance out these indie moments while looking for blockbuster films like Sin City?
BM: For me, it’s important to be a part of films that have messages that, as an artist, I can help communicate. The next film I’m working on is The White Hotel. I’m excited about it. The film has a very good message behind it, and hopefully will make people aware of how extraordinarily wrong genocide is.

Us: Is it true you taught co-star Kerry Washington how to smoke for this film?
BM: That is true! We met for dinner because of the short preparation time. Karen (the director) wanted Kerry and I to rehearse, just to familiarize ourselves with each other. We met for dinner and since I had to be chain-smoking for my role, she learned how to do it too. And she taught me how to curse -- I’m kidding!

-Allison Corneau