British actress Thandie Newton lets on about what it’s like on the set of the apocalyptic thriller 2012.

IN the upcoming anticipated disaster flick 2012, British screen beauty Thandie Newton plays Laura Wilson, whose daddy Thomas (Danny Glover) happens to be the 45th President of the United States. It seemed that the celluloid US administration loves her.

Just last year, Newton was in cinematic White House to play (former) US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice in Oliver Stone’s controversial bio-pic W.

Known for balancing her roles between that of a big-budgeted commercial mainstream and the more independent British fares, Newton has starred in a string of big films (Mission Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick) and not-so-big ones (Beloved, Run, Fatboy Run, The Truth About Charlie).

A story about the world’s destruction, humanity and survival, 2012, directed by Roland Emmerich also stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt and Woody Harrelson.

Here’s an interview with Newton courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing International. The movie 2012 opens in cinemas here tomorrow.

Question: 2012 is a blockbuster event movie. Do you have to be careful that the effects don’t swamp the story with a film like this?

Newton: Yes, you do, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen when I read the script. Roland really cares about the story and he cares about the characters — it’s actually a very human story. I’m the president’s daughter.

I’m part of the president’s family and suddenly none of that matters. And for all the characters in the film, it’s the same — whatever you thought was important before doesn’t matter anymore.

When the floods and earthquakes start, it’s all about trying to save your life and the lives of other people. It comes down to the fundamentals of being human and it asks what that means and what really matters.

It’s an amazing arc for all the characters and certainly mine. Some, the lucky few, will survive but it’s also about the moral guidelines that the survivors will have.

Because, even with all the panic that ensues there is still this grappling for power — even when everything is being destroyed — and it’s like “look, if we are going to be the survivors of the human race we have to establish moral guidelines.” And that’s really interesting stuff to explore in a big film like this.

Q: Does it involve a lot of action?

Newton: Yeah, it does. I spent a lot of time incredibly wet (laughs). Absolutely soaking wet. It was miserable and I’m such a little girl about that sort of thing.

I didn’t complain about it but inside, I was thinking “oh no, not again!” There’s one sequence where the waves are coming in and I have to scoop up this little girl and save her. Which is all great but inside I was thinking “f***** hell! Can this please just be it!”

And the little girl was having a great time. In between scenes I’d wrap myself in a towel and she was swimming around and loving it.

And bless the crew because they’d even made the water warm for us, which is amazing. But after a long day doing that, you really look forward to some dry clothes and a good night’s sleep.

There was one sequence, again with water, where we were in a corridor, and they had created a tidal wave that came around the corner, and it wasn’t CGI obviously, it was the tidal wave! (laughs). And before it reached us, “cut!”.

The water would drain, somehow go back to a huge tank, and then on action, it would come around again. Incredible.

Q: Wasn’t that scary? Several tonnes of water coming towards you like that?

Newton: You just have to put your faith in these people, who are really, really professional and talented. The standards that they set are very high, so no, it would never occur to me to feel nervous about it.

Q: Did you do anything to lighten the atmosphere?

Newton: Not in this one. When you’re in a soaking wet sweater and your trousers are wet and they happen to be (designer) Alexander McQueen and you’re thinking, “well, this has ruined them…” They weren’t mine, but I was hoping to take them away at the end of the movie — not anymore! But no practical jokes.

Q: So lots of working in water. But presumably a lot of running and dodging flying debris and that sort of thing …

Newton: Actually, John (Cusack) and Amanda (Peet) had a lot more of that kind of thing to do. I do a lot with Chiwetel (Ejiofor, who plays White House scientific adviser Adrian Helmsley) and our stuff was less action driven.

A lot of our stuff is dialogue about what is going to happen. John and Amanda were being thrown about every day! But don’t forget, I did the water (laughs).

Q: In a big special effects film, it’s easy for the actors to be swamped by the huge set pieces. Did you think that your character was well drawn?

Newton: This movie is absolutely a popcorn crowd-pleaser. Someone asked me “do you think this movie is going to help people sort of be more aware about the environment?” Is this movie really going to encourage people to turn their taps off while they’re brushing their teeth? I don’t know.

But I do know that it is such an amazing spectacle — it’s massive, out of this world and it’s there for your enjoyment. And the characters are very clearly drawn out. I guess my character represents moral goodness and social awareness.

Chiwetel’s character is about scientific knowledge and the importance of that and John’s character is about redemption — about trying to be forgiven for not being a good dad. Amanda is about keeping the family together and is a good mother.

These sort of movies only work when the audience is drawn emotionally to the story — then you are more terrified because you don’t want to see Amanda sucked down a tube or my character drowning or whatever.

It works because you care about these people. So yes, the characters had to be very clearly drawn and they were. And you know, there’s a lot of room for subtlety here, which is good.

Q: Did you pause for thought when you first heard about the Mayan calendars (which ends on 2012, after which, a new world begins)?

Newton: I was a bit nervous when I first heard that the Mayan prophecies (about the end of the world). Reality can be shocking enough and things happen all the time.

I think the film is about appreciating the moment and the challenges we face — like, for instance the economic crisis we’ve been going through — hopefully make us appreciate the simple things, the value of relationships and the the people that we love.

From New Straits Times