The first film she’s producing is written by, directed by and stars women, and that’s no coincidence
It’s 9am on a Monday morning but Alicia Vikander looks like she’s been up for hours. Elegant in a cinched black dress and sipping on green juice she seems happy – as well she should be, 2016 having seen her win an Academy Award, start pre-production on an indie film she’s producing through her own company and star in what is set to be one of the summer’s biggest movies.
It’s the latter film, Jason Bourne, that we’re discussing, and I put it to her that I find the popularity of its titular character (played by Matt Damon) weird given his stoicism and lack of charisma.
“I think that’s it though,” she says, “you want to get to know Bourne. “Also I was a teenager when I saw the first film and, in terms of blockbusters, kind of grew up watching Bond movies. For me, Bourne was just something completely new and I think over the years a lot of films have copied the franchise and its muted authenticity.”
The sequel is largely about getting the ol’ band back together – Damon, Julia Styles, Vincent Cassel, director Paul Greengrass, a lot of the crew – but Vikander is a new addition as CIA agent Heather Lee.
She won’t be expecting Best Supporting Actress wins for this role, but enthuses about the film’s “could be taken out of a newspaper” plot elements.
“Even if it is a popcorn franchise movie, it’s intriguing because it has elements of political and social issues that you recognise and yet is still very entertaining,” she says, and she’s right, the film is solid and stimulating.
