Friday, April 10, 1998
BORN AGAIN
FILM: Self-proclaimed "chick from ‘Species,’"
Natasha Henstridge, redefines her acting career – after sticking
her tongue through a few more heads
By Lonnie Harris
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
On the set of her soon-to-be-released romantic comedy, "It Had
To Be You," Natasha Henstridge was filming a wedding scene, her
first ever in a movie. The moment was ruined, however, when one of
the younger extras warned the actor portraying her betrothed,
"watch out or she’ll stick her tongue through your head."
These sort of comments have followed the young
model-turned-actress ever since her debut performance in "Species,"
the 1995 sci-fi horror film in which Henstridge, playing a
human/alien hybrid, shot a tongue-like appendage through the neck
of a newfound lover. Now with the release of "Species II" this
Friday, leaving behind her reputation as a horrific creature from
outer space may prove quite challenging.
Henstridge started her career in the fashion industry but always
had movie work in mind. Little did she know that her first major
motion picture would be the sleeper hit of 1995, grossing over $65
million in the United States.
"I’m not completely sure what it was about ‘Species’ that made
it so popular," Henstridge says. "I think it was the female villain
that excited people because you don’t see that much in action-type
movies. The strength within her character really resonated with a
lot of people."
"Species II" centers around alien DNA which is sent to Earth and
used to create half-human, half-alien creatures on this planet.
These creatures then attempt to mate with one another and propagate
the new species on Earth, with the eventual goal of wiping out all
of humanity.
This plot line obviously leads the film into some intense
violence and gore, but also a healthy dose of eroticism.
"The nudity really doesn’t bother me that much," Henstridge
says. "There’s not that much to it. I got used to it as a
model."
She had many more reservations about her role after "Species,"
which was in the 1996 Jean-Claude Van Damme action film "Maximum
Risk." The film included not only standard Hollywood action
sequences, but a rather graphic love-making scene between Van Damme
and Henstridge.
"’Maximum Risk’ was more of a racier love scene than the
‘Species’ films," Henstridge says. "In ‘Species II,’ all I did was
disrobe and then some kissing. In ‘Maximum Risk’ I was standing up,
and that made it very awkward. I had a couple of vodkas in my
trailer before filming that one."
There is more to Henstridge than a body though, and it is this
side of her personality which she wants to emphasize in upcoming
projects.
Her newer films, none of which feature vertical lovemaking or
deadly oral appendages, include two romantic comedies: the
previously mentioned "It Had To Be You" and "Dog Park," which
features several former "Kids in the Hall" members.
"I think I’m most proud of ‘It Had To Be You,’ which I just
finished filming. I’ve always wanted to work in romantic comedies,
mainly because they’re so much closer to who I really am. You get
to wear your heart on your sleeve in those films."
These new films will be Henstridge’s first chance to work in
movies to which she has a personal connection. Quite often,
Henstridge will grudgingly concede that some of her previous films
have been less-than-groundbreaking cinema; some were even
unwatchable.
Don’t even ask about the 1995 Christopher Lambert vehicle titled
"Adrenaline: Fear the Rush." Henstridge attributes her previous
lack of meaty roles, however, squarely to herself because of her
lack of any acting experience. (She was only 21 when "Species" was
released.) Henstridge says that she shied away from major projects
with famous, talented directors and casts because she was afraid
that the exposure would reveal her as a fraud. Working in Hollywood
for several years, though, has increased her confidence in her
ability to perform, and this in turn has influenced her choices in
movies.
"I’ve been really bad at picking movies," Henstridge says. "I
didn’t want to be out there with big actors. Kind of inferiority
complex. Now, I’ve gained more confidence, and that has really
helped my acting a lot."
But before she steps back onto the silver screen, Henstridge
played what is perhaps her most infamous role on cable television:
she provided the voice of the substitute teacher on the hit Comedy
Central show "South Park."
As Ms. Ellen, Henstridge attracted all the male students in her
third-grade class, only to reveal to them that she was a lesbian.
The episode, widely considered (especially by Henstridge) to be the
show’s best, was also perhaps its most controversial, dealing with
homosexuality as well as the Iraqi conflict.
"I didn’t know what ‘South Park’ was at the time," Henstridge
says. "I had always wanted to do a cartoon voice because I love
cartoons, and then I read the script that they sent me from the
show. It was incredibly funny, but I don’t really know what all the
controversy is about that show. It takes a whole lot more than that
to shock me."
The end credits on that episode of "South Park" credit the
actress only as "The Chick From Species." It is a monicker that
most actresses would lament, but Henstridge finds it somewhat
amusing. With a slight chuckle, she seems to embrace her future as
forever in the shadow of her most memorable role to date.
"I joke about ‘Chick from Species’ all the time," Henstridge
says. "I know it’s not an easy thing to get over. But it doesn’t
bother me at all. I like that people remember me and enjoy what I’m
doing. The only thing I want to do now is make some movies that I
can be proud of. I haven’t done much of that yet, but I’m on my
way. I think."
FILM: "Species 2" opens today.