Natassia’s homecoming

Norwegian-Malaysian model-cum-actress Natassia Malthe is excited about starring in a film that goes back to her roots, writes Dennis Chua

WHILE she may be seen as the token, strong female character, Norwegian-Malaysian actress Natassia Malthe is not the least worried about being typecast in her latest big screen project, Vikingdom.

In fact, she is overjoyed to be part of the action-packed movie produced by KRU and starring no-nonsense, tough guy Dominic Purcell of Prison Break fame.

Malthe, 37, who was born in Oslo, Norway and whose mother is Sabahan, plays Brynna, a ship captain and warrior ally of the hero, Eirick (Purcell).

“Brynna is a brave fighter, but she also has a vulnerable and feminine side. She secretly loves Eirick but he’s in love with someone else,” says Malthe. “She has a lot of principles and integrity, and gets to defeat many Vikings bigger than she is.”

Malthe, the younger of two siblings, likens her character to a homecoming. She says: “Brynna is the first Norwegian character I’m playing. While she is fictitious, playing her is like getting reconnected to my paternal roots.”

Malthe gained fame in Hollywood movies such as Elektra (2005), Bloodrayne (2005) and DOA: Dead Or Alive (2006).

Her initial dream was to become a dancer, and she enrolled in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Canada and Norwegian Opera House. She also studied musical theatre in the United Kingdom.

“Along the way, I became interested in acting. However, it took time for my parents to approve my choice,” she says.

Malthe worked in the United States and Canada, and worked very hard to establish herself.

“I had my acting debut in sitcoms on Canadian television, Canada being the place where my parents met,” she says.

Her other films and television series include Viper (1996), Millennium (1997), Lake Placid (1999), Me, Myself And Irene (2000), 40 Days And 40 Nights (2002), Halloween: Resurrection (2002), Knights Of Bloodsteel (2009) and In The Name Of The King 2 (2011).

“Among the brilliant actors I’ve worked with are Chris Isaak, Bridget Fonda, Jim Carrey and Josh Hartnett. I also became friends with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller and George Clooney,” says Malthe who appeared in advertisements with Pitt and Clooney, and organised fundraising for tsunami victims in Japan with Stiller.

She admits that Elektra introduced her to action roles and made her popular with viewers.

“Playing Brynna has come naturally, after all the action training I’ve had since Elektra,” she says.

Malthe’s favourite strong women are Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh and Milla Jovovich, both of whom she would love to work with someday. Jovovich’s husband Paul Anderson directed her in DOA, where she played ninja assassin Ayane.

“One area of film I’d love to be part of is voiceover work for animation films,” she says.

She says KRU brothers Norman, Yusry and Edry Abdul Halim are very motivated, professional, actor-friendly and down-to-earth.

Vikingdom is Malthe’s first film in Malaysia, and she is happy to visit many interesting places in her mother’s home country.

“The best scenes we had during the three-month filming was in the caves of Gua Tempurung near Ipoh,” says Malthe, who has been a model for five years. She previously visited Malaysia once for a shampoo advertisement. As part of her travels, she has lived in Singapore, London and Hong Kong.

When asked about her favourite Viking hero in films, she has only one name, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.

“I’m a huge fan of Chris because he embodies the mighty Thor of Marvel comics. I just loved him in both the movie Thor and The Avengers, and I can’t wait to see more of him in sequels,” she says.

Coincidentally, the villain of Vikingdom is also called Thor, played by Conan Stevens of The Hobbit. Conan’s Thor is the opposite of Chris’. He’s a long-lost evil brother with red hair that spells fire and destruction.

Vikingdom, which will be screened next year, is directed by Yusry and also stars Craig Fairbrass (House Of The Rising Sun) as Sven and Jon Foo (Tekken) as Yang.

The story is the first instalment of a trilogy based on the legends and myths of ancient Norway. Purcell’s character Eirick is a Viking warrior who teams up with fellow warriors Brynna, Sven and Yang to defeat Thor.

Eirick dies in a battle but is revived by the gods and given the task of forming a band of warriors to take on the villain.

Vikingdom will be distributed to 72 countries by Epic Pictures, the sales agent for KRU’s award-winning film Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa.

Fully produced in Malaysia, Vikingdom was shot earlier this year in Petaling Jaya, Kellie’s Castle in Batu Gajah and Gua Tempurung.