Jessica Alba’s latest big-screen wardrobe leaves little to the imagination.
For much of “Into the Blue,” the 24-year-old actress traipses around in Bond girl garb–the itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikini–as she evades sharks in and out of the Caribbean Sea.
But for a recent interview about the film, which opens Friday, Alba wisely decided to accentuate her tan with classic couture.
Some land sharks can be just as dangerous as the great whites.
“I was going to wear a bikini, but I thought it might be a little chilly, a little awkward, so I opted for the Chanel,” she said, referring to the form-fitting red dress she was wearing. “Usually I do press junkets in bathing suits!”
Alba wasn’t the only actor nearly nude in this crime thriller about four friends who swim upon not one, but two treasures underwater. Paul Walker, her movie love interest, and co-stars Ashley Scott and Scott Caan, also wore, uh, less.
“It was just one bathing suit after another,” Alba said. “It’s certainly not something I look forward to. It wasn’t like I did this movie because of the bathing suits. It was something I dreaded every day. It was like ‘Omigod, not another bathing suit again!’ You just feel vulnerable. But you know, you do what you gotta do.”
Although Alba said she never realized all the bathing suit options there are until she made this film, she was well aware that director John Stockwell’s camera was often focused on her backside.
“I knew that the cameras were going there, just from experience,” Alba said. “We all knew. The cameras were everywhere, and they’re going to shoot everything everywhere. In all fairness, they shot the guys the same way they shot the girls.”
Walker agreed.
“Yeah, it did make me feel a little cheap,” he deadpanned.
Although she’s been called a rising star many times, Alba’s status hadn’t converted into box-office dollars before this year. She played a stripper with a heart of gold in “Sin City,” which made just under $75 million in the U.S. And this summer, “Fantastic Four” earned $150 million.
Yet Alba scoffed at the notion that an actress whose star is rising is above appearing in what she called a “popcorn movie.”
“Everyone can use a hit,” she said. “Everyone can use box-office money. The more clout you have at the box office, the more creative and interesting roles and movies get offered to you. I don’t know if Kate Winslet would have done half the roles that she’s done without ‘Titanic.’ I don’t know if Rachel Weisz would have gotten half the roles or half the movies if it weren’t for ‘The Mummy.’ It’s the necessary evil.
“And (‘Blue’) isn’t bad. It’s an entertaining movie. I read the script and wanted to finish it. It’s suspenseful and fun, and I knew it was going to be beautiful, and I’m really comfortable in the water. It was just kind of an easy decision.”
For her next film, however, Alba has decided to do something a little more character-driven. She’ll appear in an independent project called “Awake” with Hayden Christensen and Sigourney Weaver.
All of the movies she’s made since her breakthrough on TV in “Dark Angel” have been carefully calculated, she said. After that series ended, Alba knew that she wanted to break into the action-adventure genre, do a comic-book film and play a small part in an artsy film.
She’s done it all. And there’s more to come.
“Women haven’t really been opening movies for that long,” she said. “They’re just sort of doing that now–and producing and starring. There are more female directors and producers. I want to be part of that movement. I’m interested in producing.”
She’s also keen on breaking out of the acting box. Alba is developing a baby clothing line called Authentic Me and will give part of the proceeds to a women’s shelter and an orphanage.
“It’s very girly, with a little spiritual twist to it,” she said. “There will be little sayings on the clothes that will empower girls.”
The Southern California native also is designing a video game that she describes as “non-violent, and it sort of taps into the world.”
“I can’t say too much about it because we’re still in prototype mode,” she said. “I travel a lot, and I want to make it racially diverse because there are so many cool, creative people all over the world, and I want to tap into that. It’s basically based off a new thing that kids are doing–it’s kind of an X Games thing. It’s empowering.”
Even though Alba is appearing as a scantily clad character in a popcorn flick, she’s fully aware young women and girls look up to her. So she’s not about to play the stereotypical, loud-talking, head-rolling Latina chick from the Bronx, or the upscale cokehead from Beverly Hills. And this might be the last time we see her in a skimpy bikini for a while.
“There’s enough belly shirts and push-up bras out there,” she said. “I think it’s nice to have someone who has a brain for once. That’s something to aspire to.”
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In the swim
Jessica Alba has come a long way from her ’90s TV series “Flipper,” even if she’s back in the drink this weekend in her new film “Into the Blue.”
But the actress’ star has steadily risen in the last 10 years, and she’s riding a high this year after turns in “Fantastic Four” and “Sin City,” which both did well at the box office. Here’s a look at some of her earlier work, according to imdb.com and boxofficemojo.com.–REDEYE
“Honey” (2003): Honey Daniels (Alba) is a sexy, tough choreographer whose mentor gives her an ultimatum: Sleep with him or be blacklisted within the video-music industry.
“Dark Angel” (2000): The TV series about Max Guevara (Alba), a bike messenger who also is a genetically modified super soldier.
“Never Been Kissed” (1999): Played snob Kirsten Liosis, whose “in” clique wanted to keep Drew Barrymore out.
“P.U.N.K.S.” (1999): Plays Samantha Swoboda, a misfit kid who is part of a group that steals a super-strength suit from a scientist.
“Idle Hands” (1999): Lazy Anton’s right hand kills his friend and parents, and now is going after Molly (Alba). Also starred Seth Green and Vivica A. Fox.
