Armie Hammer is ever-so-charming as Prince Alcott in “Mirror Mirror“.
We spoke with Armie this week about his role in the new movie (due out in theaters March 30th), his thoughts on love at first sight, and what he thought about some of the crazy costumes his character had to wear in the film.
Armie’s thoughts on love at first sight and what advice he’d offer to young people who believe they’ve met “the one”:
Armie Hammer: “I do believe in love at first sight, but I wouldn’t of if I didn’t experience it. When I first met my wife, I remember everything she was wearing the first time I saw her. And that was almost six years ago at this point. So, I do believe in love at first sight, and I think that’s something that I recognized in the script. And so, it’s like, “I feel like I can bring some truth to that. I have actually been through that. Lucky me.” I would say for young people who think they’ve found the one, it’s a commitment. If you think you’ve found the one and you’re willing to really knuckle down and say, “You know what? I’m not sure what’s going to be happening in 20 years, but I’m willing to work on this for that long of a period.” 30 years, 50 years, 60 years, 70 years, whatever it is, it’s a serious commitment. And if you think you’re ready to make it, I say don’t take it lightly but do it. It’s the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”
He shared his initial reaction to some of the more “interesting” costumes his character wears in the film, like the bunny-eared top hot above:
Armie Hammer: “I think honestly my initial reaction is, “You really want me to wear that?” But, when you’re standing on that set and you are looking at the extravagant nature of everything, the costumes fit in. They make sense. It’s not like you’d look at the costumes and go, “How bizarre.” But, when you’re in New York City and you’re standing in a fitting room with a wardrobing lady and several tailors and you’re standing in a room with a bunch of fluorescent lights and you look at yourself in a mirror, you just kind of go, “Really? I mean, really?”. Then, you get on the set and it all fits in perfectly to the visual. All of the walls are painted specific colors depending on which character was going to be shooting scenes in there the most. And, the colors were chosen depending on which colors would react best for the colors of the wardrobe on the camera. Everything was completely thought through in a very meticulous kind of way. So, you kind of have to suspend your initial hesitance and just go for it. And it ended up really working out.”
Armie’s thoughts on the gender roles in the film – girls not needing to be rescued:
Armie Hammer: “I mean, anybody who questions how we did it in the movie, it’s like, “Come on, man, we made a fun kids’ movie where the girls gets to save the day. That’s a nice treat.” Why not? Who says that can’t happen? I definitely feel like my wife rescued me. I was heading down the bachelor path and now I come home and it feels like home. There’s no longer leather furniture everywhere. It’s nice. I feel that women do save the day in a lot of ways. I feel like men, left to their own devices, can just kind of wander off into whatever path of craziness they so choose. And they say behind every powerful man is a great woman, and I think that’s true. Women save the day in a lot of ways. And I think that women themselves can be the heroes.”
He admitted that it was difficult to sword fight with his co-star Lily Collins:
Armie Hammer: “Yes. You know what? It actually kind of was [difficult]. I felt like I was just going to hurt her. I’ve been raised my whole life that you don’t fight with girls. You don’t hit girls. And then to swing a sword at this girl who looks relatively defenseless, you’re like, “Oh, please block this,”. So, you just feel guilty. “
Armie has had the opportunity to work with some of the top directors, actors, and actresses (Johnny Depp, Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more). He said there’s no one person he dreams of working with in the future:
“I would just love to work with people who are passionate about what they do. I feel like that’s very infectious. And I feel like when you’re working with somebody who loves what they’re doing, it never, ever, ever feels like work. I’ve just been very fortunate to get to work with people who are passionate. And I feel like I’m very passionate about this. And it’s not only contagious, but it’s like an iron sharpening iron kind of thing. You work with talented, passionate people and you end up in projects where that rubs off. It’s just been great. I feel very fortunate. I’ve gotten to work with really great people.” He jokes: “After this, I am probably going to take a period where I slum it and just work with C list, at best, directors. “
Photos courtesy of Relativity
