When I learn martial arts, my master will have me try a punch for a week and he will keep saying, 'No, you don't have it. No, that's not right.' When he finally says, 'Yes, you did it,' it's a wonderful moment. You worked on it. You got it.

What's interesting about the movie and characters is that they're one thing to the world and another thing in their heads.

Self-defense is so important to know in today's society. It's not just that you might get mugged. It's more for confidence. It's the way you hold yourself when you walk into a room. Every step you take is more sure and you're much more aware of your surroundings. So, I think it's a really important thing - especially for women.

I was also an only child and my father really wanted a son - he's from that generation - it was always about kung-fu theater on Sundays and boxing games on the weekend.

When I did The Fifth Element [1997], it was like, "Oh my goodness, who is this character?" I loved doing Resident Evil, but Resident Evil is Resident Evil with or without me. It's an entity of its own. It's not like Milla made Resident Evil.

I love all the cableknits and the oversize coats.

When you're doing martial arts, you feel like you can master certain skills and be so much more in control of who you are, so that really appealed to me.