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EXCLUSIVE: Gina Carano talks 'Extraction', 'Deadpool' and her inspiration for future
It's been six years since Gina Carano last fought, but the first face of women's MMA still remains in the spotlight with her budding acting career that's been busier than ever lately.
Back in 2014, Carano flirted with a return to the sport and even got as far as negotiations with the UFC, but when several movie and TV roles started to filter through, she set aside her aspirations to fight again and decided to concentrate more and more on her life in Hollywood.
Most recently, Carano filmed a role in a movie titled "Extraction" -- an action thriller about a CIA operative who is forced to go outside the law to track down his father (played by Bruce Willis) who gets kidnapped in the middle of a mission overseas. Two more movies are set for release in the coming months, including the highly anticipated movie "Deadpool" starring Ryan Reynolds.
From her first featured gig on the 2009 film "Haywire" until now, Carano has continued to grow and expand in what she's able to do on screen. "Extraction" is another fun action romp that allowed her to stretch her acting muscles while still breathing comfortably in a genre she knows very well.
"For me, 'Extraction' was one of those jobs I told myself to just relax and enjoy," Carano told FOX Sports in an exclusive interview. "It's a fun movie, we're not going out for any awards here -- show up, be professional, but relax. I have to say, it made working very enjoyable. I think there is a time to take yourself seriously because if you don't, you better believe no one else is going to. But it's also important to let go and experiment and flirt with yourself a little."
Thanks to her extensive combat-sports background, Carano has slipped into her action roles without skipping a beat. It's allowed her to combine fighting with spot-on execution when it comes to dialogue and delivery and with each passing movie, she's getting better at both.
Carano has been an integral part for the action scenes in all of her movies while doing stunts that require a certain physicality that she tackles with the same ferocity she does while hitting pads in the gym. The result is a more realistic fight on film than the typical high impact/low reality that normally takes place in some action movies.
"I have been a key part of choreographing basically all of my fight scenes because I'm the one doing them," Carano said. "I think the trick in coming into these action movies is respecting the craft that a stunt director has worked their entire life on. Sometimes on smaller films you don't get a decent amount of prep, sometimes not any, you show up and there is a surprise fight scene one night and you just kind of roll with it. Not ideal but it helps to be athletic on most jobs I've had.
"With each film I've done I've learned so much about how to become a little better, but each film has been its own completely different animal. I think showing up and being professional is big, but also being able to relax and explore the creative you is just as important -- being prepared, flexible and believing what you are working on helps. I've learned something with every single person I've worked with, good and bad. It is overwhelming the sponge you become in a high pressurized environment of a world you are all creating together."
Carano started out her acting career in scenes with some of the biggest stars in the game today, including Michael Fassbender and Channing Tatum as well as Vin Diesel in "Fast and the Furious 6". Now with her latest movie "Extraction", Carano went toe-to-toe with co-star Kellan Lutz and even did a scene with the godfather of action movies, Bruce Willis.
While their interaction on screen together was brief, Carano was blown away by Willis on screen and in person.
"Bruce Willis was even more charismatic in person. I think our interaction was good but it was very brief. Steven Miller, the director, was an absolute delight to work with. He's super cool with an artistic vision and he's just getting started. I'd work with him again any day," Carano said.
"Kellan and I get along incredibly well. There was a perfect amount of professionalism and fun and the characters were fun to play. He is considered my ex in the movie with still some romantic connection, so we kind of got to play/fight/flirt, which wasn't hard for either one of us. He's not a judgmental person but still very passionate and professional. It looks like he's having a blast with his life and encourages others to do the same. That kind of energy is always good to have in a work environment."
The next major film coming from Carano will be "Deadpool" -- set for release on Feb. 12 -- where she stars alongside Ryan Reynolds in a rare "R" rated superhero movie based on characters from the "X-Men" universe. "Deadpool" is definitely one of the most outrageous characters ever created in comic book history and, according to Carano, the transition from page to screen is something every fan will want to watch when the movie comes out.
"I truly enjoyed the ‘Deadpool’ experience. My character is obviously a baddy, which means that people are rooting for you to fail automatically, unless you're different and like to see bad guys do well," Carano said with a laugh. "She doesn't really have a lot to say but she's my ‘Angel Dust’ and I grew to really enjoy playing her. I get to be a dark character in a comedy that crosses all sorts of lines and makes fun of everything.
"The people who worked on this movie were so highly impressive. Everywhere from the actors, director, to my driver who picked me up every day. It just has a good feeling about it and for that reason I want it to do awesome. Plus, let's be honest -- Deadpool is the coolest male comic-book character there is and Ryan Reynolds nailed it."
As far as the future goes, Carano is still focused mostly on acting but she did recently uproot from her home in Los Angeles to move north to San Francisco, which has given her a fresh outlook on her career.
She's been training more and more at the CSA gym in California, where she works with several notable fighters, including former Strikeforce standout Zoila Frausto as well as top-five ranked UFC women's bantamweight Alexis Davis.
Carano still hasn't closed the door on a return to action but for now she's looking for the kind of work that will drive her forward and push her to do better. Whether it's "Extraction", "Deadpool" or another movie, Carano is having fun and learning every day and that's something she hopes never changes.
"What I truly want in every depth of my soul for my acting career is to play a role that allows me the ability to bring a character that I've created to life, to tell a story that makes the empty feeling in your chest. Ache for more," Carano said. "I love the mystery of individual expression.
"I've moved out of LA to outside San Francisco to train and grow in a different atmosphere artistically and personally. I needed to change the way I was going. I haven't been this inspired in a long time."
Catch Carano in "Extraction", which lands in theaters and video on demand on Friday, Dec. 18 nationwide. Stay tuned for Part Two of our interview with Carano where she talks about Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey and the chances she fights again.
