RAMBO is finally released on region two DVD and Blu-Ray this coming Monday (June 23) and here we have an interview with Julie Benz who plays Sarah in the fourth installment in the popular John Rambo series.

How would you describe your character Sarah in Rambo?

She’s a missionary and an idealist who really does believe she can make a difference with goodness and kindness. She’s very courageous, too. I mean, this is a woman who decides to go into a war-ravaged country to help other people. It’s a savage place.

 

What do you have in common?

[Laughs] Absolutely nothing except the same hairstyle. For me, the challenge was to play somebody who has such a true faith. She just believes. I do believe in humanity and I believe in helping others, but whereas I might falter she is rock-solid and strong-minded. The trick was to find that balance between her strength of character yet not coming across as preachy. She could have really isolated the audience by being too religious and goody-goody and that was something Sylvester Stallone and I spent a lot of time discussing. There were lots of revisions to the script trying to find the right balance. Any time you delve into religion and beliefs it’s a fine line between preachiness and basically being just a good person.

 

How did you get involved with the US Campaign for Burma?

It was because of the movie. I got to work with a lot of Burmese refugees, who were in the movie, and Maung Maung Khin, who played Major Tint, was a rebel fighter who fled Burma to save his life but put his life back in danger by being in the movie. He felt the message was more important to get out into the world than his own safety. You can’t come back from that and not be changed. I came back from making Rambo and called up the campaign, and they knew about the movie and were happy to have my support. I feel so strongly about Burma and the human rights violations that are going on there.

 

Did you witness those violations at first hand?

We were in Thailand, along the border, rather than in Burma itself – that would have been too dangerous. But there were death threats being made, we had armed guards to protect us, so there was an understanding of the situation, plus I did a lot of research. I’ve since asked the campaign if I can go to Burma but they say they can’t guarantee my security. You know, if you’re caught watching Rambo in that country you get seven years in prison and if you’re caught selling it you get a life sentence, so I’m not welcome in that country.

 

Was it a tough shoot?

Yes it was. We spent two months in the jungle without the luxuries of filming in Los Angeles. My trailer looked like a 1952 bomb shelter with what appeared to be the original bedding – it looked like it had never been washed. The heat was extreme and we all lost a lot of weight. I got too thin on that movie. Also, I had to have like 27 vaccinations before I could even get on the plane to go there, I was taking malaria pills, there were poisonous snakes, one day an elephant crashed through the set after escaping from a nearby camp. You never knew what was going to happen next but as tough as it was – being away from friends and family, the lack of luxury, the language barrier – it was also really exciting. Moviemaking shouldn’t be on a comfy soundstage in LA, it should be out there in the field.

 

What was Stallone like to work with?

He’s very funny, self-deprecating and humble, but also extremely demanding as a director – but he doesn’t demand anything of you that he doesn’t demand of himself. I’ve never seen anybody work harder and be more dedicated. He’s also incredibly intelligent. Every day he would tell me some random fact. He knows everything about everything. His own story is tremendous – he came from practically nothing to being this huge star, and that shows his spirit and his drive.

 

You were competing as an ice dancer until you were 14, then injury struck. Was that a blow?

No, I was happy. I was going to retire from figure skating anyway so when I got a stress fracture it wasn’t like I’d been struck down. It’s a tough sport and I’d been doing it for seven days a week since the age of three, so I was ready to give it up.

 

Was acting a logical next step?

Growing up performing, it was a natural progression but not a burning desire. As a kid I also wanted to be a nurse, a doctor, lots of other things. I had an over-active imagination so I guess acting was a good way of channelling that.

 

You’ve been on Angel, Buffy and now Dexter. What attracts you about the sci-fi and horror genres?

I’m just attracted to dangerous men! No, Buffy and Angel were my first forays into the genre and it seems to be where my career has gone. I also find it the most challenging work. I mean, it’s not easy playing a 400-year-old bloodsucking vampire. The thing is, I don’t watch horror movies and stuff because they scare me too much. I’ve just finished a role on Saw V and it gave me nightmares. I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to watch the movie. Just making it, I was a wreck.

 

Are you surprised by the dedication of the fans?

One of the great things about working on a horror or sci-fi show is that the fans are as passionate about it as you are about making it. You find that out when you go to conventions and they’re all there in their costumes. You don’t get that level of devotion for, say, Dawson’s Creek or Two And A Half Men.

 

Do you get Dexter look-alikes coming up to you at conventions?

Not look-alikes, but there are a lot of women who say they want to marry him. I’m like ‘Do you want to marry Michael C Hall, who plays him, or do you want to marry Dexter?’ When they say it’s the latter I’m thinking ‘There must be something wrong with you, he’s a serial killer!’ They just think he’s smoking hot and they don’t care.

 

What’s your own feelings about him?

I don’t think I’d want to marry him, although every man needs a hobby. As long as he doesn’t bring it home, that’s fine. If he keeps the violence out of the house, that’s not so bad.

 

What are your DVD favourites?

I like stupid comedies, which is probably because I deal with so much darkness and drama in my work. I really love Knocked Up, stuff like that. After seeing it I just wanted to go out and get knocked up by some random guy, but of course I didn’t. I also loved 27 Dresses. I’m a Katherine Heigl fan. I worked with her years ago on Roswell and she was so nice.

 

How else do you spend your downtime?

I read a lot, I have a little dog named Bamboo, I work out a lot, I travel – all the usual, boring stuff really.

RAMBO is released across the UK and Ireland on June 23rd, 2008.