I have to give Alicia Vikander some credit: she did know how to “go away” after her Oscar win. I worried that she was going to be all over the place following her win, just like she was all over the place leading up to her win. But it worked out well for her: she got to take a break from the press cycle, keep working and she gave us the chance to “miss” her for several months. Now Alicia is back with a film to promote: Jason Bourne, the fourth Matt Damon-as-Bourne film. I worried that Vikander was cast as Bourne’s new love interest, but judging from the trailer, I think it’s far more likely that she’s playing the Joan Allen-type of role, a CIA-type tracking Bourne. In any case, Vikander scored her second Vogue cover of 2016. She covered January’s American Vogue and now she’s the August cover girl of Vogue UK. There are only a few highlights and guess what? They include a reference to Michael Fassbender, her still-on boyfriend.
What drives her as an actress: “You have the fear. Maybe that’s why I keep on working. Because it will stop one day.”
The advice given to her by Matt Damon following her Oscar win: “He told me what a rush it was. I think his was the best advice. He said, ‘Enjoy it.'”
She was “adamant” about having Michael Fassbender by her side at the Oscars: “That wasn’t even a question. It felt like the right thing. We wanted to sit next to each other, simple as that. We wouldn’t have gone there and not sat together.”
That Fassbender bit is true – throughout the awards season, Fassbender and Vikander refused to walk red carpets together, but they always sat beside each other at the events. That was how they balanced their “privacy” as a couple versus supporting each other, although Fassy did skip out on a handful of big events during the season. Because A) he wasn’t winning anything anyway and B) he was working on Assassin’s Creed in Europe.
So, did you guys miss Vikander? Are you excited to see her in Jason Bourne? Here’s the trailer again:
Photos courtesy of Alasdair McLellan for Vogue UK.
I never liked Bourne movies. I think it’s ridiculous that hollywood keeps putting out sequels and remakes. But I do like alicia. She’s great! Just wish she was in something else.
I can’t wait for Matt back in the Bourne movie. I lost interest when he left. I’ll be there opening weekend.
I’m the opposite. I actually liked the Bourne movie with Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz better than the previous Matt Damon film. Seems like they’re doing the same movie over and over again.
@Minx, I didn’t know Rachel Weisz was in it. She’s one of my favorite actresses. I may have to rent it now that I know that.
I enjoyed the first 3, but had no desire to see another one, so it will come down to the reviews on this one . The fourth one wasn’t as well done, but I thought they had real potential to take those characters forward with a better director. A couple who were the same age, both very intelligent and capable working as a team, perhaps with her leading, to take down big corporations. That appeals more than the idea of yet another mythical ‘superman’ returning to save the day, with a couple of glamorous helpers – even if it takes them time to be won over those lovely ladies will eventually see how 100% naturally special he is.
@Minxx I liked Jeremy Renner’s Bourne film as well. It was a Bourne film but with Renner.
I loved all the Damon-led Bourne films. I’ll be there opening night to watch this one.
@All …
The Jeremy Renner film was ‘not’ a “Bourne” film, they just used the title of an Eric Von Lustbader novel to get butts in the theater seats. It was purposefully misleading and for the life of me I still don’t know why people who have actually ‘seen’ the film still insist on calling it a “Bourne” film when:
A) Jason Bourne ‘was not’ in the film … you can’t have a “Bourne” film without Jason Bourne
B) The lead character in “The Bourne Legacy” was a man named Aaron Cross
C) Aaron Cross was in a Defense Department program (probably the NSA) that nothing at all to do with either of the C.I.A. programs Treadstone or Blackbriar (the C.I.A. is a separate entity and is not under the Defense Department)
D) Jason Bourne was one of several highly skilled agents in Treadstone, a C.I.A. program in which ‘none’ of the assets popped pills to give them skills and enhanced I.Q’s … the Treadstone agents were selected because they already possessed those things
Why can’t people be happy with an Aaron Cross franchise starring Jeremy Renner? Why must they tie the film and character to Jason Bourne? There is absolutely no connection between the Jason Bourne universe and the Aaron Cross universe. Why can’t that be enough?
I Renner/Weiz film was the best of the bunch. Small appearance of Oscar Issacs who was sexy AF.
I really liked the Renner Bourne too. A little tired of Damon but that’s me. As for Vikander, I like this girl. I like this girl v v much (I like her boyfriend too!)
No! Overrated!
Yep, still my problem here. Also every time I see her in a spread or on a cover I feel like I’m sold something that I’m supposed to find cool and interesting but that really isn’t. Meh.
I totally agree.
I really like this girl and the way she believes in herself and her own agency. And I like the way she fronts it up in interviews. Asked a question. Gives an answer. And you get the impression she has very few effs to give. Just my kinda gal.
I love how confident and openly ambitious she is . She’s good ,she knows she’s good and she’s not here to play the false modesty game . I am stunned with how much this rubs some people( women) wrong .
I like her being confident, ambitious and focus, not playing the modesty game. The successes not easy for someone from a non-English as first language country. And also she is straight – forward and tries her best to answer questions and not the type. Love her style too – on and off duty.
I find her very boring and limited as an actress. Meryl Streep is good at her job, so are Rachel Weisz or Viola Davis. And they also come across as fully developed, genuinely great human beings, while Miss Vikander desperately lacks depth and charisma. Brie Larson has a heart and personality and it shows in every performance, even in a comedy. Same with Jennifer Lawrence (even though I think she’s way overexposed) . Personally, I sense something very manipulative in Alicia Vikander, which is hugely off-putting, especially when combined with her naked ambition. She’s not good, she’s just average, but she’s hungry, with good connections and an excellent PR team. I don’t have to love it and it’s not because I don’t like “strong women”.. on the contrary.
I don’t find her extremely charismatic or charming, but I also don’t find her annoying either. I’ve never really thought of her as hungry or thirsty — just going about and doing her business as required of her like any other actress. She might have a good PR team, but that doesn’t offend me — I don’t see the point in having a terrible one.
That Emily Ratjokwski (spelling?) — now that’s someone I find annoying, but to be fair, I guess you have to hustle with Kardashian when no one takes you seriously.
Yep.
@Minxxx I’m starting to think you mixed up Alicia for Ava.
YES! She seems like someone you could have an interesting conversation with and it comes across in interviews. I think she knows herself and what she’s capable of/good at and isn’t afraid to say it. Without having to be self-deprecating about it. That’s nice sometimes but there are only so many J.Law’s I can take. This is refreshing.
Exactly. I’m not even saying that I like everything she says, necessarily. But I REALLY like the cut of her jib – Here I am. This is what I’m like. You don’t like? Your loss. – I love that.
Littlemiss – I left you a comment in our conversation of yesterday.
I couldn’t reply to your second post, but I am the same way. Great if you like me, whatever if you don’t. I’m just curious as to how that works in Hollywood. You do need some charisma and likeability to sell yourself and movies. She tries, but it often comes off forced and not really her. People seem to like the fact that she believes her own hype, but I worry that doesn’t work well with a wider audience.
Thanks! I replied. And got carried away. I need some tea right now.
Agreed. While she hasn’t blown me away in everything she’s done (Deux was AMAZING and Oscar worthy, Danish Girl was not) I do love that she’s very take it or leave it. I can dig that. She hustled during awards season like everyone else and now she’s back to her status quo.
Sixer you are so right – she is upfront and honest about her ambition, all of which is super cool. That being said, there is something about her that makes me really dislike her, and to be honest, I have no idea why!! She just gets on my nerves somehow.
Oh well, will someone pass me a mojito? Maybe that will help
Exactly. And I think it’s because she’s not genuine, it’s all part of her pubic persona, especially the “I’m a strong, ambitious woman” message (while on the cover she always appears like a child or with a mouth wide open). She’s carefully managed and crafted by her team.
Snazzy – I think that’s my point really. She gives off a vibe of sure, it’s nice to be liked but if you don’t like me, that’s fine, I’m not particularly bothered. I’m a bit like that myself. Happy if people like me, perfectly understand it and completely unworried by it if they don’t. I’ll still carry on blithering on in my own likeable/dislikeable way. That’s probably why I like her!
I feel the same way. I applaud her ambition and her openess about it too. Probaby her ability to really go after what she wants makes her relatioship with fassbender work too. But I can’ t make my self like her (the same with the current main hollywood clown Tommy Hiddles) and I am not sure why. Somethi g just off or maybe she just comes off too dry and blant in everything that I saw her in. Just my impression. Like seeing her name in the movie titles I can’ t get excited about the movie.
Me too.Also love her ability to act flawlessly in 3 languages
I don’t think she is as amazing actress (yet) as her oscar leads you to believe ( although i didn’t see the performance she won for). I wasn’t super impressed by the performances ( very bland in a testament of youth, good in the danish movie with mikkelsen) i have seen.
But i don’t get the hate for her as a person, i really like her. She was on BBC womens hour and she was lovely, very engaging and funny.
Mira@ You’re so right, I understand the comments about her acting ability but with her it’s always seems very personal. And I still don’t see why.
I loved her in Testament of Youth and Ex Machina,but her debut in Pure still hasn’t been topped yet.
I like her too. Don’t get the hate at all.
I agree with Sixer. I love her confidence and ambition. At the same time she does not seem arrogant just self-assured. Let’s face it she must be self-assured if she is with Fassy. He seems to be all of these traits as well.
@ Emma – the JP Lover. Technically, Bourne was not an Eric Lustbader novel to begin with it was a Robert Ludlum creation. Lustbader only took over Ludlum’s novels after his death. Sorry, my inner “Hermione” could not be quiet on this point. LOL.
Yeah it’s true. Her and Brie they campaigned for their Oscars and then they dissappeared, either on movieset or doing their things out of the public eye. Good strategy.
Close your mouth, dear.
She can’t ever picture, magazine cover she has the same facial expression and always has her mouth open.
Sorry, no love for Vikander from me. She’s a one-note actress, unlike Brie Larson who’s the real deal. And I wish she’d close her mouth just once when shooting a cover.
We rented Room a couple of months ago. Wow, Brie was amazing in it, as was the little boy. I ended up watching the movie a second time after then reading some in-depth articles about how it was shot closed off in that room and all in sequence and how she worked with the little boy in important scenes. There were many things I then appreciated and noticed more the second time.
I liked Brie since 21 Jump street but I had no clue she’s so versatile and has so much empathy and depth. She blew me away in Room.
I just watched Room last night. I had mixed feelings about the movie but Brie’s performance was undeniably brilliant.
I’d never seen her in anything before…very impressed.
@Kitten You should Watch Short Term 12, she’s amazing.
Kitten, Short Term 12 is even better than Room (both in script and performance). It’s on Netflix.
Thanks guys. I’ll watch it tonight!
I don’t like her either, and I have no rational reason for my dislike. I can’t put my finger on it. I just don’t get the hype.
Yes…I really don’t get it…she is so boring to me as an actress, I really just can’t. She’s actually a reason for me to not watch a movie. I don’t have any strong feeling against her but she is sooooo unappealing and boring. I still don’t get it how she got an Oscar.
Though her interviews can be entertaining with all the smug and no real extraordinary talent.
Despite all that, I like the classy way she and Fassbender deal with their relationship. I do believe they try to stay private…
She has no charisma like Hillary Swank.
Actually, I don’t miss her period. She may have been out of the spotlight for the first 6 months until they were the usual photos of Michael and Alicia in Sydney spending time together like a normal “private” couple. So no I don’t miss her.
Yes! I am definitely primed for “Jason Bourne” on July 29th. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Meh. I find her fairly dull. She tries though.
I used to really like her (Yay Sweden!) but somehow she seemed smug in this interview. I don’t know why and I do think she’s talented, something just rubbed me the wrong way.
I still don’t like her because she is a arrogant. And I got attack for that because I don’t like her smug demeanor. When i have said, there is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but tell me how this sounds “I have worked so hard to achieve my goals, I am grateful for everything that has happen to me and I am looking forward to my future.” That tells me you are serious and you love what you do. She instead can’t wait for the awards and “lucky” breaks she gets.
All I am saying is that be grateful for everything you have.
Like her being confident , ambitious and focus. Oh….and she is hardworking. Also love her style on and off duty.
I like her. And after all the Tiddlescrap, I say hurrah for performers who are low-key about their relationships.
I’m excited for Bourne. I could take or leave Vikander, though I did think she was great in Ex Machina.
I like the Matt Damon Bourne movies because you can see the evolution from “normal face” to “pink, honey ham face”
Also AV seems a little too confident for someone who had to campaign for category fraud in order to avoid losing to Brie Larson. Although I suppose getting advice from MD, noted for his “comedic” work in The Martian, is especially fittin
When I first read the infamous Oscar interview I found it so damn jarring. But that was my internalised problems, not hers, and she went and got the Oscar. I adore her and her naked ambition. I wish more women were unapologetic about what they wanted and did not try and hide things behind pretentious modesty. I also very much do enjoy her as a actor.. though I think her later work is way better as I did not find her that much of a standout in Anna Karenina. I think I will start seeing Jason Bourne from this movie if she has enough of a role
I think both she and Brie are very talented, I don’t understand why women have to always be pitched against each other.
I’m sure it’s a total coincidence that so many of the people who think Alicia is untalented, stuck up, arrogant, manipulative, etc. etc. just happen to be Fassbender stans. *rollseyes*
maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.
I find her boring but Fassbender is also a bit boring for me…meh…Good looking yes but really talented? I don’t know…not in the Idris Elba kind of talent, that absorbs all attention. The only difference is that I would probably avoid a movie where she stars because my expectations are very low, while with him I would neither actively avoid nor seek to watch it. But well, I also find Leonardo DiCaprio boring, so I don’t know…different strokes for different folks and all that.
@minime. I found both Fassbender and Vilkander boring. Both are over rated, both are either controlled or controlling. Either both or one will not be around in 2-3 years time.
I have to admit I am a Michael Fassbender fan and I wished him all the best. Not once I said nothing out jealousy towards Alicia Vikander. She is stuck up and arrogant, I really don’t know about the manipulation and I never said she isn’t talented.
In conclusion, I do wish they love apart but that would make me an over zealous fan, but however I do wish him the best in his relationship with “twinkle toes”, because they both deserve each other.
How is she stuck up and arrogant ?
They give themselves away when they also criticize her because once in a blue moon the paparazzi catches her leaving a restaurant with her boyfriend.
And you came to this conclusion how? From what I have seen a lot of his fans like her and are giving her a chance because they are together. Yes there are a few crazies who have strong negative feelings about her, but people are allowed to not be interested in her without being lumped in with crazy fans who think she stole their man.
@ OriginallyBlue “And you came to this conclusion how?”
“Hmm kinda sad that after trying SO hard and winning a fricking Oscar she still needs to talk about her famous boyfriend to sound interesting. She’s so thirtsy, Hiddles level. It’s repulsive.” I think this comment answer your question.
Both Larson and Vikander are very talented but Alicia has more range imo. She was truly amazing in Pure.
She annoyed me until I saw The Danish Girl and now I love her. But that same movie made me want to punch Eddie Redmayne in the face.
I can’t with Eddie Redmayne…he’s all gimmick. I love Alicia since I saw her in Ex Machina. She’s a talented actress and upfront with her ambition. I think she’s very pretty but that cover is awful.
I too thought she was good in the danish girl, and I’ve liked her and a few other things I’ve seen her in as well.
Have to agree about Eddie though. If I see him in just one movie, his performance usually seems very good, but then when you look at the whole of his work, it does seem sort of gimmicky and a bit too much. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I feel like he needs to do some ordinary roles or take some time off to balance out the other stuff.
Hmm kinda sad that after trying SO hard and winning a fricking Oscar she still needs to talk about her famous boyfriend to sound interesting. She’s so thirtsy, Hiddles level. It’s repulsive.
Fassbender and Vikander are hardly photographed together. She’s no where near being Hiddleston thirsty.
You’re right, no one’s like Hiddleston. If you think that they are not photographed together though, you’re wrong. She’s following him constantly on sets and EVERY time she’s with him there are pap photos. When he’s alone, nothing. She is really thirsty, you’re just not following their relatioship.
@anon – No wonder you’re anon.
I’d be anon too if I came out with such bitter, twisted garbage.
@Anon Hmm no. You do realize that they must spend lots of time together, in Uruguay, Spain, Sweden, France and of course they live in London, but strangely no pictures. And she follows her boyfriend on set, the crime ! Unless you’re a fan or an instagram stalker you don’t know what they do.
I would want the pattern for the wooly cardigan she is wearing in the second picture.
That’s what I got.
I think what rubs me the wrong way about her, for me, is her voice. It’s the way things are pronounced, and her cadence. It is off putting.
Why did they photograph her in shadows? Terrible.
That’s stupid.
That’s my strongest opinion, too: those photos are absolutely terrible. I don’t understand modern cover photography. They always talk such a big talk about how much thought goes into the shoot, and then they turn up disappointing pictures more often than not. I understand breaking the rules is fun, but if some amateur took those pictures, s/he get blasted for not filling in the shadows. There’s just nothing in the photos that, to me, justifies that choice or makes it compelling.
Something still feels odd about her relationship with Fassbender when he was totally different with Nicole Beharie.
I saw her in Danish Girl and was unimpressed. The only movie I saw her in was a foreign flick A Royal Affair where she stood out. Maybe she should stick to non-English movies.
They’re a lot of actors who are better in their native language, Pure her swedish film is in my opinion her best performance. As for their Relationship I think the main difference is Alicia’s highter profile, no offence to Nicole.
Alicia’s higher profile, and because Fassy learned a lot during his 2011-2012 breakthrough about being in the spotlight and made some big changes.
I like her. She was amazing in “Ex Machina” and “The Royal Affair.” I am hoping that the film version of “The Light Between Oceans” is better than the novel, which was so-so. And also that she and Fassbender bring the heat! I love me some Fassy.
She needs to lighten up and stop taking herself so seriously.
I just can’t get into Vikander style of acting. She is just to dull to me. I like Lawrence because she has so much spirit on and off the screen. But to me Vikander open ambitious nature is just that. She is no different from any other actresses who try to be the best. She is a foreign girl, so American media will not go crazy and overexposed her image. But I felt her Oscar win didn’t create big waves for her. Maybe this Bourne film will show more different sides to her besides emotional dry drama.
Really? Just about every movie I’ve seen with Lawrence has her portraying emotionally stunted, withdrawn, downright depressed characters (SLP, Selena, The Burning Plain, heck, even her breakout role of Hunger games, she’s pretty much perpetually depressed/sad/scared). I see no spirit in her acting whatsoever, unless occasional yelling is “spirit”.
I saw the Hunger Games and yes her character was sad and depress but deremind and strong willed. Also willing to sacrifice all to help others. Her spirit comes out during interviews were she is a goofy girl. Honestly Jlaw doesn’t take herself to seriously and I respect that. She is equally ambitious as Vikander but I feel, for Lawrence her accomplishment came naturally while Vikander had to plan to ensure some level of success.
I really like her openness. Our tabloid press would tear apart any British actress who tried for any tone other than self-deprecating humility. I can’t rag on someone for proclaiming that they’re going to win an Oscar if they then go on to do exactly that! While I find her a little bland as an actress, I admire anyone who can perform confidently in 3 different languages.
can’t wait.
Here for Bourne 5 (technically the real 4).
As for that Renner abomination, they lost me at Renner. Just can’t with that guy.
Happy AV is in this one.
I LOVE Matt as Bourne. Can’t wait!