The Descent: Star Natalie Mendoza
By: Elaine Lamkin

With an astounding background in musical theater, including appearances in Baz Luhrman’s “Moulin Rouge” and “South Pacific” with Glenn Close and Harry Connick, Jr., Hong Kong-born, Australian-raised actor Natalie Mendoza never thought she would be in a horror film. Taking the pivotal role of Juno in writer/director Neil Marshall’s horrifying new movie, “The Descent”, as a way to pay her school loans off, she looked at the project as a lot of fun and an opportunity to put all of her dance training to good use. She had no idea what a “monster” the film would become. On the eve of the film’s US theatrical release, Bloody-Disgusting had the opportunity to speak with the bubbly, girlish, enthusiastic actor with the soft Australian accent about her amazing good luck.

BD: Hello Natalie and congratulations on the success “The Descent” has already had in the UK. How does that feel?

NM: It’s all so amazing! I went to a fancy dress party not long ago and someone there was dressed as Juno. I couldn’t believe it!

BD: You have an extensive background in musical theater – how did you get involved in “The Descent”?

NM: I had already done a lot of theater and films when I decided to get some formal training so I went to England, to The Old Vic where people like Daniel Day Lewis trained. Just as I graduated, my agent sent me the script for “The Descent” and I thought it would help pay off my student debts (laughs). I had NO idea how brilliant Neil Marshall was or how big the film would be! When I went for my audition, I dressed completely different from my normal ribbons and bows style and wore cargo pants, boots – I went AS Juno and that seemed to seal it for Neil.

BD: How would you describe Juno?

NM: Juno is feisty, confident, cocky to a fault, she leaps before she thinks which obviously ends up getting everyone in serious trouble. I think a lot of that confidence is what made her so attractive to Paul, Sarah’s husband.

BD: The piton-placing scenes that you, Saskia Mulder and MyAnna Buring have are so painful to watch. How much of that was really you?

NM: That was all me. We had a stunt coordinator but I had done stunt training in school so our coordinator knew I could do it. We were in a huge studio, they shot “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” there, and we were quite high up in the air but there were huge crash pads under us. I remember when I did that scene, it felt as though I had pulled my arm out of my socket.

BD: I know you must have answered this question a million times already, but your reaction the first time you see the Crawlers – is it true that Neil did not let you all see the actors playing them until the first reveal?

NM: It’s true Neil didn’t want us to see the Crawlers beforehand but I was buying into my character’s attitude, “Oh, we won’t be scared, we’re actors”. But the first time we all saw that first Crawler, it looked like a tall, naked man and we all just screamed and ran around the set. What you see on the screen is an honest reaction – Neil just made some cuts so you don’t see us when we all ran OFF the set to get away from them (laughs).

BD: You have an extremely physical fight scene with the Crawlers, several in fact. How banged up were you from doing those scenes?

NM: We shot the film in sequence so the more bruised and bloody we got, the better. I didn’t use a double in my fight scenes – again, with my training, the stunt coordinator said I could handle it. So I got to fight this grown man and the floor of that set had this “sand” covering it, but the sand was really like small pebbles so my arms were just shredded, I was bruised all over and my muscles were just burnt out.

BD: How did you and your fellow actors get along offset? Was there that camaraderie that the viewer sees early on in the cabin scenes?

NM: Totally! I had always felt like a student in the past and here I was, getting to work with these five wonderful actors who were my age. There were absolutely no egos! And we have all stayed in touch – we’ll get together and have a beer when we’re able.

BD: What would you tell people who haven’t seen “The Descent” yet?

NM: It’s petrifying! Insanity, claustrophobia…words just can’t do it justice. You just have to jump on the roller coaster and go for the ride (laughs).

BD: How was it working for Neil Marshall?

NM: He is brilliant, such a laugh! He’s so quiet but has this wonderfully twisted mind. One of us would be doing something really gory and he would just be loving every minute of it. And for an actor, he was wonderful – he would really just let us develop our characters and go for it.

BD: There has been a lot of talk about the UK ending and the different US ending. Do you have any opinion on that?

NM: I personally love the UK ending but I know Neil did several endings and they both tested well. I think the US ending leaves a lot open for interpretation as well as perhaps (laughs) a sequel?

BD: What are some of your favorite horror movies?

NM: I really have never been a fan of horror movies – I just get too frightened. But Neil had us watch “Alien”, “The Shining”, “Deliverance”, some of the films he references in “The Descent”. I must say I really have a new appreciation for horror movies now.

BD: What is one thing no one knows about Natalie Mendoza that you think they should know?

NM: Oh wow…hmmm…well, I do like to keep a large part of myself unknown. Let me think. I suppose “Bessie Ballerina” stills lies dormant in me (laughs). Oh! And I LOVE dark chocolate! Do you want to know a secret? Dark chocolate is delicious in chili. Really, it’s wonderful.