Jumping from making Blonde to Bond was “a very strange transition,” she adds. “It’s so different. … I’ve never done an action movie, and I must have underestimated what these kinds of movies are, but I must say I’m really impressed,” de Armas says. “Man, it’s really hard. The training, to stay true to the kind of movie, to the tone. Everything takes so long, so your energy level, when you’re waiting, goes down. And then you’re suddenly on set and you have to start killing people or kicking people. And it’s in high heels!”
It helps to have dialogue written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who was called in to amp up the screenplay. “Lucky me, all my scenes were written by Phoebe,” de Armas says. “My dialogue and the energy of my character really comes through like Phoebe comes through. The woman I’m portraying is different [than previous Bond girls]. It has some bubbles in it. It’s really fresh and exciting.”
Of visiting Pinewood Studios near London for a tour with Bond director Cary Fukunaga, de Armas says, “I walked into the office and Cary was having a writers’ meeting and Phoebe was in the meeting. I’ve never blushed so hard. I couldn’t even speak. I just went, ‘Oh my God, oh my God, I love you, I love you. I want to be your friend!’” They are not yet BFFs, however. “Maybe one day,” de Armas says with a laugh.