CraveOnline: Did you ever meet the real Sorina?
Bar Paly: No, I haven’t but I spoke to the writer of the original article that the movie’s based on and he told me basically that he was witness to her testimonies in court. It was very interesting. It was very interesting to hear because from what I understood, when the testimonies would happen, because this was a very long trial, the courtroom would always be half empty or almost empty. Whenever the real character of Sorina would come to testify, it was full of people. Everybody just wanted to see it.
Not for the actual defendants?
Right, right. She was the main attraction. I guess we touch upon it in the film a little. We can see how her testimonies went.
What sort of doors has Pain & Gain opened for you in the industry?
Well, I shot already two more films. One is called Non-stop with Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore. Another one’s called Million Dollar Arm with Jon Hamm, so I guess some doors did open.
Were those both as a result of Pain & Gain?
I don’t know if it was a direct result of Pain & Gain. I went to auditions and somehow won those roles, but I definitely think that, like I said, my strong side and what I really, really like doing is comedy and I think people don’t expect it per se from somebody who looks like me. I think they were able to see it in Pain & Gain and hopefully like it. I think that definitely made people more aware of the type of actress that I am or want to be.
Those two movies sound very serious. Do you get to do any comedy in them?
In Million Dollar Arm, yes, it’s a funny role.
Non-Stop looks really exciting. What do you get to play in that?
I get to play a model who is traveling with an older boyfriend who is also a photographer. We have some kind of secret going on, and it’s a thriller with Liam Neeson and the whole movie happens on a plane.
Is there a lot of action on that plane?
Oh, there is action, yes, definitely.
What do you play in Million Dollar Arm?
I play Jon Hamm’s girlfriend.
He’s very funny also, even though we know him from “Mad Men.” Did he have any comedy advice for you?
No, not really. We just improvised a little, played around with the scene. It was a lot of fun. He’s a funny guy.
What were some of the movies that made you want to be an actor when you saw those performances?
I definitely am a huge fan of everything Goldie Hawn ever did. I adore her and I guess I really gravitate towards those kind of characters. But then there is Forrest Gump and all the great Spielberg movies. I adore so many but I think I grew up on those old movies, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like it Hot, because that’s what my parents would watch. I think that’s when I fell in love with the fantasy, beautiful clothes, makeup, the kind of innocence that was happening back then. That’s who we have to blame for what’s happening to me right now. [Laughs]
What are your favorite Goldie Hawn movies?
I love Butterflies are Free. I think that’s one of my favorites. I just really want to play that character one of these days.
Fred Topel is a staff writer at CraveOnline and the man behind Shelf Space Weekly. Follow him on Twitter at @FredTopel.
