Meet Alex Lombard. She’s an up-and-coming actress in the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter film by director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted). She plays Gabrielle, the love interest of Henry Sturgess (Dominic Cooper), a 900-year old vampire who trains Abraham Lincoln the ways of vampire hunting. I had the opportunity to talk to the lovely Alex Lombard, so check out our interview below.

Nerd Reactor: Alex, How are you?

Alex Lombard: I’m good. I’m excited about the movie coming out.

NR: Tell us about your role in the movie.

Alex Lombard: I play a character called Gabrielle, and she’s the girlfriend of Henry Sturgess who’s played by Dominic Cooper. Henry takes the young Abraham Lincoln under his wing and teaches him about the ways of being a vampire hunter.

NR: So Henry Sturgess is a good vampire?

Alex Lombard: Yeah, he’s a good vampire. In this world there are good and bad vampires, so he teaches him how to hunt down the bad ones.

NR: What’s it like being in a big-budget Hollywood movie like this?

Alex Lombard: I’ve appeared in Inception, so I’m somewhat familiar with doing big-budget movies, which is fun. But I love doing period pieces, so for me this is such a great experience.

NR: What is it about period works that you like?

Alex Lombard: I really love dressing up. I think it helps transport you into another time and place. I love the escapism quality that period pieces bring. It’s loads of fun.

NR: Have you read the book?

Alex Lombard: I found out about it when I got booked and read it in its entirety. It’s such a great book, and I’m so excited that they’re making it into a movie. Seth Graham, who wrote the book, also adapted it.

NR: You’re way ahead of me. I haven’t even started the book.

Alex Lombard: Oh, you have to catch up. Are you going to see the movie first or read the book?

NR: I’m the type of person that likes to watch the movie first.

Alex Lombard: That’s interesting. Most people are the opposite.

NR: So you’re more of the book first type.

Alex Lombard: Yes, I’m the book first type. I like to see how the source material is adapted to the screen. So even when I watch it with sound, I watch it with subtitles. I sort of imagine that I’m reading the sides. It’s so interesting to me to see how the writer is writing, or how the actor is actually interpreting the words. Sometimes I’ll play a little game with myself, and I’ll be like, “Okay, this is my scene. I just read this, how would I act it?” So to see their interpretation of it is really cool. It drives most people who I watch movies with crazy when I have subtitles on, but I think I can learn so much when doing it that way though.

NR: Did you get to do any stunts?

Alex Lombard: No, but I wish I had; maybe next time. I think that would’ve super fun. Timur is the master of amazing action.

NR: Especially in the movie Wanted.

Alex Lombard: Yeah, I know. That was one of my favorites. I loved that movie.

NR: What projects would you like to do after Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?

Alex Lombard: I probably will stay in the period genre. That seems to be my niche. Not that I wouldn’t be open to do other things.

NR: Maybe we’ll get to see a spinoff with other presidents? Maybe George Washington: Zombie Hunter?

Alex Lombard: Well Seth Graham wrote Pride, Prejudice, and Zombie, so I think they’ve got the zombie thing covered. It’s so funny because somebody came up to me and said, “What’s the name of this movie? Is it Abraham Lincoln and Frankenstein?”

NR: Yeah, I’m actually looking forward to the movie. I mean, it’s Abraham Lincoln hunting vampires. That just sounds bad ass.

Alex Lombard: It does, doesn’t it? Making him an action hero, that’s pretty cool.

NR: So what was it like working with Dominic Cooper?

Alex Lombard: He was great. He did everything to make me feel super comfortable. He was such a dream to work with and was well spoken, smart, charming, and a really nice guy. I really can’t say enough good things about him.

NR: I loved him in Captain America. Would you like to be in superhero movies in the future?

Alex Lombard: Sure, I would love that. It’s a really fun genre. That would be amazing.

NR: Since we are Nerd Reactor, do you have any geeky hobbies or traits?

Alex Lombard: I am a total geek, but I’m trying to think of what geeky things I did. I know that everybody who knows me thinks I’m a nerd, but I don’t know [laughs]. Oh hey, I have worn a Casio calculator watch since I was probably 12. Does that count?

NR: That definitely counts.

Alex Lombard: That’s kind of nerdy, right? Somebody asked me, “Did you just wear this watch so that guys can ask you about your watch?”

I’m like, “No, I use every function of this watch every single day.” I literally feel naked without it. I’m addicted to my calculator watch.

NR: You were in Inception. I don’t think I remember your character in it.

Alex Lombard: My character, for the most part, got pretty much cut out [laughs]. The cool thing about Inception was that I actually get to be on set with Christopher Nolan. It was super locked down and super secretive. Just being able to spend some time on that set was really cool.

NR: If I were to watch the movie right now, I would not be able to find you?

Alex Lombard: You know, somebody called me and they said, “Oh, you’re at this minute and this hour.” It was so sweet. I can’t believe they actually figured it all out. You might have a tough time.

NR: That means you really had a small role.

Alex Lombard: It happens all the time. You never really know until you see the movie. Actors, as soon as they get the part, they’re like, “Oh my god! I hope I don’t get fired.” And after they actually shoot their parts, they think, “Oh my god! I hope I don’t get cut out of the movie.” It’s all about what serves the project at the end of the day. It’s a much bigger machine with all these parts coming together. If it works, they keep you in and it’s great. If it doesn’t, it happens all the time. Like I said, I was really excited to be a part of it, and my name is in the credit. Hey, I’ll take it.

NR: That’s awesome, especially in a Christopher Nolan movie. Any last words?

Alex Lombard: Just go see the movie. Have an awesome time, and I hope everybody really loves it. I think they’ll be in for a really fun ride.

NR: It’s been a pleasure talking to you.

Alex Lombard: Awww, thank you so much.

See Alex Lombard in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in theaters on June 22, 2012.

John “Spartan” Nguyen

John “Spartan” Nguyen is the editor-in-chief at Nerd Reactor and is based in Orange County, CA. He is a graphic designer and illustrator.

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