Palmer lights up Hollywood

They say when one door closes, another one opens and that was certainly the case when George Miller's Justice League movie was cancelled just a few weeks into rehearsals. Adelaide actress Teresa Palmer (above) was to play super villain Talia al Ghul in the superhero mash-up alongside Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman. Although she was `devastated', the weeks in rehearsal gave her the opportunity to bond with American actor Jay Baruchel, who is best known for roles in Knocked Up and Tropic Thunder.
``It was fortunate for me because I got to know Jay. . .and when we did a chemistry test for The Sorcerer's Apprentice we had already worked together and I got the part,'' says the 24-year-old.
``It's very surreal actually; I never expected to be in a Jerry Bruckheimer film starring across from Nicolas Cage.''

The film sees physics nerd Dave (Jay Baruchel) recruited as the new apprentice to master sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Cage) in a battle to save New York City from the evil Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Palmer plays Dave's love interest, Becky, and says the shoot was a unique opportunity to get to know some Hollywood heavyweights, especially Cage.
``Nic is very intriguing person, he has so many layers to his personality - he's funny, delightful, interesting, quirky and so off the beaten track,'' she says.
``And he's just a funny character because he's really intense and quite humourous, and can be quite serious.''

It is the third big Hollywood role for Palmer, after The Grudge 2 and Bedtime Stories, as well as parts in Australian films such as 2: 37 and December Boys alongside Daniel Radcliffe. She says her growing popularity overseas is largely thanks to the work of other Australian actors.
``Americans have really embraced the Australians,'' she says.
``It might have something to do with the wonderful actors before us like Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, and Naomi Watts, who helped paved the way because they were so focussed and wonderful in their work.
``It opened the doors for us.''

Doors are continuing to open for Palmer, who just finished shooting romantic comedy Kids In America (alongside boyfriend Topher Grace) and the Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg produced blockbuster I Am Four. Set on Earth, the alien action film is new territory for Palmer, who says she got to do her own stunts and `play an alien who kicks major bad-alien butt'.
``We're getting pursued by the bad aliens, but my character is sick of running away so she turns around and the hunters become the hunted.
``I got to do my own stunts and I had someone film this one amazing stunt I did.
``I was attached to a harness which was attached to a 60 foot crane and when they said action I had to run and the harness, that was attached to just my leg, would pull me back and I would go flying 60 feet up in the air.
``I had to act like this huge alien, a Piken, was pulling me up and I would be kicking and screaming and trying to stab it with this dagger.''
Palmer is set to make a return to Australian film when she stars alongside Joel Edgerton in Nothing To Say, which begins filming later this year. In the meantime, she is travelling to Africa with charity organisation The Happy Africa Foundation to film a documentary on their work at an orphanage.The documentary will be Palmer's directorial debut, but that doesn't mean she's giving up acting anytime soon.
``Directing, well I'm so interested in filmmaking and philanthropic and this is a nice way to merge it all together,'' she says.
``I'm going to dip my toes in the water with it and hopefully I will be good at it, but I always want to keep acting.
``I'm so ecliptic in every aspect of myself, in my clothes, my taste of music and my taste of film, that I'm all over the shop.
``I love comedy, action, romance, drama, I don't have one specific genre and by being willing to try anything it keeps you mentally stimulated.
``Hopefully I will be able to keep doing that with my career.''

Speaking of career, Hollywood is the graveyard for many a promising young star, with fame and fortune corrupting the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Kirsten Dunst and Winona Ryder, to name a few. But Palmer, who has been based in Los Angeles for several years now, is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
“Hollywood can be a very addictive drug and it can be a very dangerous world,” she says.
“There are ways to avoid it and sympathise with actors who have peaked early then spiralled out of control.
“It’s an easy thing to happen if don’t have good judgement and aren’t protected by your managers and agents.
“For me it’s surreal to meet these actors and filmmakers that you’ve looked up to for so long.
“I recognise how lucky and blessed I am and I would never take it for granted.
“It keeps me grounded, especially in Hollywood when there is so much temptation.”

It would be easy to let all the recent success go to her head, but Palmer says her friends help her keep a grasp on reality.
“I don’t let work define who I am,” she says.
“I have work and then I have my life.
“I find it relatively easy because I only work for six months of the year then you have rest of time off hanging with friends.
“When I’m working I stay in touch with them through Skype.
“As soon as they call action I’m creating a character, but when they call cut, I go home and I step back into myself.
“A lot of actors do method acting and that doesn’t really work for me.
“I just try to switch off at the door and when I come home for the day I be myself and enjoy life.”

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is out on Thursday. You can watch my video review of the film HERE. Note how I have fulfilled my journalistic ambitions by slipping in the phrase `bat-shit crazy’. Hooray!