Just Leoni's cup of Tea

The movie is about the way our lives would turn out differently if we took another path. My character, Kate, was finely written, with little scope for ad-libbing.

But what scared me about the script was my psychotic reaction to some of the scenes. On the page Kate sounded to me like a nag, but I didn't see that as a part of Kate's character. I needed to find something that would work for me.

Usually by the second script reading I begin to hear my character's voice. This may sound like thespian crap, but it's true. I was horridly wrong with Kate. My take on her was wrong from the start. So I had my own little private battle going on as to how I wanted all this to come off.

What worked was the relationship with Nicolas Cage's character, Jack. Nic is someone I've always wanted to work with, but my screen test with him felt barbaric - screen tests usually do. There is no director to guide you, no information is given and so you can't really have any ideas about the film you're being asked to make.

The classic line is: "It's somewhere between Schindler's List and The Grinch." "Well OK!" On the one hand the casting directors want you to get the part - but on the other, you don't know what they're looking for. So you're aware that you're not likely to get the part! In this instance the screen test was easy. By some stroke of luck, we all seemed to be on the same page, as they say.

I don't know how someone can fail when they work with Nic. He's generous and actually listens to you - he takes the focus away from himself. Nic makes you feel like you're the only person in the room. It's like playing tennis with a better player than yourself, your game tends to come up. I was not surprised that I got the part because Nic can make a mouse look good!