Q&A;: Jessica Alba

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Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba expands her action repertoire, playing the hottest immigration agent to ever flash a badge in Robert Rodriguez's slash-'em-up Machete . Time spoke to Alba about her Mexican heritage and her killer shoes.

You take out a guy with a stiletto heel in Machete . Was that your first shoe kill?
I believe I did something with shoes in Dark Angel , but not like this. In real life I've definitely killed bugs with shoes, for sure.

Which designer makes the best weapon?
I think I had Pradas in the movie. They were pretty good. Louboutins are good. They're both spiky. Maybe Gucci.

Killer shoe fight: you vs. Lady Gaga. Who takes it?
She can dance way better than me. But in a fight sequence I might take her. She has big heels, but I might be able to move faster.

What's your death total?
In my movies? Or in my life?

Let's start with real life, how many bodies out there are your responsibility ?
In real-life, I'm zero for zero. But in my actor life, I've taken down a few people. In this movie, I had my moment with Machete (Danny Trejo) after we were in bed together. But I probably killed the least amount of people in the film.

Did you lobby Robert Rodriguez for more killing time?
It wasn't about the killing. I just wanted to do some action.

And how's the mustache?
What do you mean? I was just like, Do I have a mustache right now? I thought I took care of that.

No, Danny Trejo's mustache. You kiss him.
I guess it tickled, I didn't pay that much attention to it. Actually, it itches.

You were really tapping into the Mexican-American part of your ancestry in this movie.
My mother is French and Danish, my father is Mexican-American. That's the culture I identify with the most. My comfort food at home isn't biscuits and gravy. It's enchiladas and tacos.

If the Arizona immigration law is enforced, would you avoid the state?
I would advise my family against driving through Arizona. And my husband, who is African American and white but looks Latino.

You hit the tequila in Machete . How are your drunk acting skills?
It's always a little weird, because when I'm drunk, I never act drunk. I just say things I probably shouldn't say. But my character drunk is funny because she's straight-laced and I assume she doesn't drink a lot of tequila.

Have you ever considered a career in law enforcement?
No, but it was fun to play a person of the law. It's bizarre, I've always kind of been scared of cops. But I did have fun having a gun. And a holster and a badge. And sirens.

For a cop you squealed a lot in your shoot-out scene.
That was my idea. I was sincerely in the moment. If people are shooting at your head and blasting into your house when you're dead asleep, what do you do?

The film promises not only a second Machete but a third as well. Have you already signed on?
I think it's assumed. When you are in one Robert Rodriguez movie and he asks you again, you jump.