A species of her own

With a starring role in next year’s The Bronx Bull—the unofficial sequel to Raging Bull— Natasha Henstridge continues to prove she is much more than “just” a sci-fi chick.

By Popi Bowman (copy) & Kourosh Keshiri (photos)

022 / inspire / Audi magazine Audi magazine / 023 But Henstridge tends to be someone who looks at the glass half-full: “I’ve been very lucky. I’ve never been out of work—it’s so rare in my business,” she reflects. “You can always look back and think: I should have, would have, could have, but everything’s an experience and part of your growth. It makes you who you are, and you learn from those things.” After a few hits and misses, there’s a strong possibility that next year’s film about “Raging Bull” boxing champ Jake LaMotta—starring several big-name actors such as Paul Sorvino and Joe Mantegna—will finally catapult Henstridge’s name onto the Hollywood A-list. However, she’s already proven that she has the charisma and raw talent to make it to the top, winning an MTV Movie Award for best kiss (in Species) and a Gemini award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (in Would Be Kings, the T.V. miniseries). When asked what the highlights of her career have been, Henstridge explains that—while winning the Gemini award was “amazing”—the best moments have been when she feels that her work has affected someone deeply: “Particularly when the people who are around this all the time—a crew member, the producer, the director— “ I ’ ve been very lucky. I’ ve never been say, ‘Wow, that was great, I loved it when you did that!’ The other day, for instance, I went to an audition and out of work—it’ s so rare in my business.” when I finished, the producer was in tears, and she said, ‘Oh my, you made me cry!’ She had a tear running down her face.” Then Henstridge laughs: “But I haven’t heard a thing. That’s the life! I’m going, ‘This thing is mine, Natasha Henstridge started her career at an age when admits. “I think around the time of Commander in Chief I can’t wait to hear the offer,’ and then you don’t hear most people barely know what they want to do in life— [2005-06], with Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland, a thing for two weeks.” after leaving her family in Fort McMurray, Alberta, at people began thinking of me as being able to play As a Canadian in Hollywood, Henstridge admits 14 years old to pursue a modeling opportunity in Paris, a grown, smart woman—it’s been a great gift!” there are some clear differences between the countries, she has been working steadily for a quarter of a century. Another of her best-known roles was in the most notably: “Politeness, being nice to people—that’s It may sound like a long time, but she’s not shy to admit mobster comedy, The Whole Nine Yards, with Bruce just a basic Canadian quality.” She describes herself the fact. Henstridge is comfortable with being a “mature” Willis and Matthew Perry. Most recently Henstridge as a tomboy who “loves the outdoors much more than woman. In truth, after being known as a sci-fi sex symbol starred in the indie comedy film Should’ve Been Romeo my L.A. counterparts,” and is a “real homebody” who for most of her life, she admits that it’s almost a relief (with Kelly Osborne, Michael Rapaport and Ed Asner), she loves to cook dinner for her family. After a short to play roles where she’s not expected to show her skin. appeared on CSI Miami and she was featured in a handful interruption to our phone call, Henstridge explains that She might not be a household name—yet—but of extremely popular T.V. series, several of which she’s in the car with her husband, Darius Campbell- mention Henstridge’s starring role in the 1995 movie (including Eli Stone, with Jonny Lee Miller) didn’t see Danesh—a singer who gained fame in 2001 on the British Species, and recognition is almost guaranteed. If you more than a season or two before being cancelled. When talent competition, Popstars—to pick up her two sons for haven’t seen Species, you’re missing out on one of the asked about these disappointments, Henstridge explains, a game. If she had to name a favourite hobby, it’s being most seductive aliens on film. Her first opportunity to “It’s tough, but it’s par for the course. If you can’t take with her family: “I love it! I’m sitting outside my son’s work in movies, the role catapulted Henstridge into the punches, you’re in the wrong business.” football practice at the moment. We like playing all kinds Hollywood—and into the dreams of many men. At the The series cancellation that most affected her of sports, we love to snowboard, go to the beach and play time, when she was only 19 years old, Henstridge had was Eli Stone: “It was one that hurt the most for Frisbee, body surf, boogie board, kayak, hike.” grown bored of modeling, even after several successful everybody that was part of the show—but network Travel is another of Henstridge’s hobbies, dating years. When she landed the part, she jumped at the chance television is so temperamental, it’s like a 14-year-old back to childhood memories of road trips across Canada. to move to Los Angeles, where Henstridge still lives today. hormonal girl. Everybody’s constantly struggling “I love to drive, actually,” she gushes. And, for a few days Since her breakthrough role, there isn’t a single to be the latest, greatest, and sell the most advertising. after the Audi photoshoot, Henstridge was able to borrow year that Henstridge hasn’t had a project in production— On Eli Stone, I think we were getting around 8 million the RS 5 that she’s photographed with: “We were feeling but it hasn’t been easy to break free from the “sexy it-girl” viewers, and they were like, ‘oh God, this could pretty flashy in that car—you can’t believe the looks that you image that she was first known for. “People forget be trouble, this could be bad,’ and Mad Men was getting get, and people are really impressed by it. It’s a really fine sometimes that you do get really pigeonholed in this about 1 million viewers at the time, but it was the talk piece of machinery, it handled amazing, and it’s just a gor- business—you play one or two things and they think that’s of the town and winning Emmys. So the difference geous ride!” Coincidentally, the RS series also dates back all you can do. So it’s nice when you get the opportunity to between being on AMC or cable versus being on one to the mid-90s, when Henstridge’s career in Hollywood show that you actually are an actress and you can play of the big networks is very different. It’s always a little began. And they have another feature in common: Both Stylist: Nicole Janowicz, Rex Agency; Makeup: Noel J Nichols, Rex Agency; Hair: AnhCo Tran, Rex Agency; Agency; Rex Tran, Agency; Hair: AnhCo Rex Noel J Nichols, Agency; Makeup: Stylist: Nicole Janowicz, Rex other roles. Especially if you have good writers!” she iffy—we could be gone next week.” A.L.C.; pants: talent owned; shoes: BCBG; necklace: Judith Ripkin. jacket: Sachin Babi; (opposite) dress: page) Alice + Olivia; (this dress: (opener) Henstridge and the RS have become even better over time. //

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