If there are two people who know how to swear up a storm in the movies, it’s Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds – just look at their performances in Pulp Fiction and the Deadpool movies, respectively, for the power of their profanity in full flow. And so, sharing the screen with the pair of them in a foul-mouthed action-comedy like upcoming sequel Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard means embracing all kinds of F-bombs and flowery linguistics – as Salma Hayek found out. She’s Sonia, the titular ‘wife’ of Jackson’s character in the sequel to 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard, teaming up with the pair for an action-comedy of fiery fights and explosive dialogue.
The swearing was something Hayek wholeheartedly embraced. “But it comes with a problem,” she tells Empire in the new issue, on sale now (and available to order online here). “I started doing the same in real life. The worst part is that the movie was over and I’ve had to watch myself, pull myself back. I’m like, ‘I have to let Sonia go.’” It’s something that didn’t always prove easy – and made for some awkward exchanges as she tried to shake her role. “I’d be in situations and go, ‘Oh, motherfucker!’ One time I swore in front of my daughter and I was like, ‘I’m so sorry, it’s not me – it’s the character!’”
Check out the brand new Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard trailer, which has just dropped today.
Read Empire’s full interview with Salma Hayek talking Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard in the new issue, on sale now – and catch the film in UK cinemas from 23 June.