'From Russia With Love': All About Eva
GameSpy: What got you interested in playing the role of Eva for James Bond 007: From Russia With Love?
Maria Menounos: To be honest, I never thought about doing a video game before. But when Electronic Arts approached me, it was all just right. To be a Bond girl next to Sean Connery was really exciting. I had also never done any voiceover work before, but it was something I was eager to learn.
GameSpy: Did the fact that she's a bad girl make the role more or less appealing to you?
Maria Menounos: I wouldn't say it really made much of a difference. It was fun, it was a lot of fun to play her, but it wasn't a deal breaker.
GameSpy: Are you bummed out that she doesn't have a pun-y name like Pussy Galore, Dr. Holly Goodhead, or Alotta Fagina?
Maria Menounos: It didn't bother me at all. It looks like it bothered you, though.
GameSpy: A little, but then I couldn't really come up with one that was any good. All I came up with was Eva Haveathreesome, Eva Loveyoulongtimeagoria, and Eva Ifyouwerethelastmanonearth.
Maria Menounos: Ha! No, I think Eva is a cool name for her.
GameSpy: You're of Greek descent. Is Eva?
Maria Menounos: Eva doesn't exactly have an origin that we name. Though I did give her an accent, a Greek-Russian kind of hybrid, because I didn't want anyone to be able to place her.
GameSpy: Does she speak any Greek in the game?
Maria Menounos: No.
GameSpy: If she did, how would she say, "No Mr. Bond ... I expect you to die." in Greek?
Maria Menounos: "Ohi, kirie Bond ... thelo na pethanis."
GameSpy: Unlike some actors who appear in video games, you're not just doing your character's voice, they're modeling your character after you as well. Did this make you want to do this more or less?
Maria Menounos: No because the character actually grew from what I originally agreed to. Originally, I was just going to do her voice, but when I came in with my idea for an accent, they really liked it and starting expanding the character. So then we did the face recognition stuff, we got the costume and a gun, and filmed the opening sequence.
GameSpy: What did you think of the outfit you had to wear? Would you ever wear something like that in real life?
Maria Menounos: I never thought I'd wear something fully skin tight like that. It was a little awkward because I was up on this little stage, by myself, and there were like fifty sets of eyes on me. But then I got into character and pretended no one was there, and it was okay.
GameSpy: Did you ask if you could keep it?
Maria Menounos: No, I didn't. I should have. (Looks over at the game's publicist, sitting nearby.) But maybe it'll just mysteriously show up one day.
GameSpy: What do you think of the way your character looks in the game?
Maria Menounos: I think it would be more awkward is she was 100% like me. I think she's kind of looks like a cross between us. It looks like me, but also like Eva.
GameSpy: Well, she's not smiling. You have a very distinctive smile.
Maria Menounos: Yeah, I have a lot of trouble not smiling. I'm always smiling.
GameSpy: You said this was your first experience with voice work. How did you like it?
Maria Menounos: Well, I've done voiceovers for news packages and stuff like that, but never for a character in a game or cartoon. But I loved it. It was awkward at first because I didn't know if I was doing the right thing, so I kept asking, "Is this right? Am I doing this right?" But they were really great about giving good direction. They made it really simple. It was also a lot of fun because you can be completely over the top with it.
GameSpy: Was this the first game you've been asked to do?
Maria Menounos: Uh-huh.
GameSpy: So when they first asked you to do it, did you say yes right away because it was a game, or did you want to know more about it before you signed on?
Maria Menounos: Oh, I'm definitely selective. But knowing it was a Bond game, knowing that Sean Connery was going to be a part of it, knowing that the executives who chose the next Bond girl had to approve me, all of those elements together made it a no-brainer for me.
GameSpy: But aren't you worried that by being a Bond girl in this game you won't get to be one in a movie?
Maria Menounos: No. I think it could only help. And if it doesn't happen, I have plenty I'm looking forward to in my life and career, so I wouldn't be that devastated if that didn't happen.
GameSpy: Are you a fan of the original movie?
Maria Menounos: Y'know, I've never really been introduced to the Bond series properly. I have the DVD of it at home, but I honestly haven't watched it yet. Though they did show me some clips from the film that we were going to reenact in the game.
GameSpy: In the game, you play a bad girl, but you're oh so nice in real life. When you were doing Eva's voice, did you try to act like some evil celebrity you once interviewed for Entertainment Tonight?
Maria Menounos: I actually didn't do that for that long, I was only there for two and a half years, so I never really encountered anyone that evil. I had really good experiences when I was there. I suppose I could've channeled some of the angrier times in my life, but I wasn't thinking about any of that, either.
GameSpy: You've got a pretty distinctive laugh. Did you get it in the game?
Maria Menounos: I don't know. Probably not. It would probably be mistaken for a machinegun, anyway.
GameSpy: Finally, are you bummed out that your character doesn't have a love scene with James Bond?
Maria Menounos: No. I was just excited to be in the game.
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