An undoubtedly big and unexpected step for an actor. Noomi Rapace agrees.
I could never have imagined getting such an offer. Nervous, yes, but I have always liked challenging roles, she says when TT meets her on a somewhat windy terrace to a villa in Venice.
The English-language film is directed by the North Macedonian director Teona Strugar Mitevska and premieres at the film festival in Venice.
I had seen what she had done before, so when she asked if I wanted this role, I of course said yes directly.
All religions present
The Mother Teresa we meet in the film is a sometimes quite tough and tough woman who is not so easy to like.
It's completely okay. The important thing is that you feel something about her, whether it's positive or negative. And that this then hopefully remains and that the one who sees the film continues to think about it.
Noomi Rapace tells that she herself grew up in a home where her mother confessed to all religions and had a crucifix on the wall above her bed.
All religions were present. But I'm not religious, I'm spiritual. I of course did a lot of research before filming, and what I had trouble with with Catholicism is the relationship to abortion.
Overwhelming filming
Noomi Rapace talked to Teona Strugar Mitevska about the matter, who then said that it was one of the reasons she wanted to make the film, to talk about abortion which also becomes a part of the plot.
Mother Teresa said that "all children are a gift from God", and I can agree with that. Before, I was too much of a person who thought that everything was either black or white. Nowadays, I can discuss and take in other people's views, says Noomi Rapace.
The film is shot in a studio in Europe but also in Calcutta in India.
The time we filmed there was overwhelming with all the poverty and misery. And at the same time, I never felt scared. There was such a friendly atmosphere there.
”Mother” will have its Swedish premiere in January, but Noomi Rapace already has more films on the way, including the futuristic thriller ”The hot spot”.
Age: 45.
Family: Son Lev (with ex-husband Ola Rapace).
Lives: London.
Occupation: Actor.
Selected films: Daisy Diamond, Millennium-trilogy, Svinalängorna, Sherlock Holmes: A game of shadows, Prometheus, The drop, Child 44, Stockholm, The secrets we keep, Lamm, Hearts of stone, Svart krabba, Django.
