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Bond Girl Special - Olga Kurylenko's Blog

  • The premiere

    Hi everyone

     

    I am writing this, my final QUANTUM OF SOLACE blog, from Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris.   Last night was the Royal World Premiere of QUANTUM OF SOLACE at the Odeon Leicester Square in London.  Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for sheer size of the event.  When the chauffer opened the door to my car outside the cinema, the sound of hundreds of fans was tremendous, it was a wonderfully disorientating experience.  So many smiling faces screaming and holding their hands out, people who wanted autographs and people with cameras – I wish there was enough time to speak to every single one of them but I was ushered to the red carpet where the TV crews awaited a few words from each of the actors and film-makers.

     

    The last time I wrote, I was trying to decide which dress I would wear to the premiere and the gown I settled on was simply beautiful.  It was a full length, bright red, chiffon dress by Valentino with a very low back – just perfect for such a prestigious event.  I loved it and didn't care one bit that it was freezing cold outside.  By the time I had met the fans, the media, the photographers and got into the cinema, I was absolutely frozen - I'm sure my lips must have turned blue!

     

    My wonderful mother and father were with me all the way and I later learned that my mum kept trying to get someone to put a jacket over my shoulders.  I think it is so funny, such a typical mother trying to make sure her daughter is wrapped up warm, never mind that she is wearing Valentino!

     

    Once we were inside the Odeon and the audience were seated, all the artists were lined up to meet Prince William and Prince Harry.  Both were delightful and very excited to be there on our big night. I was actually seated next to Prince Harry for the screening and he was totally blown away by the action sequence at the beginning of the film.  It was really nice to see someone react to our movie like that – especially a Prince.

     

    When the film was over the entire cinema of guests were taken to the after party, which was held at an enormous marquee built outside Battersea Power Station.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked inside – it seriously felt like walking on to the set of a James Bond movie as waiters offered a martini or a glass of champagne.  Each table was decorated with impressive flower arrangements and fantastic sculptures hung from the ceiling.  All the guests looked the part too with the men in black tie and all the women in beautiful gowns and jewelry.  It was a truly amazing and overwhelming experience and one I'll treasure forever.

     

    I have so enjoyed being a part of this extraordinary movie franchise, meeting and working with all sorts of talented people and visiting such curious and wonderful corners of the world.  Sadly, this is where I sign out but it has been so much fun to share all my experiences and memories with you. I sincerely hope you enjoy watching QUANTUM OF SOLACE as much as we enjoyed making it. 

     

    Good luck and best wishes always

     

    Olga x

    6:01 PM

  • Kiev Tour

    Hello there

     

    Now we are well underway with the promotion and publicity for the release of QUANTUM OF SOLACE and I have been traveling non-stop.  With a schedule as long as your arm, there is no time to relax - we have already been to eight different cities and I just landed back in London today.  I am very lucky to have the opportunity to visit so many countries – even if we just stop for one day, it is great to get a taste for each place as we pass through.

     

    For me, one of the best stops on the tour so far has been Kiev.  I was born in the Ukraine and the reception when I arrived on home soil was the warmest I have ever known – it really was very special.  On one evening, I was honored to be personally invited to dinner by the President's wife.  Before we sat down to eat, she graciously gave us a tour of their home.  It was incredible and decorated beautifully with traditional Ukrainian artwork; carvings, drawings and pottery.  We learned that the President had made all of these beautiful ornaments and pictures himself – I had no idea he was such an artist.

     

    Later, I was asked if I would like to try some honey beer, again, made by the President (he also keeps bees – so he made the honey too!)  I had never tasted honey beer before and it was absolutely delicious.  It was a really fascinating evening, and so interesting to learn what a creative guy our President is. 

     

    Now that I'm back in London, my next focus is the world premiere to be held at the Odeon Leicester Square on Wednesday 29 October, and I have two days to choose the all important knock-out dress.  Whist I've been away, my stylist, Becky, has been very busy.  When I got back to my hotel suite this afternoon, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the rails of beautiful gowns, all different colours, some with sparkles, some plain, some with lace but all of them, without exception, created by the most prestigious, glamorous designers in the world.

     

    I had to do something similar before our first lot of promotional tours and it is actually quite difficult, you can get blinded by so much choice.  In fact, I ended up traveling with so much luggage that, when I opened my suitcase in Kiev, I honestly couldn't decide what to wear!

     

    This time, not only do I have to choose a dress for the London premiere, I have to choose nine dresses – one for each of the premieres coming up on the touring schedule.  I've never seen so many beautiful clothes in my entire life -  I can't describe how excited I am to live this, it's a once in a lifetime experience.

     

    Until next time…..

    Olga xxxx

    5:57 PM

  • Paris Motor Show

    Hello guys

     

    My last day on the filming set of QUANTUM OF SOLACE was almost three months ago but I have not stopped working!  When I'd finished my work in front of the film cameras, I had two weeks of magazine photo shoots in London and Paris before I went to LA and New York to meet with the top US magazine editors.  When I got back from America, I arrived in Paris in the middle of the night and had less than 24 hours to re-pack before the flight left to take me to Israel to start work on an entirely different film.  It has been a crazy year! 

     

    As we approach the release of QUANTUM OF SOLACE, I am back working with some of the old team, this time we are concentrating on the promotion and publicity of the film.  My first glamorous appointment was the world famous Motor Show in Paris.  As I mentioned before, Ford are a promotional partner for QUANTUM OF SOLACE and provided the eco-friendly KA car that I drive in the scenes set in Haiti.  Ford had chosen the Paris Motor Show event as the platform to unveil their brand new model of the KA car, and I was delighted to have been invited to take part.

     

    I live in Paris so I got to spend two nights in my own apartment, something I hadn't done since last year! The Motor Show itself was an impressive event, set in a huge building with stages displaying every kind of automobile, from vintage to futuristic.  Ford had their own branded stage and in the centre was the KA covered by a black silk.  After John Fleming, the President and CEO  of Ford of Europe, had introduced me and asked about my Bond girl/daredevil driving in the film,  the silk was pulled away to reveal the gold KA, complete with the 'Greene Planet logo'.   Following the grand unveiling, they played a clip from the film where I drive the car.  It was so exciting, because it was the first time I had seen any of the film cut together and, I've got to say, it looked really impressive!  One of the guests even approached me afterwards and said he thought I should become a patron of his go-carting business in Switzerland – how funny.

     

    Now that I've seen part of it, I am looking forward to seeing the whole film.  I'm told it is almost ready to be shown to the public, they just have to add the all important Bond music.  I know it is going to be stunning – when you think of all the incredible talent employed on a Bond movie, the exotic locations and that sprinkle of magic the film makers add to our work – I can't wait!

     

    Until next time…..

    Olga x

    5:55 PM

  • Fights

    Hi there

     

    I have got to say, I'm extremely proud of myself.  As the months have passed, I have built more and more confidence and so has everyone around me.  We are back at Pinewood Studios and I am working on my last week on the film.  It is very sad to think in a few days it will be over, but I am working on some incredible stuff right now.

     

    This week we are filming the fight between Camille (that's me!) and General Medrano (that's the man who killed my family!).  It is all going on.  I've found him in his hotel suite and, whilst the hotel is engulfed in flames, Medrano and I have a fight to the death.  We are working in a very small set, it is just a hotel room, and the special effects team has gone to town.  The whole place is on fire, there are explosions going off, the ceiling falls in and Medrano and I are punching the lights out of each other.  Again, the stunt team have worked really hard with me on this, especially Nikki Berwick.  Every time we cut the scene, the entire crew has to evacuate the stage, its high drama, especially when you think I've been inside the actual set and so have the entire camera crew!

     

    General Medrano is played by Joaquin Cosio.  He is a big guy – he could be three times the size of me.   We have rehearsed this fight sequence and we are doing it for as real as possible so I always walk away with bruises but I pride myself on the fact that he does too!

     

    The fight is challenging not just physically but also mentally, I really have to build up my aggression and adrenalin to make this look the business. I am also determined, as these are my last scenes, that I get as much of the action as possible – I want to be in the inferno, I do not want my stunt double doing it for me.  Daniel is up for it too and every now and again, I look up and see his face and I just cannot believe what we are both doing.  Smothered in fire resistant gel, running through this set with explosions and fire everywhere.  Got to say, it's not that hard to muster the adrenalin.

     

    Until next time…..

    Olga x

    5:39 PM

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