Warning: This article contains spoilers fromThe Killer.
Allow Zee (Nathalie Emmanuel) to introduce herself.
When Zee refuses to take out a witness to the mayhem, she becomes the target herself.
Nathalie Emmanuel in ‘The Killer’.Peacock
Peacock
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Nathalie, what do you remember from when training forThe Killerbegan?
NATHALIE EMMANUEL: I remember immediately knowing I was going to really throw myself into it.
We had to piece this puzzle together.
Nathalie Emmanuel in ‘The Killer’.Peacock
What their ideas are and then almost collaborate with some of the ideas I had about the character.
How she fights, how she moves, and what her strengths and weaknesses are.
Its obvious with me being a woman that my strengths will be different from a mans, right?
Peacock
Gregg and John, what was it like working with Nathalie?
She worked really, really hard.
Nathalie probably did 85 percent of her stunts in this movie.
She worked every day for months to perfect things.
She did a great job at it, and its due to her dedication and the training.
As the film progresses, she literally turns into an athlete.
You could see it in the way she walked, the way she fought.
Her kicks were getting more and more powerful, and she was really getting good at fights.
JOHN WOO:Shes a very good actress and shes good at action.
It seemed like she was on another level.
Shes so dedicated and her movements looked very elegant.
Why was it important to be able to do your own stunts?
I also want to be able to do as much of it as I can.
I love using my body in this way in storytelling.
Its so much fun.
What was training for this nightclub scene like?
I had to learn gun handling, how to load them, check them, and hold them.
Given your dance background, what felt natural and unnatural about the fight choreography?
EMMANUEL: Stunt choreography is like dance choreography.
I do have a natural flexibility so some of the kicks and stuff came naturally to me.
That meant so much to me.
How do you balance how much hand-to-hand combat and use of weapons is in the scene?
EMMANUEL: The weapons are really important because of the height and frame that I have.
It requires a lot of thinking on her feet, thinking very quickly.
Its all very tactical.
What stands out to you from filming the fight scene?
What I loved about that whole sequence is that Zees first weapon was her sexuality.
John, what did you want to say about Zee through the action sequence?
It is her opening act.
WOO:I wanted to surprise the audience.
It was good for her body movement.
Then I asked the costume designer for a dress for her so she could hide the blade.
Then she pulls [the pieces] out from behind her and puts them together.
EMMANUEL: There are lots of disciplines on display here.
Shes skilled in a lot of ways.
Shes a good shot and will be very quick and deadly at the same time.
Theres the running jump over the bar where Zee swings to kick an opponent.
Does anything come to mind when thinking about how that piece of the fight came together?
Every step has a purpose.
What do you remember about seeing the finished product?
EMMANUEL: It was amazing.
I watched it in London with a very small group of my nearest and dearest.
I just felt really proud and thought it looked amazing.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Killeris available to stream now on Peacock.
