Falling for Spider-Man

Being the daughter of Ron Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard could be considered Hollywood royalty, but you would never know it. In person she is probably one of the most down to earth people you could ever meet. Howard, who plays Gwen Stacy in ‘Spider-Man 3’, was thrilled to take on the role. “I was so excited. I love this franchise. I was a huge fan of the first film. When I saw the second film I was completely blown away. I liked it better than the first, which I didn’t think was possible. I became one of those people who started going on the Internet seeing what are the rumors and what’s going on. When I found out they were having another female character I was all over that.”

Howard did a great deal of prep for the role, but in her research of the character she found a few surprises. “When I did start doing research and a picture popped on the Internet, I thought, are you serious? They really want to cast me? She has a specific look and I never envisioned myself doing or being able to do. There were a lot of hair and make-up meetings.” Howard who is a natural redhead had to go blonde for the film. So do blondes have more fun? “Well I feel comfortable as a red-head because that what I am naturally, but I had fun getting to do it. I got a lot of attention at grocery stores, like a lot of people coming up to me saying do you need some help ma’am.”

In the film there is an intense action sequence that Howard had to prepare for, that took months to shoot. “That was so much fun to shoot. They built a three or four story structure inside a sound stage that would just collapse and they would set it all back up again. They put a harness on me, but they really let me fall. I was scared so there was no acting involved in that scene literally.”

What was it like for Howard coming on board such a well-known project? “I was actually involved really late in the process. It was a couple of days before shooting started. So I was involved as late as possible in the process.” Were there any surprises for Howard? “I think what really surprised me was that this was a film with a lot of gravity to it. I assumed that the focus would be on the CGI and the action and the complexity of the characters was really important. Also it felt like we were making an independent film so the process was really intimate, so it was almost like a family.”

Unlike some other people involved with the film, Howard says she would jump at the chance to play Gwen Stacy again in another film. “What would it take? Just ask me. I would love to be involved in a fourth film. This was one of the best experiences of my life. I made a lot of really lasting friendships and I love these films. Sure these are huge huge films, but from a moral stand-point I think these films have something to say.”

So what is on the horizon for Howard? “Well I have been writing and working with a writing partner.” Howard is also focusing on motherhood just having had a baby so right now she is focused on her child and husband.

Check out Howard when she plays Gwen Stacy in ‘Spider-Man 3’ opening nationwide May 4.