‘Self/Less’ Star Natalie Martinez: ‘I’d Be Kind Of Interested To See Life As Another Gender’ [Video]

Self/Less delivers a new take on the standard Frankenstein myth, as science advances far enough to allow anyone with enough money to shed their old body for a new one. Natalie Martinez stars as Madeline in the Self/Less story of Damian Hale (Ben Kingsley), a billionaire who pays a small ransom to exchange his aged cancer-ridden body for that of a youthful, healthy body, no questions asked. Hale comes out in the form of Ryan Reynolds, but soon learns that his renewed youth has come at a price.

Natalie Martinez’s character figures prominently into the plot of Self/Less and the role allows Natalie to deliver a powerful performance in this sci-fi mystery. Although no stranger to sci-fi, having spent some time in the CBS drama Under The Dome, Martinez still felt drawn to Self/Less from the moment she read the script.

“I like jobs that are kind of challenging,” Self/Less’ Martinez said. “I always like to push myself and be like, ‘Can I do it?’ And after I do it I feel such a sense of accomplishment. The type of movie it is, that sci-fi psychological thriller… This is actually set in real science so it’s not really that far off so I kind of like those movies that make you kind of think. You know what I’m saying? Like, ‘Would you?’ ‘Could you?'”

It seems Natalie echoes what many people would probably say, when confronted with the choice that drives the plot of Self/Less. Ms. Martinez seems to respond with confidence, when she declines the idea of beginning again in a new body as is seen in Self/Less.

“I do not need to do this twice!” Martinez explained. “I’m just really happy right now in the position I’m in. This is a situation I feel like the grass isn’t greener on the other side. I’m happy, I’m content. I feel like you’re given that chance. You’re given once chance to live it up to the fullest and live life and do everything it is that you’ve ever thought of or imagined and at the finish line just figure it out.”

Ms. Martinez does confess to using the technology in Self/Less to satisfy her own curiosity about living life on the other side of the fence.

“If anything, I’d be kind of interested to see life as another gender,” Martinez says. “I’ve had my trials and tribulations and amazing times as I woman. I wanna figure out what those are for a man. You know? That’d be kind of interesting.”

Self/Less will be released in theaters on July 10.

[Featured image: Natalie Martinez courtesy of John Sciulli/Getty Images for BVLGARI]