Interview: Lisa Lazarus

By: Sima Malhotra

Talk about taking one’s title seriously.

In 2008, Welsh-born model Lisa Lazarus claimed the crown of Miss Universe. Now trying to parlay her title into a film career, Lazarus is keeping all of her options open and pursuing starring roles in the wide universe of international cinema.

To that effect, Lazarus’s first step in avoiding limiting her action options was to start off in Bollywood – a very non-traditional move for a non-Indian beauty queen. With her first Bollywood project already complete and ready to release this weekend, the 2008 Miss Universe is now aiming landing a role as the next Bond girl.

Should Lazarus, 22, actually be dubbed the latest Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig, the model-turned-actress’s first two films would be in movies in at least three completely different countries — India, the United States, and her own United Kingdom.

While actively campaigning to star opposite Craig in an upcoming 007 flick, Lazarus’s acting career is not off to a bad start, as she is featured alongside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in the just-released film, Veer.

In an interview featured on Wales Online, Lazarus said her toughest challenge in making her acting debut in Hindi cinema was learning how to dance for the industry’s popular song & dance numbers.

“It took me a whole month to learn one song, and it’s going to be so weird to watch because I know exactly what was going on behind the scenes,” she told the Welsh publication about learning how to dance for her role in Veer. “It’s set in the British-ruled 1890s, so obviously I didn’t have a clue where to start. It was like being back in school. I couldn’t grasp the way they dance. Everything in India is done differently – even riding a horse. On one occasion, I ended up falling flat on my face, and Salman had to help me up!”

Yet the hard work may be paying off, as her substantial supporting role in Veer has resulted in the Llanelli-born model reportedly landing a second Bollywood gig amidst apparently rapid-rising popularity.

Accordingly, Lazarus said she was working double-time to fulfill her commitments to Veer and her second Hindi film project, keeping her away from her rented homes in London and Dubai, making her weekly visits to see her mother in Llanelli, Wales rather difficult.

“It was pretty stressful by the end of Veer because I had started filming on that,” Lazarus said in her interview. “So I ended up flying 12 hours to Mumbai, then a five-hour car journey to a desert in Jaipur, then back on a plane to South India to start on set. I’m looking forward to seeing the end result now. I just hope people like it.”

Lazarus also hopes the powers that be at MGM – the studio that owns the James Bond franchise and is potentially being bought out by India’s very own Reliance Big Pictures – are impressed with her debut performances in Bollywood, as it may help her land a dream role as the next Bond girl.

An ideal acting gig for any actress, as the Bond girl is assured a truly international audience, Lazarus’s stock may be boosted, should Hindi film executive Anil Ambani be successful in his reported bid to purchase a controlling stake on MGM, hence controlling who is potentially cast in upcoming James Bond flicks.

“As a model, I’ve always wanted to play a Bond girl,” Lazarus said in her interview in the United Kingdom. “I’ve met agents in L.A., and hopefully it will happen. I’m too late for the next one, but maybe I’ll send Daniel Craig a letter. I’d be a Tomb Raider-type and save Bond, so I’d end up as the hero.”

While holding her breath to be the next Bond girl, Lazarus is anxiously anticipating the release of Veer, in which she plays a supporting role as part of the British ruling contingency in 19th century colonial India.

Between campaigning to be the next Bond girl, awaiting the release of Veer and completing her second Bollywood project, Lazarus is somehow finding time to complete her studies as a radiographer student.

“I’ve got loads of coursework to do, and then a physics exam on the day of the premiere, so I’m going to be finishing that and then running back to put on my dress and get to Leicester Square,” she said in her interview. “It’s all been a bit crazy, so I’m looking forward to some time off in March, hopefully getting back to LA, and we’ll see what’s next.”

Lazarus hopes what comes next will be attached to a warmly positive reception of her performance in Veer, which opens in theaters worldwide today (January 22nd).