Archief - Need For Speed: Most Wanted

With a face like hers, actress and model Josie Maran could get us to do whatever she wants. As a cigarette girl in The Aviator, she made us want to sell cigarettes to eccentric billionaires, while her role as Dracula's bride Marishka in Van Helsing made us want to stay up all night, drinking blood and listening to Bauhaus. And now she has us wanting to break local speed limits as Mia, your motivating girlfriend in Need For Speed Most Wanted. Which just made us want to talk to her about her role in the game that much more.


GameSpy: How did you get the part of Mia?

Josie Maran: I was on EA's radar because I was just so bad ass. They were like, "We have to have her, she's the most bad ass woman in America." (grins devilishly) So they came to me. I didn't really know much about this whole genre of work. They called my agent, my agent talked to me, and here we are.


GameSpy: What was it about this game, and the character of Mia, that made you want to do it?

Josie Maran: I love racing cars and I love driving fast. They were also shooting it like a movie, and I've been really into acting lately.


GameSpy: Well, that's the thing about this game, and your role in it. You're not just the voice and likeness of a character, you're actually in the game.

Josie Maran: Totally. I did a little voiceover for the game they made out of Van Helsing, this movie I did, and it's kind of hard watching an animated figure of yourself. It's not that interesting. But this was really cool. The work they're doing on this game, technologically, was just beautiful. I had no idea how it would turn out because we were working with green screens and fake cars, stuff like that, so I could only imagine how it would come out when we were doing it. But I've seen it now that it's done and it looks beautiful. Though I haven't seen my fight scene yet.

GameSpy: Oh, you have a fight scene?
Josie Maran: Yeah! I'm really excited about it. We started filming it for real, and then switched to special effects, so I haven't seen how it looks.
GameSpy: How did filming your scenes for this game differ from the work you've done in movies?


Josie Maran: It was exactly the same except that we had to wear special costumes that were really stiff so it wouldn't be too hard to transfer into the game. But otherwise we had a director, we had a Hollywood producer, we had stylists, we even had rehearsals.


GameSpy: Like most female video-game characters, Mia wears some sexy outfits. Did you have any reservations about any of the clothes they wanted you to wear?

Josie Maran: Actually, no, the stylist was good and the outfits were fun. But I also knew there would be some sexiness going on.
GameSpy: Even with the skimpy outfits, though, it must be nice for you that your character has an integral role that moves the story along and isn't just…
Josie Maran: …a hot piece of meat? I'm all about women being intelligent, and this was in that area, so I'm proud that my character has some brains.


GameSpy: How do you think you look in the game?

Josie Maran: I like that it's me and not a computer thing. For me, that would be boring. Sometimes, when I play video games, it's too "not real" for me.


GameSpy: So what games are you into?

Josie Maran: I actually can't say because they're competition [for Need For Speed].


GameSpy: You mentioned earlier that you're into racing. Have you actually ever been in a race?

Josie Maran: Yeah, I've done some street racing.


GameSpy: Really? Illegal street racing?

Josie Maran: I'd say so.
GameSpy: Did you win anyone's pink slip?
Josie Maran: No, I'm not on the black list or anything. But I have a fast car. I have a Volvo S60-R! It's got 300 horsepower. Rocking!


GameSpy: And how often do you get pulled over for speeding?

Josie Maran: Uh, I've been pulled over a few times. But I've gotten out of all of them.


GameSpy: Did you flirt your way out of them? I've always wondered if that works.

Josie Maran: I actually don't flirt, I apologize. "Thank you officer so much for pulling me over." And they're so flabbergasted that they usually let me go.


GameSpy: So you don't act like Adrienne Barbeau in Cannonball Run and flash a bit of cleavage?

Josie Maran: It doesn't work. I've tried that too and it doesn't work. I've also heard horror stories about cops getting all perverted, so I don't do it anymore.


GameSpy: So was your love of racing and fast cars a factor in you wanting to do this game?

Josie Maran: Yeah, definitely. This was the only kind of game I played when I was growing up. I used to go to arcades and play racing games.


GameSpy: Have you had a chance to play this game yet?

Josie Maran: I have, as it was being built. They let me play it as they were developing it. But I sucked at it. I really did.


GameSpy: Is there anyone in your life who is going to be a lot more impressed that you're in this game than with anything else you've done?

Josie Maran: I think so. I have some pretty hardcore gamer friends. It's cool because it's like going home with a whole bunch of people. I actually get to live in their livingroom with them for the next three months. Or however long they play the game.


GameSpy: Yes, though the nice thing is that they won't have to feed you. So when this game comes out, will you play it, or will it be too weird, since you're in it?

Josie Maran: I think I'll play it. I'll just skip through my sections.​