The “Prometheus” cast is starting to fill out with acclaimed actors including Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba. But for many, it all starts with Noomi Rapace, the leading lady in Ridley Scott’s hotly anticipated return to the science fiction genre.
Currently best known for playing Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Rapace is set for the role of scientist Elizabeth Shaw, the supposed protagonist of “Prometheus.” It’s a daunting prospect for any actor who hopes to take the reins of an “Alien” spinoff from former leading lady Sigourney Weaver, but as Rapace explains it, the comparisons between Shaw and Ripley won’t last for long. “She’s definitely her own [character],” Rapace told us during a recent interview on the set of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” adding that “Prometheus” does indeed have connections to the “Alien” series.
“She’s a scientist and is very bright,” she continued. “She’s a believer. I think there are some similarities, but she’s very much her own. I don’t think people will compare her so much to Ripley once they see the movie.” Rapace was the first actor officially cast in “Prometheus,” giving her plenty of time to build a working relationship with Scott. “It’s a great honor and I’m really excited,” she said of working with the acclaimed director. “I’ve met him maybe seven or eight times and he’s so passionate. He really loves movies. He watches movies every night. He’s seen everything. We had a long chat on the phone — he’s in LA now — about my character. I have many ideas and he has many ideas, and now we’re starting to search and try to find her.” They better find her fast, too, as Rapace starts working on “Prometheus” by the end of the month: “I’m jumping into that straight off of [‘Sherlock Holmes 2’]. My character’s name is Elizabeth Shaw, and I’ll step into her shoes in March and be her for six months or something. It’s quite a long shoot. It’s unbelievable.”
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