Exclusive Interview: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’s Alex Lombard Talks Risqué Scene, Shooting in New Orleans and More

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter directed by Timur Bekmambetov and starring Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell and Dominic Cooper came out today and Film Equals had the opportunity to chat with one cast member, the very charming up-and-comer Alex Lombard who plays Gabrielle, the love interest of ‘Henry Sturgess,’ the 900-year old vampire played by Dominic Cooper.

Check out what she had to say below and don’t miss the movie “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” out in a theater near you.
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How did you get involved in the movie?

Alex Lombard: I auditioned just like everyone else here in Los Angeles and it happened really fast. Before I knew it I was on a plane to New Orleans where we shot the movie.

And tell me about your character, Gabrielle.

Alex Lombard: She’s sort of a footloose and fancy free, funny gal who’s found in a rather compromising position with Dominic Cooper at the beginning of the movie, and it just adds a bit of sort of levity and fun to the film.

And most of your scenes are with Dominic Cooper?

Alex Lombard: Yes, right.

What was it like working with him?

Alex Lombard: He’s so great. He made me feel super comfortable. I wasn’t wearing very much. I think that my costume consisted of a sheet, if at all, and so he made me feel really comfortable, and everybody made me feel very comfortable.

I know Dominic’s character is a vampire. What about your character?

Alex Lombard: That’s a good question. It’s never really specified whether she is or not, but I’m assuming that because she’s a girlfriend or the lover of a vampire she’s probably on her way to becoming one, if she isn’t one already.

So, in your head you were thinking she probably was a vampire?

Alex Lombard: I wasn’t even thinking about it. It was a cool period piece, and I was more just thinking that this was shot in the early 1800’s. I think that was on my mind, just developing the time period. That was more on my mind rather than the vampire thing.

How was shooting in New Orleans, the set there and the whole production experience?

Alex Lombard: It was amazing. I mean, it was really magical. New Orleans is such a great city. I had been there before and I absolutely love it there. It was such an ideal place to get to work, like if you had any time off there’s so much at your disposal there, just running around and seeing the city. It has so much to offer. The food is amazing. There’s so much great culture, and it’s really fun. We shot in a historic house in the French Quarter, and so that was just a dream. It was really one of the coolest places to get to work.

Now, you’ve been very fortunate to have been in some big movies.

Alex Lombard: Yeah, it’s been crazy. I can’t even believe it, and especially at a time when I feel like TV is taking over, or at least for working actors it is. I love working in TV, but since the writer’s strike I feel like there’s been less and less film stuff available, but I think that’s coming back. To be able to be associated with two gigantic, mega movies has been such a blessing for me and super fun. I’m really lucky in that respect.

What has being on these big movie sets taught you, any lessons that can help you in your career?

Alex Lombard: I think you learn a sense of professionalism. It’s a well oiled machine, and everyone really has to be on their game, just really bring their A-game to it. Within that structure you also have to find the room to play and explore.

I’m sure you had an idea of what it was to be a working actor as you pursued the career, but now that you are one have you noticed any differences from your earlier expectations?

Alex Lombard: When you think of being an actor you probably think from the outside in and you see, like, just the glitz and the glam and that you get free stuff and isn’t it fun. And that’s what I thought before I even started acting, but once you’re inside of it you realize just how hard people have to work. You really have to hustle at every stage of your career and I don’t think that’s something that really ever ends. That’s part of the fun, too, that there’s never a dull moment, but it’s really a lot of hard work. It can be exhausting, and it’s a roller coaster for everyone. You have to really love it to stay committed to it.

What sort of roles and movie genres are you more attracted to?

Alex Lombard: I love period pieces because I think it’s super fun to dress up and I think it’s really easy to lose yourself in a period piece. I think I have more of a classical look, and so that’s something that’s definitely my forte for the period pieces. It’s something that I really love.

If you could work in any project you wanted, what would that be?

Alex Lombard: That’s a good question. I really want to be on ‘True Blood.’ It’s a show that I’ve auditioned for a couple of times, but I’ve never been cast.

Well, if this film doesn’t get you in, I don’t know what will.

Alex Lombard: I don’t know. I would love to be on that show. I’m a fan of the show. I’ve been watching the show from the beginning. I think it’s such a great show and I think that I have the right sort of aesthetic for that show. So, that’s one that I really hope I get a chance to be on sometime.