Age of Extinction star Nicola Peltz transforms from tomboy to ‘sexy babe’ but still kicks butt

FOR some of her six brothers, Nicola Peltz’s starring role in Transformers has made her cool. The others? They just miss Megan Fox.

FOR some of her six brothers, Nicola Peltz’s starring role in Transformers has made her cool. The others? They just miss Megan Fox.

The young actress talks about the film, family and her own transformation from tomboy to “sexy babe” in a Q & A with Michele Manelis.

Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor on the set of<i> Transformers: Age of Extinction</i>.

How did you land the role in Michael Bay’s Transformers reboot, Age Of Extinction?

I auditioned and then I didn’t hear anything so I assumed nothing of it. A few months later, Michael Bay called me and told me that I got it. I was over the moon. I was with my mum in the car and I was freaking out. My mum said, “Are you sure it wasn’t a prank call?” I didn’t want to call him back and say, “Are you sure?” It would have been terrible if it was a prank call.

The actress hits the red carpet for the movie’s Beijing premiere.

You’ve been in The Last Airbender and have a regular gig on Bates Motel — but what did your family think of you following in the Transformers footsteps of such beauties as Megan Fox, Isabel Lucas and Rosie Huntington-Whitely?

Well, my little brothers thought I became a little cooler. Not much, but a little bit. But as for my older brothers, they’re just very disappointed that Megan Fox isn’t in the movie.

That’s family for you. But you’re not the only eye candy in the movie; there are also some really great looking cars. Are you a woman who appreciates a nice car?

I love looking at beautiful cars but I don’t know anything about them. I know they go fast but my brothers know everything there is to know about cars. I’ll tell you a secret; I don’t have my licence, which is terrible.

Were you a fan of the franchise?

Yes, I was a huge fan of Transformers. I knew everything about it because I have six brothers and they’re all such big fans of the trilogy. I was so excited to just be able to audition for it and now to say I am in the fourth one is amazing. I feel so lucky.

What do you like about this one?

I love that it has such a beautiful human element to it. It’s a beautiful family story and it has so much heart in it. The girl who I play is really strong and she totally gets to kick some butt.

Director Michael Bay shows Nicola Peltz how the "hand" of a Transformer will attempt to grab her.

Tell me more about your butt kicking. Did you do your own stunts? What did you have to do?

I definitely get my butt kicked 90 per cent of the time but there’s 10 per cent where I get to kick a little butt myself. Michael Bay wanted me to do as many stunts as I could. I loved it because I used to play ice hockey and I wanted to be a professional player when I was younger, so I love athletics. It was so much fun to go on wires and do jumps and run.

Nicola Peltz as Tessa Yeager and Jack Reynor as Shane Dyson in <i>Transformers: Age of Extinction</i>.

Most of what we see in Transformers is CGI but did you have some practical robots on the set as well so you could actually see or imagine what you were working with?

There’s definitely a lot of CGI in this film and the technology now is so impressive and insane, but Michael really blows things up. All that is real, all the explosions and also when I’m running through fire, I really did that. People don’t think it’s real and my friends are like, “I don’t believe you.” But I promise you, it’s real. That’s me. It was so fun, it was so insane. Michael said to me 30 seconds before we shot it, “Can you run fast?” And I said, “Yeah.” And he was like, “OK, go!”

TITLE: Explosion during filming for Transformers 4

Were you scared? Other actors who have worked with Michael have said they’ve felt his sets can be dangerous. Did you experience that?

No, never. They are so safe on set and it was a dream to be able to do that. I want to do it more.

Did you do some training?

Yes, Boot Camp. I was boxing and running and just totally working out. And with heels.

Nicola Peltz dazzles on the red carpet in Shanghai.

Since you almost became a pro ice hockey player, do you regard yourself as a tomboy?

Yes, definitely. I had no choice growing up with all my brothers.

As a former tomboy, how do you feel about being the sexy babe in the movie?

I don’t know. Michael shoots women so beautifully and he does the Victoria’s Secret commercials, which are insane. I just feel lucky to be in this film.

Mark Wahlberg teased his screen daughter “a lot” during filming.

How does your character differ from previous heroines?

Well, my character is 16 years old and it’s a father/daughter story so it’s different.

Mark Wahlberg plays your dad. Did he show any paternal feelings towards you?

Definitely. He teased me a lot, too. I have very long hair in the movie from hair extensions and he thought it was funny that I’d have to pull them out every day. It wasn’t fun for me.

He’s over protective of you in the movie. Do you have a similar experience with your own father (Nelson Peltz is a billionaire businessman)?

Yeah. With brothers, a sister plus a protective dad, to bring a boy into my house is pretty terrifying.

Sounds like you’ve done that before?

Yeah, I have done it before, and yeah, it didn’t go so well.

Did you have any favourite actor growing up?

Cate Blanchett. She is just killer.

■ Transformers: Age of Extinction is now showing

Peltz poses on the red carpet as she promotes<i> Age of Extinction </i>in Hong Kong.

Originally published as Age of Extinction star Nicola Peltz transforms from tomboy to ‘sexy babe’ but still kicks butt