How Úrsula Corberó Became The Baroness In Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins - Exclusive Interview
After winning acclaim for her role in the Netflix action series import "Money Heist," Spanish film and TV star Úrsula Corberó is not just making her Hollywood film debut in a high-profile project — she's diving head-first into a character that has been a part of the pop culture landscape since she made her debut nearly 40 years ago.
The character is none other than the Baroness, the Cobra intelligence officer and major badass who has been one of the chief adversaries of the G.I. Joe team since making her debut in the first issue of Marvel Comic's "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" comic book series in 1982. Fast forward to "Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins," where Corberó's Baroness and Cobra are a crucial part of a plan to dismantle the powerful Arashikage Clan in Japan. But no sinister coup is as easy as it seems, as the Baroness and Cobra not only have to face off against the clan's heir apparent, Tommy Arashikage (Andrew Koji), but also a mysterious drifter Tommy has taken under his wing who is only known as Snake Eyes (Henry Golding). But since Snake Eyes has motivations of his own, his brother-like bond with his Arashikage ally falls into peril, creating an unforeseen set of circumstances that places Tommy onto the path to becoming Storm Shadow.
Directed by Robert Schwentke and also starring Samara Weaving as G.I. Joe operative Scarlett and Haruka Abe as Akiko, the Arashikage Clan's fearless head of security, "Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins" opens in theaters nationwide Friday, July 23. In an exclusive interview with Looper, Corberó talked about creating a new direction for the Baroness while maintaining the spirit of the character from the comic books, animated series, and action figure toy line.
Úrsula Corberó had input into creating the Baroness for Snake Eyes
The origin of G.I. Joe, obviously, began in the U.S. with the Hasbro toys, and then we got the comics, and the animated series, but it really has become a worldwide phenomenon. I'm wondering, growing up in Barcelona, at what point did the "G.I. Joe" enter your consciousness — or the Baroness, for that matter?
Well, a lot of people here in Spain are very familiar with the "G.I. Joe" movement, but I wasn't, not until they called me to play the Baroness.
You had to do a lot of homework, I would imagine. It's been such a major character since her date in 1982, and with that popularity comes a huge set of expectations. The fans love her villainy. Did the fan expectations weigh on your mind when you were doing the role because it's such a huge character, or does the fact that you didn't know the character free you in a way to do the role?
Maybe, right? Yes, I think so. Yes. I was doing my thing. I had a lot of these huge conversations with Robert, the director, and we were talking a lot about the Baroness and her power, and her sense of humor, which we thought it would be very important to keep that part because she's the villain, and she's allowed to do anything, and that's the funniest part. So, it was very funny ... I enjoyed it.
Snake Eyes' Baroness is a renewed version of the character
I think you really bring a wicked edge to the character, and part of her persona that fans have loved this over the years is the Baroness' costuming. And while we're really discovering Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow in the movie, the Baroness feels more well-established. She's wearing things like her familiar trench coat. How empowering was that? And the glasses too. How much did it inform you wearing those costume pieces?
Well, I knew that was a very important thing for the producers, and the people from the team. I remember I tried 100 different glasses before we picked one, and we did all know that they were the ones. Everything was like that. I mean, the same happened with the costumes. The same happened with the hair. There was this big conversation about doing the Baroness with the long hair as she appears in the comic books or to do something different. I'm pretty happy with the result. I think it's, yeah, it's something different. It's like a renewed Baroness, which I like.
Well, let's hope we can get a Baroness origin movie after "Snake Eyes." I would imagine you're lobbying for that.
Thank you! That would be amazing!
"Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins" opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, July 23.