You've had a very busy year with five movies due out...

I've been really lucky. When I decided to go to LA I said I was going to quit modelling and just go and see how I do. In the first two weeks I got three movies. I was so excited I had all my furniture shipped out from New York.

Did you enjoy having such a physical role in the movie?

That's what's great about this role because I have a synchronised swimming background and all the athleticism. Ten years of swimming can really help portray her physicality - all the running, horseback-riding, and jumping through windows. It's not something that women in Hollywood get offered very often so, pardon the pun, I took it and ran with it.

Did you find yourself trying to compete for screen time with the apes?

No, because it's "The Planet of the Apes" and it's about the apes. The make-up was incredible and the acting really comes through too.

You must have felt you got off lightly compared to the ape actors who had six hours in make-up every day?

I did, I got to come in later and we were quite sympathetic to the fact that the others were going through this rather enduring process. I did have two hours in hair and make-up though because I had to put so much dirt on my face and underneath my fingernails! It was really strange to see all these apes standing around eating popcorn, smoking, wearing sunglasses...

To really go ape visit our "Planet of the Apes" minisite.

"Planet of the Apes" is released in UK cinemas on Friday 17th August 2001. Visit the official website.