Lena Headey on Making Revenge Action Movie Ballistic Feel ‘Raw & Real’

ComingSoon editor-in-chief Tyler Treese spoke with Ballistic star Lena Headey about her new revenge thriller movie. Headey discussed having the script changed from a male protagonist to a mother, the film’s “raw and real” scenes, and gave an update on her directorial debut, The Trap. Brainstorm Media releases Ballistic in select theaters and on demand on April 17.

“When a soldier’s mother (Lena Headey) discovers the bullet that killed her son in Afghanistan was made at the factory where she works, she sets out on a path of revenge against those responsible,” says the synopsis.

Tyler Treese: Lena, congrats on Ballistic. I really enjoyed this film. I thought you gave such a layered performance, and it’s one of your best. It’s really heartbreaking to see the shift in Nancy as the film progresses. It really puts the viewer on edge because you fear the worst is gonna happen. What was it about Nancy’s story arc that really resonated with you?

Lena Headey: Well, like you said, I think there’s so much decent scripts around, decent stories, and as an actor, you take it, and you’re like, “I’ll make what I can of it,” right? But when you get something like this, this is the gift. This is what we want. This is the reason why we do this job is to receive written pieces like this with directors like Chad [Faust], who allow you to do what you know you are able to do, and to give it all and to just be free to do the thing that gives you joy.

He shared the script with me early on. I think he’d originally written it for a father figure. I was thrilled that he was open-minded enough and forward-thinking enough to think, “What would this be like with a mother instead of a father?” I think something we’re used to seeing in these roles is a dad going out and being vengeful and furious.

Yeah. That’s a fun twist on it.

I loved your scenes with Hamza Haq. There’s some really powerful stuff there. I saw a cool story on his Instagram where he met you in 2014, right after he moved to LA, in a coffee shop, and then a decade later, he got to work with you on a film. So, it meant a lot to him. What stood out about him as a scene partner?

Lena Headey: Hamza is just super present. You know, everything you want in an actor, it’s just commitment and presence and focus when you’re required to have it. Then, when there’s time to f— about, you can banter with someone. That’s how I like to work. It’s like, you don’t f— about, and then you switch it, and you both become the people.

There’s this great scene in the film right after you find out that your son has passed away, where you’re in the bathroom, and you’re screaming and crying. It’s very raw. How was it unloading all of that emotion in that moment? Because it is just pure grief.

It was really cathartic [laughs]. I was talking about this with my husband the other day. It’s that funny thing. When you’re acting, and all these elements are in place, usually on bigger stuff, right? Where you have time, and you have to prep an emotional moment, and you get yourself to this point, and it’s like waiting on this point of a needle, and you don’t wanna lose this adrenaline and this place.

But on films like this, indie films where you just have to move at a pace that’s so electric, which is why I love doing films that no one ever sees because they’re so exciting and raw and real, and you’re moving in this small unit as a crew, and you just get to do great work. Everybody does because you’re on the fly, and it’s just got an energy that you don’t necessarily get when you have the luxury of money.

You made your directorial debut a few years ago with The Trap. I watched the short film that you did. I couldn’t find out whether the full-length has had a wide release. Is there any update on when the rest of the world can see that?

Lena Headey: Sadly, no. Right now we’re in a little, you know, wrangling, but hopefully one day I’ll be able to show the world.

Are you looking to direct more in the future?

Yes. Yes. That is my deep, deep joy.

Thanks to Lena Headey for taking the time to talk about Ballistic.