Interviews

Natalia Tena Talks John Wick 4, Collaborating with Keanu Reeves, and the Harry Potter Revival

August 23, 2023

8 mins read

Natalia Tena On John Wick: 4, Working With Keanu Reeves & The Harry Potter Reboot

John Wick: Chapter 4 takes us on an exhilarating journey with our beloved anti-hero. This time, he’s on a mission to confront the formidable High Table. But things quickly spiral out of control when the High Table sends a dangerous new adversary, Marquis Vincent de Gramont, after John Wick’s allies. With his loved ones in danger and former friends turning against him, John Wick faces his toughest battle yet.

Directed by Chad Stahelski, John Wick: Chapter 4 features a thrilling script by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. The film brings back the incredible cast, including Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and the late Lance Reddick. Joining the John Wick universe are the legendary Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, and Clancy Brown.

FilmmakerFocus had the opportunity to speak with Natalia Tena about her role in John Wick: Chapter 4. She shared insights into Stahelski’s directing style, her experience working with Reeves, and how she prepared for her character, Katia. Tena also expressed her hopes of being part of the new Harry Potter remake series in a different role.

Natalia Tena on John Wick: Chapter 4

FilmmakerFocus: You are so good in this movie. I binged the first three John Wick movies before watching the fourth. All of it’s so good. I loved your character.

Natalia Tena: Oh, I’ve watched them quite a few times. I think I watched them as they came out. And then, you know how everyone in the pandemic binge watched? It’s like, “Okay, let’s do the John Wick today.” I did all of those, then I got this call in 2021 [that] he wanted to meet me. I was like, “What?” So, that was amazing. I think I’d watched them not that long before I’d actually got the meeting, and I was like, “That’s so weird.” I can’t believe that kind of synergy.

What about joining the franchise after being a fan did you find most surprising?

Natalia Tena: I was surprised I didn’t get to do any action. I had the meeting with him, which wasn’t an audition; just a meeting. Chad is one of the loveliest men. I cannot recommend him enough as a director at all; he is wonderful. What surprised me is when he talked about the character and told me about her. I was fully expecting to be killing a lot of people with my hands, and I didn’t. I was like, “Oh that’s very…okay.” She’s the matriarch, and she lets other people do some killing for her.

I was immediately drawn to this role when I first heard about it. What was it about this character that made you want to play her?

Natalia Tena: Chad’s energy, his eyes, and the way he spoke to me. At the time, I was going through some personal issues, but during our meeting, he made me feel confident and supported. He told me, “Nat, you’ve got this. That’s your face.” He was so giving and lovely.

He described the character to me as the matriarch of the Roma underground in Berlin, and her connection to John Wick is like extended family. The last time she saw him was at a strange family Christmas when she was 18. She’s grieving the loss of her father, and John Wick comes to her for something.

When Chad explained all these details, I was immediately on board. Even though there was no script, I knew I had to play this character. It was surprising that I didn’t get to kill anyone, though.

Yeah, it’s unusual for a character in the John Wick franchise not to be involved in any killings. What sets Chad apart as a director compared to others you’ve worked with?

Natalia Tena: Aside from his personality, Chad’s directing style is impressive. During the first week of filming, I noticed how calm and prepared he was. He had everything worked out, even for complex scenes like the Parisian roundabout. He made me feel comfortable and safe on set, which is rare for such a high-budget production.

Yeah, those action sequences are incredible. Can you tell me about working with Keanu both as a scene partner and as a leader on set?

Natalia Tena: Everyone was right about Keanu. He’s a wonderful person. He’s very [insert rest of the text here]

Sweet. Chad was incredibly sensitive and wanted me to come a day early. He was eager to show me everything, including his dogs. It felt like a cast reading, maybe even the Berlin cast, but it was just me, Keanu Reeves, and the writer. Keanu was absolutely lovely.

We played and hung out for a while. I hate using the word “cool,” but he truly is a cool guy. He’s sweet and gentle. It seemed like everyone there had worked together before, like a real family. That’s the vibe I got, and I felt incredibly welcomed.

I genuinely believe that if anyone deserves the title of being cool, it’s Keanu Reeves.

Natalia Tena: Yeah, I actually wanted to tell him this, but I didn’t get the chance at the premiere. Just before the premieres, I suggested having a Keanu Reeves appreciation day. I was cooking ground nut stew, which takes a long time. Lots of peanut butter and spices. We watched a few of his movies like Point Break and Speed. They’re all wonderful.

When you’re working on Katia’s backstory, what was a piece of it that made you go, “Okay, I understand this character?”

Natalia Tena: I do a lot of homework and really immerse myself in the role. But when I get on set, I realize that there’s so much more to it. The costumes, makeup, the whole situation, and even the extras bring the character to life. It’s hard to describe. The costume designer is Spanish like me, and he’s amazing. He’s wild and incredibly creative. Chad sat with me for three hours, even though he had a million things to do. We discussed costumes and built up the character. I wanted to portray her mannerisms and physicality, as I believe they represent a lot.

I think one of the things you excel at as a performer is capturing the physicality of a character and truly transforming into them. It’s one of my favorite things to see actors do because it makes them feel like completely different people. You do an exceptional job with that.

[Image: Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4.]

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Natalia Tena: Let me tell you, it’s all about the hair and makeup. They work their magic on me, cutting and straightening my hair. I’m always open to their creativity. In fact, in my current project, I told them to do whatever they want with my hair. Because when you’re in that role for months, every time you look in the mirror, you want to see that character staring back at you.

Once, I had to rock bright pink hair for a job. The character was vibrant and fun, a tattoo artist. Walking around with pink hair, you can’t help but attract attention. People smile at you differently, and it gives you a certain energy.

Is there a specific physical aspect that you really dive into, like their walk or posture, that helps you get into character?

Natalia Tena: Absolutely, the walk can make a huge difference. And of course, the costume plays a major role in that. I had these amazing heels and a snakeskin waistcoat. Me and Paco, my co-star, were like, “Wow!” We even had some Spanish terminology to describe the rings and the weight of the costume. I also had lots of tattoos, some of which were semi-permanent. I loved walking around Berlin, showing off my tattoos in the summer. The reactions from people, the curiosity and intrigue, fueled my performance.

I love that. You said that you were surprised when you saw the ending because in the script that you read, there was a different ending. Do you remember what that was?

Natalia Tena: I don’t want you to misquote me, but I believe there was another death in the original script. It left things on a cliffhanger.

I thought, “Are they going to do a spin-off?” But now, seeing how the story and characters continue, it’s clear that the High Table and the mafia are still in play. The cycle of hate continues.

Keanu Reeves at the church in John Wick Chapter 4

Is there a specific aspect of Katia’s story that you would love to explore more?

Natalia Tena: I would have loved to see the Roma family’s Christmas celebration. The tension, the anger, the vodka-fueled festivities. Can you imagine a group of resentful gangsters celebrating Christmas? It would be quite an interesting sight.

Everything’s fine until you have one too many drinks.

Natalia Tena: Everything seems fine, until the alcohol starts flowing and guns and knives come out. Suddenly, it’s chaos. Cousin blah blah kills the chicken again, and another family member bites the dust.

Is there another character or a corner of the John Wick universe that you were not able to play in that you really would want to?

Natalia Tena: When I met George, one of the actors who was just starting out, I instantly connected with him. He’s such a wonderful man. I remember wishing I could have been part of the desert shoot. It was said that those days were towards the end of filming, and they only shot at night. The intensity of shooting John Wick, even just after two weeks, was incredibly demanding. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to endure three months of that vampire-like lifestyle. But being in the desert and experiencing that unique universe would have been amazing. Plus, riding a horse or a camel would have been a completely new and exciting challenge for me. I’ve never done anything like that before. It would have been a fantastic opportunity.

What sets Katia apart from other characters in the John Wick universe?

Natalia Tena: That’s a tough question for me to answer. I believe that’s something the audience should decide. Personally, I think it’s the side characters that make John Wick truly amazing.

The visual art and martial arts are mind-blowing. But what really elevates the franchise is the world-building and the intriguing side characters. We’re all curious about this underworld and the Continental hotel. And I love how John Wick takes us to different locations like Japan.

Donnie Yen as Caine in John Wick Chapter 4 image

This franchise has some of the most impressive world-building I’ve ever seen in an action series.

Natalia Tena: I completely agree. It’s the little characters on the sidelines that make this world so rich and violent. And of course, it’s all about the dogs. I have my own dogs lying around here too.

Yeah, in that first movie when he says, “I have to kill everyone now,” I was like, “That’s totally justified. I’m with you.”

Natalia Tena: Absolutely. Go for it. Good luck. You can even crowd fund for it. Let’s do this.

What is something you learned from this project that you want to carry into your future work?

Natalia Tena: I was really nervous about taking on this job because of its scale, especially coming from a series where we all lived and worked closely together. I had already met wonderful people like Chad, Keanu Reeves, and the rest of the cast. But there was still an element of the unknown. On the first day, I had to speak Russian, which added to my anxiety. But I took a deep breath and tapped into my experience from stage performances. I had never done something like that on a film set before. Maybe I brought a little bit of that stage knowledge to the set. I learned the importance of embodying the status of my character, even while dealing with personal doubts.

Before we filmed the big scene with the hanging, I was surrounded by talented actors, some of whom could speak Russian fluently. My self-doubt started creeping in, telling me I wasn’t good enough. But I reminded myself that my character’s status was higher than everyone else in the room. That mindset helped me avoid a panic attack on the first day.

I totally understand that. It’s fascinating how learning Russian felt like its own form of training compared to the action sequences.

Natalia Tena: That was my oral stunt. I had an oral stunt which was that. Weirdly that can very much help because I find that having an accent or a language is almost like the physicality. It’s another layer of like, that’s where you’re coming from. It’s other platform to kind of bounce off and be.

Natalia Tena: I was having a kind of very bad personal moment at the time, and that definitely helped. You’re completely right, in the sense of when people are grieving they’re nihilistic. Every time I’ve grieved, a lot of bad decisions come from that grief. That’s why, apparently, they say that you shouldn’t make any big life choice within six months, or a year.

Whatever it is, don’t move country or change your job or sell your house for six months. Just wait. I feel like she’s a woman in a man’s mafia world, and it’s all patriarchal, isn’t it? And she’s grieving. So, you’re completely right. That’s what makes it dangerous. She doesn’t care. That level of grief where you’re grieving so much like, “I will just kill everyone.”

Katia is bringing this grief, and I love how you infuse that into the performance, which made her more dangerous. Because I always feel that can be one of those hairpin triggers where you started off wrong, and you’re just you’re done. Can you talk about tapping into that?

Natalia Tena: Loads! Loads! Have you read the books? Obviously, you know that there’s bits missing.

And actually, when I found out about the HBO thing, I think there’s that initial thing as an actor where you’re like, “Oh, don’t remake something…” But then I was like, “No, it’s gonna be amazing!” I got really excited about it. And then I was like, “Do you think I’m old enough now to play one of the teachers? How can I get another gig on this amazing project?” So, I’m definitely putting that to my agent.

To switch gears very quickly for my last question, Tonks is one of my favorite characters in the Harry Potter universe. There are reports that they will do a television series rebooting that world. Was there a storyline of Tonks that you guys didn’t get to because of the movie format?

Natalia Tena: Be a teacher. Oh, come on.

About John Wick: Chapter 4

Keanu Reeves looking down in John Wick Chapter 4

Following the events of Parabellum, John Wick has found a new path to defeating the High Table and is taking the fight to them. But before he can try to earn his freedom, a powerful new enemy will turn even more people against Wick, including one of his oldest and most dangerous friends.

Check out our other John Wick: Chapter 4 interviews:

Keanu Reeves
Laurence Fishburne
Chad Stahelski
Ian McShane & Lance Reddick
Writers Shay Hatten & Michael Finch
Stunt Coordinators Scott Rogers & Stephen Dunlevy

John Wick: Chapter 4 is on Digital now. It will be available on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, & On Demand on June 13 from Lionsgate.