Captain Marvel burst into theaters March 8, 2019, and conquered the box office. Fans were delighted that the film exceeded expectations. It faced tough opposition from a few fans, but like the film’s message, anyone can overcome anything if they’re willing to fight for it. This is the first female-led film for Disney/Marvel. The star-studded cast didn’t disappoint. It quickly blazed to the top of the box office to become the franchise’s seventh largest opening weekend of all time. That’s an incredible feat for a film that received limited marketing in comparison to other MCU films.
Sharon Blynn makes her debut as a Skrull and wife to Talos. The Skrulls are shape-shifting humanoids that are in a war with the Kree, another humanoid race (Ronan the Accuser). As the battle wages on, Soren knows she must find a way to survive and keep her family safe. Our managing editor, Tiffany Unscripted, had the ultimate pleasure to speak with Sharon about Soren, Captain Marvel, and her latest projects. Let’s show Sharon some mega love by sharing this interview and commenting. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Sharon! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your role in the blockbuster film Captain Marvel! We LOVE the movie. You play the role of Soren, a Skrull and the wife of Talos, who is played by Ben Mendelsohn. We can’t go into detail to avoid spoilers. Still, we’re excited to speak with you about Soren. What can fans expect from the film?
Thanks for having me and introducing me to your readers! I’m glad you dig the movie. This Captain Marvel film is the origin story for the Carol Danvers iteration of this character, and as you could already see in the trailers if your readers haven’t yet seen the movie, there are plenty of ‘90s nostalgia, action, adventure, and amazing special FX, grounded in a story whose message will resonate with audiences on many levels!
We know Soren is the wife of Talos, but she is so much more. Tell us about her. What is her personality like?
I loved creating the inner life of Soren for this role. Soren is an intelligent, courageous, passionate being who also has a tenderness and vulnerability about her that she doesn’t often reveal. She values integrity and is devoted to her family and her surrounding Skrull community. As Talos’s wife, she is also looked to as a leader, and she takes that position seriously.
Latex can be challenging when you must wear it for hours at a time. A few actors I’ve spoken with said they ave worn their costumes up to 14-hours. Was it a challenge to play Soren?
It wasn’t a challenge from the perspective of emotion or “motivation” (to use an “actory” term). I poured all of who I am into bringing Soren to life, to be who she is in those circumstances. Soren and I both share a palpable sense of mortality and therefore facing life-altering challenges with fierceness and hope, compassion and courage, and also holding onto love in my core to transcend those difficult circumstances. The one thing that was certainly a new experience from a physicality standpoint was making sure the nuances of my feelings in my facial expressions came through past all of the prosthetics, which were tightly affixed to my face and head causing what I called the “Skrulltox” effect! I practiced facial movements in the mirror to create muscle memory of how much I needed to exaggerate normal expressions for those to actually read on the outside.
I haven’t met anyone, thus far, who didn’t want to star in an MCU movie! They are fantastic! Why did you choose to accept the role?
Two words: Marvel. Movie. It’s a dream come true. I’m a lifelong fan of Marvel and Stan Lee, so beyond the opportunity as an actor, the role and the entire experience of being in this particular film has given me immeasurable joy.
Stan Lee will be missed. What an amazing tribute Disney/Marvel did for him, his family, and the fans. Let’s talk about the subject matter of Captain Marvel. It is action-packed. How does the movie’s production bring something new to the MCU?
As far as something new, this is the first female superhero lead in the MCU movie-verse. And with Anna Boden co-directing, it’s the first female director in the MCU. Those are specific aspects of the film that make it that much more meaningful to me personally, as an activist whose work is fueled by my Bald Is Beautiful mission and creating positive paradigm shifts in the world through the visual media.
Our readers requested that I ask, but I know you can’t say anything! [lol] Still, what is going to surprise people about Soren?
This is hard to answer without spoilers, so I’ll just say . . .
Yes! Ha! They must GO SEE THE MOVIE! [lol] Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line in Captain Marvel and why?
As is often the case in Marvel movies, there is a bit of “tongue-in-cheek” humor periodically thrown in, and let’s just say, there are a couple of particularly chuckle-worthy moments when some of the otherworldly beings from the future have to deal with ’90s computer tech. That’s all I’m going to say on that, but you’ll know it when you see it!
Right! It’s one of the main reasons why fans love the films. The humor is relatable. Tell me, when looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
The most resonant thing about this production for me what the incredibly intricate rhythm and flow of so many elements of the process. From the Legacy Effects pre-shoot mechanicals (shout-out to Brian Sipe and his amazing team!) to the care and attentiveness on set by everyone involved from make-up to wardrobe to lens techs and the on-the-ground crew to the filming itself. I always stay for film credits (and obviously after credits for Marvel movies!), and to actually be part of that long list of people and have names and faces and personal connection to what goes into creating that level of cinematic magic is extraordinary.
The film credits are the best! I almost missed the one with GROOT in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. FilmIsNow Movie Bloopers & Extras made a YouTube video of the end credits for every MCU film. It’s so good! Tell me, what do you enjoy most about your character and role?
I enjoyed finding the idiosyncratic movements and such that I could bring to Soren’s presence. Because of the “mask” I was wearing, I had fun exploring how “intergalactic” Sharon (aka Soren) would move, and then merge that into her essence.
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You played Soren flawlessly. But I have to ask if you could change one thing about Soren, what would it be and why?
I don’t think I would change anything about Soren, rather I would like to see how her story might evolve. As is always the case with the way Marvel characters are written, there are infinite layers and facets to explore in telling stories of universal resonance, and that is an exciting prospect to imagine!
That’s true. All of the MCU characters and films are intertwined. Although they’re different films and a majority of the characters don’t/hasn’t connected, there’s still cohesiveness with the films. So, when did your love for Marvel begin?
My fandom for Marvel began around elementary school age. I grew up watching cartoons of all kinds (mostly Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera style) with my twin sis and older brother, and we had two close friends, a brother, and sister, who lived on the next block over and whose house was often home away from home. The brother of the pair had an extensive collection of plastic-sleeved and alphabetically organized comic books in the garage, and many an afternoon was spent pouring through those pages. (Yes, Dungeons & Dragons was also part of our after-school program, as was football in the street and Atari games!)
How has your career changed since your appearance in Captain Marvel?
To be honest, the impact on my career remains to be seen. This role and movie are milestone accomplishments for me that have no equal and will always remain uniquely personally significant as I continue working as an actor. On a basic level, I like to think that work begets more work! Outside of those things, I’m also thrilled about the increased visibility for my Bald Is Beautiful platform and message.
Well, I keep hearing great things about Soren! [smile] So, what type of training did you do for your role?
The role of Soren in this movie didn’t involve anything extraordinary in terms of stunt work or other such things. So, I did my standard “training” of weekly acting class to keep my performance muscles open and flexible, and physical exercise in the gym to be fit and ready to rock ’n’ Skrull!
I can’t imagine Marvel has a How to Shapeshift: 101 book lying around, but that would have been cool! If you could play a superhero in another Marvel film, who would you like to play?
Well, I don’t know if the MCU is similar to Law & Order in terms of not casting the same actor more than once in major roles (with rare exception in L&O universe!), but/and . . . it would be super cool to play Moondragon! She’s a bad-ass mama (not just because she’s bald, but that is certainly a plus from my perspective)! I’m happy to explore any or all MCU possibilities, including more of Soren!
What music did you listen to while on the set of Captain Marvel?
It was actually hard for me to physically listen to music on set since there was no way to put earbuds in my prosthetic ears! In my downtime, I mostly read or chatted with other cast or crew members. I also loved observing the directors and crew preparing for the next shots between set-ups; soaking it all in as much as I could.
What skills have you picked up from your role as Soren?
I wouldn’t say this is a skill per se, but I learned that I can actually handle a high level of prosthetics fittings and application, including things like full-eyeball lenses, as well as a multi-layered wardrobe (it was hot up in there), and still communicate story while being somewhat uncomfortable at times.
Let’s talk roles. What role has made you a better person?
This question might be a sort of chicken or the egg scenario. Living life and continuing to evolve and expand my understanding of the world around me makes me a better person, and that makes me a better actor in whatever scenarios I’m working within. The more I can empathize and connect to a wider range of people and circumstances, the more I can transmit truthfully in a role.
A reader wanted to know, what do you think Soren’s favorite Earth delicacy would be and why?
Soren and I are quite simpatico in many ways, so I think we’d both appreciate the same delicacy: croissants. Many folks might not consider it a “delicacy” by strict definition, but for this purpose, I’m referring to it being made at the finest bakery in France. And there are two forms of this particular indulgence that Soren enjoys: One is a warm Nutella-filled croissant, and the other is croissant French toast. Those are two of my— er, Soren’s — favorite indulgences here on planet Earth!
Do you have anything else you would like to share about Captain Marvel?
There is a lot of focus, and rightfully so, on the many female-centered aspects of the Captain Marvel movie especially as it tells a thought-provoking story around women finding and embracing their power, their voice, and their purpose. I’d like to suggest that while its message and impact may lean towards women in these and other ways, its overall theme when zoomed out speaks to the general importance of balanced representation and opportunity, reciprocal respect and recognition of our talents and strengths and what actually defines those things, and also an evolved, expansive empathy and care for all beings, on Earth and beyond!
Tell us about the Bald is Beautiful organization that supports Ovarian Cancer programs. It’s a wonderful and supportive program you’ve started. I lost a cousin to Ovarian Cancer five years ago. Ovarian Cancer is known as a silent killer because it’s often diagnosed in stage 4. By then, the mortality rate has severely decreased. You are a true testament that it can be beaten, with the right education and resources. Tell us, how does the Bald is Beautiful organization help bring awareness to the disease?
I started Bald Is Beautiful after losing my hair during chemo, and ultimately both of my ovaries, which caused me to confront questions about the standards of beauty and biology through which I was perceiving my wholeness as a woman. After meeting many other women who grappled with those ideas, even more so than the fact that they had cancer, I was compelled to create a change in the messages that the media sends women about beauty and femininity, especially for women whose bodies and appearance are changing due to a severe health situation. While we’re fighting to survive, we cannot afford to feel anything but self-love at even a cellular level. So Bald Is Beautiful was born, and I launched my website in 2002 in order to share my message and my story.
I also began to pursue work as an actor and model to find ways for the image of a bald woman to be included in the visual representation of women in TV, film, and magazines. A picture is worth 1,000 words, so the saying goes, and the power of seeing a bald woman who is not covering her head or feeling shame or less beautiful without her hair speaks volumes.
You use your voice to spread important messages. Your activism has helped you land notable media spots, such as hosting the PBS special The Whisper: The Silent Crisis of Ovarian Cancer. Tell us about the special.
The PBS special was actually almost ten years in the making, and I came in at around the 8-year mark. The producer and I were connected through a mutual friend who worked at Gilda’s Club New York (one of my favorite all-time support communities). The title derives from the fact that Ovarian Cancer is known as the “Silent Killer”, because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are easily misattributed to a host of non-malignant causes and are therefore often ignored, dismissed, or purely misdiagnosed. Also, since there is no method for early detection for ovarian cancer, most diagnoses are made a very late stage with only a 30% survival rate (I was diagnosed as Stage 3C).
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Eventually, I brought on a friend of mine to co-produce, and the three of us put together a structure for how we wanted to communicate the information about Ovarian Cancer. We wanted to put human relatable faces and stories to the information, so we decided to combine interviews with medical professionals at several of the most renowned cancer research and treatment facilities across the country, with interviews of women who were in the midst of or recently completing treatment. The final product is something I’m very proud of, and I’m grateful to have been the host as well as one of the subjects included in turning up the volume on this insidious disease in the hopes of bringing awareness and funds for research in developing early detection, a vital tool to saving lives.
Thank you for raising awareness! You were previously featured in People Magazine as a Revlon Role Model and was part of Lifetime Television’s Every Woman Counts Campaign. Tell us about being a role model and the Every Woman Counts Campaign.
Coincidentally, both of those honors have a connection to one of my personal role models and heroes, Lilly Tartikoff. The Revlon Role Model honor came about from my participation that year in the Revlon Run/Walk for Women’s Cancers (an event that was created by Lilly as one of her charitable fundraising and awareness events that I first began attending annually in New York in 2002). There was a tent set up at the end of the event where we could get a fun pic with our 5K medal and fill out a form telling our story to be considered for the award. My brother coaxed me into doing it, and some months later, a friend of my parents sent me a picture of the page in People, and that’s how I found out I’d been selected! The connection to Lilly and Revlon, for what they represent in philanthropy and the beauty industry, made this a very special honor.
The “Remarkable Women” initiative was part of the Lifetime Television “Every Woman Counts” campaign, which was designed to spotlight exceptional women who inspire and empower others to make a difference in their communities and the world. That honor was a result of my cosmically timed encounter with two A&E Networks executives at the 2010 National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Gala at which Lilly had personally awarded me the EIF/Lilly Tartikoff Hope Award! Those two women loved my Bald Is Beautiful message and story, and three months later, I got the wonderful news that I would be included among some other incredible women being honored in the month of September (which is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month) that year. Magical!
Do you have a special message you would like to share with our readers?
The motto for Bald Is Beautiful is “Always smile from the inside out!” I hope that what people come away with after meeting me or reading about my story is to truly love and nurture and care for themselves and to proactively live their lives with an awareness of our mind-body-spirit interconnectedness.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
Folks can stay tuned for news and updates by following me on Instagram at @bald.is.beautiful or visit my website at www.baldisbeautiful.org.
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Featured Image Credit: Alexis Dickey Photography.
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