Kat Dennings may be a surprising casting choice for a movie like Thor given her work in films like Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist on The 40-Year-Old Virgin, where she played decidedly down-to-earth characters who were celebrated for their smarts at least as much as their sex appeal. But it’s precisely that sense of self-awareness that made her essential to Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of the Marvel Comics superhero, where she serves as a wonderfully grounding influence that balances out all of the film’s celestial set pieces. Boxoffice recently sat down with Dennings at the Los Angeles press day for Thor, where the young actress talked about finding a balance between big action and her character’s disbelief, as well as the ongoing process of picking roles that not only challenge her creatively, but offer her greater commercial opportunities for the future.

Because this character didn’t exist in the comics, did you just use the script as a reference, or did you research the comics or the mythology of Thor at all?

I was familiar, but the thing about Darcy is that because she has no idea what’s going on ever, and she kind of is in her own little space-cadet world, I on-purpose didn’t do much preparation, because I wanted to feel like I didn’t know what was going on, just like she doesn’t know what’s going on. And because I’m lazy (laughs).

Many of your characters have that ability to cut to the quick of what’s happening in a scene. How much of your reactions were scripted and how much were you able to step outside scenes to find your own reaction to what was happening?

Well, that’s all Ken. Ken was the one that if you had a question, he’ll stop and come to you and talk to you for 15 minutes. But we took care of that in rehearsals, really, because we had a lot of rehearsals, and Darcy’s character was sort of there, but she wasn’t fleshed out. So that all came from rehearsing and his just unbelievable attention to detail. He wants every character to be completely filled out, and I think they got a lot of that from just watching me and Natalie interact, because we’ve been friends for years. They kind of saw what they liked and used it—which I think is really nice, because it’s sort of an unusual female relationship to see in a movie. Especially in a movie like this, because we’re not all hot and we’re not wearing anything tight; we’re just like cool bitches who are really passionate, and really love each other. There’s no cattiness, there’s no nothing. And Jane especially, Jane’s character is more interested in being smart and informed than she is in doing her make-up, which I think is really important—I think girls will really like that. And dudes, too, because she’s gorgeous.

As Tom Hiddleston said in the press conference, Loki saw himself as the hero of the story. Do you think that way as an actor—do you consider your character the hero of her story, or is it better to just do the scenes you’re in and not worry about the overall picture?

That’s interesting—it’s a good question. I think it’s interesting because just being a person, you’re the hero of your story, everybody is; you’re the hero of yours, I’m the hero of mine, everybody is our own protagonist. But with Darcy I didn’t think too hard, because there are so many questions, like where did she come from, who are her parents, why is she there, and we talked about that with Ken. We came up with a brief sketch of how she got there and stuff, but I very much stayed in the moment with her, because she doesn’t really think—she just says random shit that comes to her or she says something before she can think about it. So I didn’t want to get too deep into that for this. But maybe in the future there will be time for that.

How difficult was it to acclimate yourself to the machinery of a production of this size?

What’s interesting and very unusual for this movie is that most of it was practical. I mean, the Frost Giant stuff, obviously the endlessness was fake, but they took me on a tour and the sets were all built. The Destroyer in our sequences was built—they had a destroyer for us to look at, a 20-foot metal dude, all built for us and standing there so when we were reacting to it, it was really there, which is crazy. I mean, that’s amazing! And I think one of the hardest things for an actor is to be scared of nothing, to be scared of something that isn’t there, so Ken would have the first A.D. fire a gun with blanks into the air to scare us, or they would have an explosion rigged up, or if we were looking at Sif jumping into a burning building or something, for instance, they would have Jamie [Alexander's] stunt double on a wire flying into a building off-camera for us so that we would be reacting to something that was really in front of us—which was crazy! And I’m sure it comes from Ken’s earlier experiences where directors just tell you to do something, and don’t really help you. He does everything he can to make sure that you’re comfortable and you have something to really look at—which is part of why he’s so amazing.

How much do you have to think about which project you want to take on next, to take on roles that show people different sides of yourself?

I try to vary it. It’s less about showing people and more about my own boredom. If I do the same type of thing, I just get angry at myself, so I have to keep it interesting. And this is a tough act to follow. I feel bad for other directors, because it’s going to be really hard for them to impress me after Kenneth (laughs). But I don’t think is really have a plan for my career; I just get things sent to me or read something that I really love, and then I try to get it—and if I can’t, then I don’t. But I know it seems like this, but we really don’t have that much control, unless you’re like Brad Pitt; you just take what you can get, basically. And then every once in a while something incredible comes across, and if you’re lucky enough to get it, then you do it. And this was one of those things where I really wanted it and I got it, and I really fought to get it, so I’m still just reeling and excited about it.

Are you finding the things you get sent interesting, or is it your responsibility to make each of those potential roles interesting for yourself?

Unfortunately it’s usually the latter I think about ‘what can I do to make it interesting?’ Because most of the time, if it’s a good script, there’s got to be something wrong with it; like if there’s a really good story, and your role is kind of meh, you think, okay, what can I do to make this interesting for me. Because I don’t like coasting through stuff; it’s just not rewarding for me, and it’s not why I work. But sometimes you get both, and that’s incredible. It’s really lucky.

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Kat Dennings is proof positive that not all starlets are built the same. Providing a welcome dose of comic incredulity in the new film “Thor,” Dennings repeatedly manages to cut right to the quick in her scenes, serving as the audience’s eyes as the title character elevates superhero conventions to literally godlike proportions. But this isn’t the first time she’s served as a grounding influence in films that operate on a decidedly elevated dramatic level; not only did she hold her own against Michael Cera in the sweetly twee romantic comedy “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” but even managed to steal scenes from Steve Carell in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” Her own indie, “Daydream Nation,” will be released this Friday. Speakeasy sat down with Dennings in Los Angeles, where she talked about the challenges of being the requisite comic relief in a film that otherwise operates on an epic level.

The Wall Street Journal: You said that you got the role before you even knew what it was. Is that typical at all?

Kat Dennings: It’s not typical but it sort of is for a movie like this that’s very top-secret and anticipated, because they don’t want anything to leak or get out. So I didn’t really know what I was walking into because there was no Darcy in the comics. So after I got it, I was like, “oh! That’s what it is. Okay.”

How did they describe the character to you? Did they say “you might have to wear a catsuit,” or anything like that?

No, they said you’re the assistant to a scientist, basically. They gave me a rough outline, and then like a two-page scene, maybe, that’s not in the movie, that’s just a scene written for the audition.

Your character provides a very necessary element of comic relief. What sort of pressure does that put on you when you’re preparing her?

Having seen the film and looking back, I probably should have felt more pressure, because I didn’t realize that it was such an important component. But at the time, it just felt easy and natural because they filmed the Asgard scenes before Santa Fe, before the Earth scenes, so Nat [Portman] and Stellan [Skarsgard] and I were basically our own little movie with Chris, so we weren’t really aware of the other world. So it just felt very easy and natural. But yeah, when I saw it all put together, I was like, oh wow – holy s—! Maybe I should have been more nervous.

Once you got the script, was she pretty well-defined, or was there a lot of room for you to develop her background?

There just wasn’t that much of her, which I anticipated. I mean, when I auditioned, I went, oh, she’s an assistant, maybe she’ll be in one or two scenes – and that’s enough. I was totally excited about that; just being in Thor and working with Kenneth Branagh and everyone, I didn’t care how many scenes I was in. And then we had the table read, and for some reason Darcy was really well-received, and I think because everyone responded so well, they were like, there’s got to be more Darcy, and all of a sudden I’m in a lot of scenes. I’m like, “are you sure Darcy’s in this scene? Wow!” So I think Darcy just got bigger and bigger, and then she was very well fleshed-out, and the improvising we did in rehearsal is what ended up in the film. But it was definitely based on reality once we got to the shooting script.

It sounds like Kenneth made this a very collaborative experience, but does a film like this have a different kind of atmosphere than these other projects?

Completely different. Because on a smaller movie, it’s like, I wish we had a crane right now – that would be such a great shot if we had a crane. And on Thor, we had like ten cranes. You just have people who are passionate, and you also have the resources to make that come to life, and that’s incredible. So it just serves the people behind it, and it serves the film, so when you’re watching it you can feel that passion and dedication from everybody. And also, people who are passionate, and with a deep love of what they’re doing with the money and resources to make it as good as it can possibly be – which is just mind-blowing to watch. So imagine artists with unlimited amounts of resources.

How calculated do you have to be about your choices? Was the appeal of this in doing something you hadn’t done before, or id there value in doing a film like this because of the visibility it gives you?

I didn’t really have a bigger plan, but I always wanted to be in a Marvel movie. It was kind of something I hoped I would get to do one day, because I’m a big Marvel fan, a big comic book fan. And a big mythology fan, so Thor is just “it.” Thor is the end. You don’t get bigger than Thor. He’s a god. So Thor and Kenneth Branagh – say no more. I would have been a camera guy, I would have done anything on that movie just to be around that kind of talent.

You mentioned you’re a big Marvel fan. Are you just a fan of the movies, or do you collect the comics too?

I’m a fan of the films and also the comic books, but I don’t collect them. My brother did growing up, so I was always peeking over his shoulder and looking through them.

Were there particular titles you would steal from him?

I liked anything that had a girl on the cover, because I was pretty little at that time. But I vividly remember Sif, which is weird. I remember her stuff from the comic books.

What’s coming up for you?

I did a movie tentatively called “Renee,” which is about To Write Love On Her Arms, which is an organization, and it was started for Renee Yohe, who is battling with being bipolar and drug addiction and suicide and depression and all of that crap. That is something I just did, and then I did a pilot for CBS called “Two Broke Girls,” which is written by Whitney Cummings and Michael Patrick King, and that was really fun – I wrapped that yesterday.

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Alicia here…. with Kat Dennings. Who, you ask? Well let’s just say give it twelve months and you’ll turn cerise upon being reminded you ever did. Dennings has rapidly emerged as one of today’s most in-demand and most popular young actresses and this year she’ll be seen in no less than three major movies. Following small but showy roles in “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” and “Raise Your Voice”, the vivacious brunette was promoted to bonafide co-star in films like “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” and “Defendor” with Woody Harrelson.

Now, Dennings joins Aussie Chris Hemsworth and Oscar Winner Natalie Portman in “Thor” but as I mentioned before, the Marvel blockbuster is but only one of the actresses’ bravura additions to the arts – she’s also the star of the buzzworthy indy “Daydream Nation” and the challenging drama “Renee”, in which she plays the title role of Renee Yohe, a young woman who, after a battle with drugs and depression, started charity group To Write Love on Her Arms. I had the pleasure of talking to Ms Dennings on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.

So one thing surprised me about ”Thor”, was how funny it is.

Yeah.

I never expected that it would be quite funny. Is it that… When you read the script, did you notice that on the page or is it something that came out during the performance?

Some of it was on the page but I think during the table read and we all heard each other say it, everything. I was very… I was stunned by how funny it was.

Yeah.

I really wasn’t expecting that. So I think you really need it in an epic like this and there’s all the costumes and the effects. Everybody has a sense of humor which is really important.

Well, some of those situation are just comical in themselves, aren’t they? Dream. [chuckle] A good couple of dreams to explore. I might flip in and discover that.

Oh, wow, beautiful.

So with your character, specially was a comic release, did you enjoy playing Darcy?

I loved playing Darcy. Darcy is so much fun because she’s sort of… Yeah, like I didn’t have to wear a cape or anything. I just had to chill out. I didn’t have to train. I didn’t have to learn any ninja moves and she’s got to get the audience’s point of view. So that’s really fun to play.

She has a bit of a weapon, right? She’s got a taser.

She’s got a taser.

And is it right that you accidentally tasered yourself?

Yep.

On set?.

Yes, I did.

How did that happen?

Well, I was filming… And it’s not the movie I mean, but I was filming it and sort of just my hands firing. And I was leaning on a metal kind of like that chair, just like a metal thing. And I hit the target where I was suppose to hit and it bounced back and hit the metal which traveled the current through to my body.

Oh my God. What did that feel like?

It felt horrible! Horrible! I just don’t do it. Horrible! Actually, it was terrible.

It’s amazing they used a real taser on set.

Yeah well, this is Thor. We had a big budget.

What was it like being on such a big budget film? You guys had that big action scene towards the end.

Fantastic. And the good thing about that is that they built the destroyer for us.

Oh really.

So we weren’t looking at a…

A tennis ball.

Right, now we were looking at the destroyer. Which is crazy. I mean crazy. That never happens. And if we needed to looked shocked… Luke, our first AD had a gun with blanks in it. And he would fire into the sky. We would react and he wouldn’t tell us that he was doing it. I mean, it was terrifying. But they did that… I mean, they did all that amazing stuff for us.

Did a lot of that come from Kenneth Branagh?

I think so, yeah. There is nothing harder than trying to look scared at nothing. I say that might be one of the hardest things to do, is being scared at…

Reacting to a blue screen…

I’m like a guy eating a sandwich. Like there’s just nothing to react to. So he gave us like explosions. He gave us giant robots. It was awesome.

Do you think a lot of that comes from him being an actor, himself?

Absolutely. I can always tell that… Like, oh someone’s getting married down there (looks out window).

Yeah.

But yeah. I think the frustration of having those moments and having to do that yourself and then changing it and remembering that and making it easier for people later. I mean, awesome. That’s so cool of him.

I always think of him as in ”Much Ado About Nothing”. He seems like a really funny guy. What was he like to work with?

He is. He is like that. And just generous and giving and has all the time in the world for you. That’s how it feels. So if you have a question before you shoot, he’ll just stop and come over to you and talk to you for ten minutes.

Oh, that’s great.

Yeah. And I cannot say that about most people.

Yeah. The cast is fantastic as well.

Yeah.

I know you didn’t get to share any things with Hopkins. You hope you can…

I know.

But just to have people like that involved and…

I can feel them around. I can feel that I was in a movie he was in. It’s just crazy to me.

It seems like a lot of these big actors are coming on board with these superhero films. What do you think that is? Is it just because they’re getting better and better and better with the scripts and story?

They’re better and better and I think Kenneth is so special that everyone wants to work with him. I mean, there’s certain directors that everyone dreams of working with and he’s up there with, like Tony was saying, with Spielberg and Scorsese and all of the greats, Hemsworth and Kenneth. They’re all out there. I don’t know who wouldn’t want to be one of these.

And Chris Hemsworth, of course I should talk about him being an Aussie. We know him from ”Home and Away”, just a daggy soap opera.

Of course yeah and with Dancing with the Stars.

Yeah, ”Dancing with the Stars”. How was it seeing him transform into Thor? He looks pretty good.

He was amazing. I’m so proud of him. He’s working so hard. And he is still getting beefed up for Avengers because they’re staring the movies. Yeah just so proud. And I knew cause we were acting together but seeing it all put together and edited and put the 3D and stuff, I just… Yeah you guys should be proud home town boy. He’s so talented.

And watching it, I can’t really imagine any other actor doing Thor.

There is no one else who could do it.

Cause he brings that comedic set as well as being good to look at and that…

He’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. So that really comes through, I think.

Pretty amazing for him to have starring role, as well. It’s a big film.

Yeah, I’m really happy for him. He’s headed for beautiful things.

So with this film, are you going to any comic book conventions or have you done that already?

We did Comic Con already.

How was that?

Crazy.

Did you prepare for all the fan boys?

I was sort of prepared, but not fully prepared. Someone got stabbed at our panel…

Oh, my gosh!

Over a seat.

Was that with a pen? I think I heard about that.

Yeah. It was a mechanical pencil.

A mechanical pencil?

Terrifying. So that scared me to death. That scared all of us. We were like, “Okay. Now, they’re dangerous.” So, yeah. That speaks to the terrifying passion of fans.

Did you do research in to the comic books to know a lot about the characters or you just stuck with the script?

I went with the script. And I also, on purpose, didn’t prepare too much because Darcy is completely clueless. So I wanted to be sort of clueless, too.

When I was telling people I was going to be interviewing you, a lot of people were so excited, girls and boys, pretty excited that I’m going to talk to you. When fans come up to you, what is the main role they like to talk to you about?

It’s funny. I get a lot of… I get, I think, “Nick & Norah.” And then, I get “Sex in the City” a lot, which is really good. I did that when I was like 13. That’s the thing that I get the most.

You had some attitude back then. I mean, that character.

Yeah. And I just worked with Michael Patrick King again. So that’s interesting.

And what’s next for you? You working on anything so far?

I’ve sort of been working non-stop. And so, I’m finally getting a break. But I… The thing that I worked with Michael Patrick King that I worked on is a pilot for CBS, that he wrote with Whitney Cummings.

Oh, cool.

So it’s called “Two Broke Girls.” And it’s really funny. So hopefully, it’ll go.

It seems like TV as well is giving a lot of opportunities…

Yeah.

To good actors, good meaty roles.

Yeah, it’s pretty exciting. Yeah, I’m looking forward to having a little bit of a break.

”Thor” has already being released in Australia. And it’s done really well.

Awesome.

What have you heard from fans who’ve seen the film?

I was trying to kind of staying away from stuff outside of my personal thing. But my friends are like, “Oh, my god!” Everyone’s flipping out. This movie’s incredible.

Mm-hmm.

And I am reading reviews. I mean… Because I’m so proud of this film. And it’s so good, and people are really loving it. So I’m happy.

Any talk of more ”Thor”? Did you have to sign a contract for a sequel.

I did. But you never know what’s going to happen. But I think there’ll be a Thor 2. There has to be.

And there’s a lot of superhero films coming out this summer.

Yeah.

Why do you think people love to watch these superhero movies?

I don’t think it gets old. I think it’s something that we all sort of fantasize about, having powers, and doing good, and getting the girl, and making things blow up, and fighting enemies. We all fantasize about that stuff. So I think it’s just really fun and entertaining for guys, and chicks, and families, and older people. Just everyone loves them.

Do you enjoy watching this kind of film?

I love them. I love them. I absolutely love them.

I can’t wait for ”Avengers”.

Me, neither. I know I’m so excited.

That’s simply amazing [laughter]

I’m so excited.

And with Thor, we should point out that people need to stay right to the end.

Because it’s a surprise. Yeah.

What was it like with Natalie Portman, working with her and Stellan…

Awesome.

You guys are like a little trio?

Yeah, we were a little family. Natalie and I, we’re already friends. So that was easy. And then, with Stellan he’s just like a big soft teddy bear. And he has lots of kids. So he’s just like the best to be around. I’m like a child. So, yeah, he’s so patient with us. Because Natalie and I mostly just gab constantly about boys, and like clothes, and like silly stuff. So he would just look back. And he’d be just so bored…

Yeah.

Listening to us.

He’s a great character actor.

He’s brilliant. Brilliant. I wish he were here. I’m really sad he’s not here, actually.

What was the most fun day, would you say, on the set. Or the most interesting scene that you got to shoot? Would it be the destroyer?

That was more technical, to be honest. That took about 2 weeks to finish completely, that sequence. I would say the stuff with the pins with the car because I went through a lot of stunt driving training for that. And so my favorite… Actually, one of my favorite run was from was when I was driving that through the dessert on my lunch break. It was the most fun. I loved that. Thing I wanted to buy one after we were done.

Did you actually get to hit Chris with practice?

No. But the rig was… We were literally hitting him. So that’s real.

Wow.

Yeah. We were both on track so that we kind of hit each other at a slow pace. But we still hit him.

The 3D looks amazing, as well.

It does. And then… Yeah.

Did the… Shooting that way, did that slow down the process at all?

We didn’t shoot it for 3D.

Convert after…

They added it.

Because it looks better than a lot of those conversions.

Yeah. It does. Well, I mean, they are the masters. Yeah. And the 3D’s great because it’s exciting, but it doesn’t distract you from it being good a good film.

Do you think that’s the way for it for movies now, when we say making films in 3D?

Looking like it, right? It’s looking like it. And I think there are like 3D video games coming out, and stuff.

3D Porn, that’s the one that’s going to be interesting. [chuckle]

Wow! I heard that they’re doing that in Asia.

Oh, God. We don’t want to do that.

We’re already on that. Be careful. I’m scared.

But the 3D in this film definitely adds to it.

It adds to it.

There’s no gimmicks, or anything.

But it doesn’t scare you. Yeah.

It has nothing coming straight at your face.

Yeah.

So what do you think audiences will take away from watching ”Thor”? Or what do you think they might enjoy most about it? The humor, do you say?

I think it’s the humor will surprise them because it’s… It’s sort of an unexpected twist. But it really… It really makes your so comfortable and excited. And the action just pumps you up. It’s just so thrilling. And the performances are brilliant. It really has all… Everything I can… I don’t know. I’m still… I’m still processing it. It’s just so good. I just saw it.

Have you seen it just once?

Yeah, just once. And I really want to see it again. So I guess I’ll see it tomorrow again.

At the premiere?

Yeah.

And how do you go with these press days? Do you get so… You’re repeating yourself over and over?

Yeah, I do. To be honest, I completely… I hate myself.

I don’t know how you guys do it.

Yeah. But at the end of the day, I hate myself. And I can’t talk on the phone became I can’t hear my voice anymore. But it’s interesting because as annoying as like hearing myself is I… I… I legitimately am in love with this movie. And it’s so good that I could talk about how good it is all day. And I want people to see it so much because it’s so brilliant. And I’m so proud to be in it at all. I can’t believe I’m in this movie. It’s such a good movie. I’m so proud.

Well, it’s fantastic. So, congratulations.

Thank you very much.

Nice to talk to you.

Nice to talk to you.

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Kat Dennings has earned her comic book movie cred at last.
For the generation of actors who grew up on the last decade’s burgeoning roster of blockbuster comic book adaptations, the 24-year-old actress says, adding a superhero film to your film resume is a mark of honor, the 24-year-old actress says. “It feels like a scout badge – like, ‘I’ve finally done that – Check,’” Dennings tells PopcornBiz of her role in “Thor,” where she plays Darcy, the slightly daffy sidekick to Natalie Portman’s research scientist/thunder god love interest Jane Foster.

It was an additional treat for Dennings, who was already conversant in the world of comic books. “I don’t read them as much anymore, but I was big into them growing up,” she says. “Now I kind of read more Manga, stuff like that – and I really like very girlie Manga,” Best of all, since she doesn’t play one of “Thor’s” buffed and toned Asgardian gods, she was spared an exhaustive workout regimen.

“I didn’t have to do anything,” she admits, recalling her co-stars’ torturous hours in the gym with a sly grin. “It was terrible, brutal for them.” She got a kick out of seeing the towering, pumped-up Chris Hemsworth standing alongside the diminutive Portman. “The bigger that he looked the better. I mean, he’s literally four Natalie Portmans! He’s twice as big as her and twice as wide as her, so that was actually really, really cute to see them together.”

Unlike most of the film’s other characters, Dennings’ Darcy has no comic book precedent, and she signed on to the project without a stack of back issue to scour for inspiration – or, for that matter, a full script.
“We kind of created her through the rehearsal,” she explains. “I think that Darcy was originally a guy in the film, was written for a man, and they changed their minds. I didn’t get the script until a month after I got hired. So that was a big question mark, and I wasn’t quite sure who I was or what I was doing. I think that no matter where she is she’s got something else on her mind. So a lot of it came from my real life relationship with Natalie. I think that they just observed us and added some of that cuteness in. One of my best friends is her friend, and we met through him and we really liked each other. I really respect and love her, and I think that they came out through Darcy, because I think that Darcy loves and respects Jane.”

Meanwhile, Dennings has also got her sights set on a small screen, having just shot the pilot “Two Broke Girls,” written and produced by “Sex and the City” showrunner Michael Patrick King and standup comedian Whitney Cummings and co-starring newcomer Beth Behrs. “It’s about two girls who are both broke,” Dennings explains simply. “One is a sort of heiress who’s dad is in jail and they lost all their money. And one has been poor her whole life and has a million jobs, a day job and she’s kind of tougher Brooklyn girl. So it’s a Manhattan girl and a Brooklyn girl and they come together.That’s what it’s about and it’s so funny. It’s so funny. I’m the Brooklyn girl.”

She says fans can expect a healthy dose of King’s trademark designer fashion fixations and a decidedly New Yorkian sensibility. “Oh my God, there was a drama going through the week about the necklace and stuff – necklaces and bracelets and Chanel,” she laughs. “He has such a specific eye for that stuff. He also really infuses these projects with New York. You can feel New York which is really a gift – I don’t know how he does it because we shoot it in L.A. I’m not sure what exactly it is, but it’s really fun and it’s really exhilarating. So there’s that, but there’s also my character Max, who’s very much Whitney Cummings, the tougher Brooklyn girl who just says what she wants to say – which is very much how Whitney and I both are.”

If Dennings – who caught attention in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and went on the leading roles in films like “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist” and the upcoming “Renee” – sounds like a young Hollywood player who’s got her whole career game plan well in hand, she assures you that she doesn’t. “I don’t have a plan,” she laughs. “I just pick things that I want to do and do them, if I get lucky enough to. And that’s why I think my career is sort of like a patchwork quilt.”

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nthony Hopkins — the Oscar-winning, knighted, overwhelmingly acclaimed star of films ranging from Silence of the Lambs to The Remains of the Day — phoning it in?

That’s his opinion, at least, as he expressed during a Sunday press conference promoting the Friday-debuting Thor, where he plays Odin, the title character’s father and All-Father of the otherworldly realm Asgard. But this film changed all that.

“Actors need directors,” Hopkins said of working with Thor director Kenneth Branagh. “I had gotten lazy over the years. I’ve begun sort of phoning it in, thinking, ‘Ah, to Hell with it.’”

Hopkins credited Branagh with helping him to bring out genuine emotions in scenes such as when Odin casts Thor out of Asgard and onto Earth.

“I always like to play things a little cool, a little bit laid back, and he’ds say, ‘Yeah, that’s good — but no. Just a bit more.’”

Among Branagh’s strengths as a director, according to Hopkins, is the fact that he’s an excellent actor himself — as seen in past films including Dead Again and Much Ado About Nothing.

“He doesn’t micro-manage, but he pushes you, so he gets the best of you,” Hopkins said. “He’ll do a lot of takes, but he gets everything out of you. Some directors will just do take after take after take and don’t know what the hell they’re doing. But he does it for a specific purpose.”

Thor star Chris Hemworth had similar praise for Branagh, specifically in the director giving him opportunity to explore several sides — even a “goofy” one — in his portrayal of the Marvel Comics character.

“Having someone you trust that much, and you want to give him that many options, was the best experience I could have had,” Hemsworth said, calling it a “very freeing way to work.”

Naturally, reporters were curious as to how Hemsworth got himself into Thor shape for the film — if you’ve seen any of the shirtless images from the promos that have been running since the Super Bowl, he’s a pretty close physical match to comic book proportions.

“I read the comic books and noticed that the character was about 10 times bigger than I was,” Hemsworth said. “That certainly lit some fire in me to get in the gym and force-feed myself buckets of protein. It was probably more exhausting than the shooting of the film.”

Given Hemsworth’s superhero-esque stature, Thor’s trusted enchanted hammer Mjolnir packed some suitable heft. Though he couldn’t give an exact weight, he assured that it was “pretty heavy.”

“We had a few different versions in the beginning,” Hemsworth said of the prop. “We found that if it was too light, it looked like you were spinning around a toothbrush. It needed to have some weight to it.”

A female reporter was skeptical over what Thor has to offer those without a Y chromosome, but cast members Kat Dennings and Jaimie Alexander were quick to dismiss any notion that the movie is a dudefest.

“From my experience, as a human being, I love to watch things blow up, and fighting, and action,” Dennings, who plays Jane Foster (Natalie Portman)’s intern, Darcy. “I think girls really like that stuff. There is a love story, and there is handsomeness, but there is also incredible acting and directing, and just a really good film.”

Jaimie Alexander, who portrays Asgardian warrior Sif, agreed.

“There’s something for everybody. There’s comedy, romance, action, adventure, sci-fi,” Alexander added. “And if you’re that person that’s really not interested in any of that, then Chris Hemsworth is shirtless.”

Alexander has stated in previous interviews promoting Thor that she is a comic book fan herself, and said she liked how the movie subtly references the romantic history between her character and the God of Thunder.

“I’m a huge comic book fan, and we had a great, big discussion about how far we wanted to take my admiration for Thor, and I think we did a good job of making it quite subtle,” Alexander said. “But it’s still there, and of course it leaves the door open for other possibilities in the future, if there are future possibilities.”

Tom Hiddleston, the movie’s Loki, liked how the film followed the comic books in not portraying Loki as a stereotypical villain — currently in the comic book Journey Into Mystery, a child version of Loki is the primary protagonist.

“As the comics evolve and the mythology deepens, you see that there is a psychological complexity to him,” Hiddleston said. “I just tried to fill it with as much human truth as I possibly could.”

When asked where they’d like to see their characters go in possible future Thor installments, Dennings noted that her character is “sort of a clean slate,” since she was created specifically for the movie. Alexander referenced recent Marvel storylines (specifically Loki’s “Dark Reign”-era appearance), saying, “In the comic books, Loki takes over Sif’s body, I think that would be quite interesting and weird.”

The movie’s Heimdall, Idris Elba (who said that he’s had “no specific conversations” at this point about portraying any other Marvel heroes such as Luke Cage of Black Panther), replied, “I’d love to see what happens on Asgard, and the politics of what happens there.”

Dennings, who as a point-of-view character provides much of the humor in the film, downplayed the challenge of bringing comic relief to a superhero fantasy epic.

“I didn’t really view it as anything, really,” Dennings said. “She’s sort of the audience’s voice.”

“It was very strange actually,” Hiddleston said of the contrast in the material that he and Dennings worked with for Thor. “In the read-through of the screenplay, some twist of fate had put Kat and me next to each other, and Ken had said to me, ‘Go for it’ in the read-through. We couldn’t believe that we were in the same movie.”

Other topics discussed included working with actual physically constructed sets for Asgardian scenes rather than green screen (“I found it visually stunning,” Hemsworth said), the challenges of acting while wearing Loki’s heat-trapping helmet (“Whenever I would wear the helmet, my brain would slowly turn into scrambled eggs. Which I think is evident in my performance,” Hiddleston joked) and Hemsworth’s gratitude for starring in such a high-profile film as a relative unknown (“A year and a half ago I was banging on the door trying to get an audition. To be here now working is incredibly exciting”).

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Forget the brawny gods of Asgard; as Darcy, the sardonic college intern to Natalie Portman’s frazzled-but-gorgeous astrophysicist in Thor, Kat Dennings has the weight of the film resting on her shoulders. Her snappy one-liners bring the comic book adventure down to Earth, grounding the high-flying tale of a super-powered cosmic prince (Chris Hemsworth) with a real world skepticism that reflects that of the audience.

24-year-old Dennings (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist) is perfectly cast in Thor as the eyebrow-raising sidekick assisting the nerdy, driven Jane Foster (Portman) and Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) on a data-gathering trip to rural New Mexico, where abnormal disturbances turn out to be the result of inter-planetary travel activity. When a hot but clearly disoriented and potentially dangerous blond man appears in the middle of nowhere, Darcy tasers him into submission while Jane makes googly eyes; when S.H.I.E.L.D. agents raid their research lab and take everything in sight, Darcy laments the loss of her iPod. She’s a product of generational apathy, distilled down to its most hilariously cynical bits; she is many of us in the audience.

Movieline spoke with Dennings about her involvement in Thor, managing expectations for future Thor sequels, her close friendship with co-star Portman, and the status of three upcoming projects: Daydream Nation, which pits her in a love triangle with Reece Thompson and Josh Lucas; Renee, a psychologically taxing drama based on the life of troubled 19-year-old Renee Yohe; and Your Dreams Suck, the 2008 Black List script Dennings co-wrote with brother Geoffrey Litwack.

You’ve been modest about your work in Thor, playing it down in the media, when in fact you provide the film’s very important comic relief.
Oh! Well, I don’t know. I’m just really grateful, honestly, to be in a movie like this, with the people that are working on it. I’m just really surprised that I didn’t get cut out. [Laughs] But, yeah, just really excited about it. It’s not like Darcy was in the comic books so I can’t really say if she’s coming back. I don’t know, if she’s needed, then absolutely I will. But yeah, the other characters are built in, have a fan base, and have a history, so I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth and say something that doesn’t pay off.

What kind of purpose do you see Darcy fulfilling in the film, especially in contrast to Natalie Portman’s Jane?
Jane is a scientist and deeply passionate about that, and Darcy isn’t really that passionate about anything, but she just loves Jane and wants to help. So she’s sort of an eager little puppy but also really bored and really lazy.

She’s also the closest character the film has to an audience stand in, commenting on the silliness of Thor’s Asgardian traits on Earth to beat the audience to the punch.
Yes, that’s exactly how I look at it! She’s the one who says what the audience is thinking, and that’s really fun to play with. And if you say it, then it’s out and [the audience] can stop thinking it. So having someone in the film say it takes any air out of the impulse for other people to say it.

That goes for Thor’s cocky, godly swagger — he’s used to being feared and respected and making demands — and, of course, for those abs, which you get to ogle, which is what we’ve all been doing from the other side of the screen.
Yeah. It’s pretty amazing! But don’t kid yourself; that is hard. The discipline, and also to work out for the hours that [Chris Hemsworth] worked out while also being Thor in the movie Thor. So he’d be shooting all day and then he’d go to the gym for hours at night.

So I’m guessing you had it a lot easier.
Oh yeah, I didn’t have to do anything! But that was really hard. And he’s so energetic and so upbeat and so much fun. He could have been a jerk if he wanted to, but he was such a good guy.

You and Natalie were friends coming into Thor; how did you first meet?
We met on the set of my friend’s music video, actually, two or three years ago. It was called “Carmensita,” by Devendra Banhart. He’s one of my best friends. I was hoping to work with her, and then it happened!

This year in particular we’ve gotten to see the lighter side of her, and that continues in Thor.
Absolutely. She’s hilarious! She’s so wickedly funny, and people haven’t gotten to see that side of her until now.

So you two have known each other for a while, and you’re out on location together in New Mexico. What do you do in your down time?
Oh my God, there was so much goofing off. There was a lot of, I’d be sleeping, the phone would ring and it would be Chris like, ‘Meet me downstairs in five,’ and I’d be like, ‘Oh, God!’ I’d get up and we’d go to breakfast. There were a lot of tired breakfasts. That was the story of our lives. We had the best time.

You mentioned that since you shared most of your scenes with both Natalie and Stellan [Skarsgård], he was subjected to a lot of girl talk?
Oh yeah, poor guy. Poor guy. I’m so bummed he’s not here, I miss him. But he lives in Sweden so that’s probably why. It’s a little far to drive. But Natalie and I just never stop talking. Never stop talking. And Stellan was in all of those scenes with us — we’d be talking about boys or something and we’d turn around, and Stellan is just napping in the back seat. Poor guy, with two ridiculous young girls talking about silly things. [Laughs]

You didn’t read the script for Thor before being cast, so how did that process work?
They didn’t let us read a script, it was top secret. But I knew, obviously, that it was Thor, that it was Kenneth Branagh, that Natalie was in it — and that was pretty much all I knew. And that was enough. I mean, say Kenneth Branagh and I’m done. So I auditioned like everybody else.

What did you know of your character going in?
They gave me a brief character description and like two pages of a sort of fake scene, because they didn’t even use the names Darcy or Jane. They used different names so that no one could say what the movie’s about. You just had no idea.

Ah, the internet age.
People are ruthless, man. You never know. You have to be really careful.

Were you looking for a project on this scale?
I never really look for anything, I just see what comes to me. I was hoping that eventually I’d get to be in a movie like this, and it happened.

Looking at the films you’ve made, you seem to work with people that you stay close with after the job’s done.
Yeah! I’ve been really lucky. I’ve worked with some really great people and made some amazing friends out of it. I just met my new best friend, Juliana Harkavy, on this movie Renee. She’s just like a soulmate that I’ve waited my whole life to meet.

Renee’s sort of a change of pace for you, isn’t it?
It’s based on To Write Love on Her Arms. So it’s about Renee Yohe, who that was sort of started for. I play her, and it’s very heavy. Really, really heavy stuff, so totally different. And Juliana plays my best friend in it. Brutal. Really brutal. [Per the organization’s website, To Write Love on Her Arms is “a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.”]

Is it the heaviest role you’ve played to date?
Absolutely. The heaviest role I’ve ever played, and the heaviest role I could ever play, probably. Suicide, drugs, depression, self-harm, bi-polar, the whole thing. I’m still exhausted. I just finished that a month ago.

Has that taken time and space to decompress from?
It really does. This is the first time that I haven’t really had a break, because I went straight from that into filming a pilot for CBS that I just wrapped yesterday. It’s called Two Broke Girls; Whitney Cummings and Michael Patrick King wrote it and are producing it together.

You’ve got another film coming out soon — Daydream Nation, with Reece Thompson and Josh Lucas.
Oh, yes.

I imagine it’s a tough choice to be torn between the two of them.
It’s pretty amazing. It’s very romantic, and kind of intense. Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy, which is amazing. Lot of different kinds of things, so I think my next project is a nap.

You’ve branched out into screenwriting already; have you considered moving into producing or directing?
Absolutely! I don’t really talk that much about it but I write, and directing is on the horizon one day. Directing is something I really want to do. I wrote a script with my brother which ended up, somehow, on the Black List in 2008.

That’s right! Your Dreams Suck. What’s going on with it now?
It’s still… I mean, the process of getting a movie made is so ridiculous so it’s still in the pipeline. We have amazing producers and we’re giving it to people to read right now.

Do you plan on acting in it as well?
No. Just writing!

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Though the “Thor” film, opening Friday, is about the Norse god of Thunder, co-star Kat Dennings says the film has some female empowerment as well.

Dennings, 25, plays Darcy Lewis, a sidekick to Natalie Portman’s astrophysicist, Jane Foster.
“There is a pretty great female presence in the film with Jane Foster and Darcy and Sif also, and Frigga, Thor’s mother,” Dennings said promoting the film at Comic-Con.

Rene Russo plays Thor’s mother, Frigga, while Sif is played by Jaimie Alexander (“Kyle XY”).
Dennings said she’s partial to the friendship Jane and Darcy share, something that’s new to this iteration of the “Thor” mythos.

“I really like, not to be biased, but I really like our relationship in the movie,” she said.
Darcy looks up to the more together Jane in the film.

“Darcy makes food for Jane, and mixes her Kashi in the morning and basically she’s a new invention. She’s not in the comics. She just sort of hopes to be like Jane one day.”

Since Darcy Lewis is a new character who hasn’t appeared in the Marvel Comics on which the movie is based, Dennings said she didn’t have any particular comic-book counterpart to embody.

“I’ve read a lot of the comic books just growing up, and I sort of felt, for me anyway, that I should sort of view the script as its own thing and not try to compare and contrast the previous stuff, and just treat it like its own little universe,” she said. “And Darcy wasn’t in the comics, so I didn’t have to worry about continuity or anything like that.”

Dennings said working with director Kenneth Branagh, a successful actor in films including “Hamlet” and “Henry V,” was an “amazing experience.”

“He’s someone I always idolized for acting,” Dennings said. “I’ve seen ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at least 800,000 times. He’s just so gifted in that there isn’t one moment that wasn’t explained thoroughly. There wasn’t a second, for me at least, that I didn’t completely understand what was going on, because he tells you everything, and he makes sure you’re not feeling lost. I can’t say enough.”

Dennings said Branagh asked questions of his actors that would lead them to their own solution to what the character is going through.

“The fact that you had to come up with it yourself really made it part of you and inside of you,” Dennings said. “It was a really amazing experience, and he has infinite ideas for how to attack something and just infinite good mood. That’s crazy. Every day was fun.”

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You should get to know Kat Dennings. From her role as a vapid teenager in The 40-Year-Old Virgin to her breakout turn as Michael Cera’s jaded dream girl in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, the soon-to-be-25-year-old actress is fast becoming one of Hollywood’s hottest young commodities.

After growing up in the woods of Bryn Mawr, the homeschooled beauty made her way to Hollywood, where she honed her untrained acting chops on the small screen with bit parts in ER, CSI: and Sex and the City. She soon graduated to film, where her innate cheekiness won over audiences in Virgin, The House Bunny and, of course, Nick and Norah.

Today Dennings is busier than ever, shuffling between an incongruous mix of dark drama, outrageous comedy and even a giant blockbuster. She’s currently delving into the lead role for Renee—its namesake, Renee Yohe, the inspiration behind the nonprofit addiction-and depression-treatment organization To Write Love on Her Arms.

Meanwhile she’s anxiously awaiting this month’s release of Thor, her first foray into big-budget Hollywood, costarring good bud Natalie Portman. She’s even back on the small screen, signing on with UPenn alum Whitney Cummings to star in the comedy pilot Two Broke Girls. Somewhere in between takes, she sat down and talked to Philadelphia Style about eschewing industry norms, her obsession with Twitter and endearing childhood memories of Philly.

Tell us about growing up in Bryn Mawr.
KAT DENNINGS: I grew up in the sticks; we lived on a hill in the woods. I seriously had such an amazing Laura Ingalls Wilder childhood. There were a lot of wood activities, playing with the horses, doing farm-girl stuff. Talking about it makes me sad! I look back and I’m like, Why didn’t I take more pictures?

What do you miss most?
KD: I hope it’s still there, but there’s a place called The Head Nut. I have such fond memories of that place. And I always hung out at Wynnewood Lanes and Flower Mill Park.

Do you ever make it back here?
KD: I still have some family there, and we try to head back for the holidays.

Did you always know that acting was something you wanted to do?
KD: Since I saw my first movie when I was a baby. I really didn’t know what it was, but I knew that whatever movies were, that’s what I wanted to do. We went to an actual theater only once every six months, but we would just check out movies from the library—classics like An American in Paris, Madeline Kahn movies and Steve Martin movies. I was spoiled; I had a great film education.

Do you feel more like a Hollywood insider or outsider?
KD: I’m kind of outside the culture of my job. I don’t really enjoy the schmoozing, the parties—it’s not really my thing. I love the people, but I would just rather get coffee than get all dressed up to go to a restaurant that nobody wants to be at.

You had been in a bunch of movies before you broke out with Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. What was the best part of that experience?
KD: It was really a collaborative experience, and it taught me you can speak up and talk, which I couldn’t do before that. And the friendships—it was like camp. It’s like watching home video of you and your friends, only hopefully, it’s not as annoying.

It was just announced that you’re doing a pilot called Two Broke Girls with Whitney Cummings. There seems to be a trend lately of feature-film actors jumping into TV pilots—what made you take this role?
KD: First of all, I’m kind of obsessed with Whitney! But TV? It’s super weird and not something I ever really considered, but [executive producer] Michael Patrick King is the nicest person you could ever meet. I worked on Sex and the City with him when I was 12, and he has been a force in my head ever since. Once I saw it was his show, I was like, Whoa, this might be an interesting, kind of amazing thing to do. I literally read it, thought about it for two seconds, and then said yes.

You’re now playing Renee Yohe, the inspiration behind the charity organization To Write Love on Her Arms. Are you channeling anything in your own life to play her?
KD: Renee is about depression, addiction and suicide prevention, so I go through some dark things. But the message really is about love and what you do with it, if you let people in to help you. I’m notoriously straitlaced; I’ve never had any substance-abuse problems. But we all have been hopeless and sad and lost, and have had tragedy in our lives, and I draw from that.

You’re filming Renee on the heels of Thor, which couldn’t be a bigger departure from what you’ve done. What was it like to work on such a big-budget production?
KD: Oh my God, the difference between what I’m used to and that movie was so incredible, so awe-inspiring in every way. It was a complete 180. Kenneth Branagh directed it, and he is amazing. He is my personal Thor.

What kind of acting haven’t you done?
KD: I really want to do a period piece. Badly. Maybe it’s the corsets. I want to do accents and that kind of stuff.

You’re known for your blogging and your obsession with Twitter. What’s the fascination?
KD: It’s a way for me to see if I can be clever in 140 characters. It’s a writing challenge for my own perverse entertainment.

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She grew up amid the perfectly fertilized lawns of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania – one of the ritziest neighbourhoods in the United States, and namesake of the women’s college that once hosted Katharine Hepburn’s colourful scholastic interlude.

A hint of Hepburn rattles around behind the big eyes and unspoken strength of Kat Dennings: She’s smart with a hint of playful mischief. It’s a compelling blend, and it’s on full display in the new movie Daydream Nation – the first feature film from Childstar co-writer Michael Goldbach.

The story of a high-school siren who seduces teachers and students with equal skill, the Vancouver-shot feature stars Dennings as Caroline Wexler, a junior version of Madame Bovary.

“I found her really fascinating,” says Dennings of her character. “She’s mysterious and seems really mature, but she’s deeply complicated and doesn’t know who she is at all. She’s trying to figure it out, but she’s not doing it in a very smart way.”

As Caroline spins her sexual wheels in all kinds of masculine mud, things start to get very messy in this frequently surreal little coming-of-age movie that also stars Vancouver’s Reece Thompson and the resurging Josh Lucas.

“The whole high-school genre has typically been focused on the male coming-of-age experience, to the point where they were almost a genre unto themselves. I think in the male mind, those rites of passage are just so huge that they eclipse the female experience,” she says.

“What I liked about Michael’s script and his approach is that it was very much a story about both sexes moving through a very confusing time. Caroline actually has a real role in this story.”

Dennings says as a 24-year-old actress, it’s hard finding parts with any dimension or depth. “There are so many things actresses my age can do, but being the age we are, we’re never really given the opportunity to be interesting. Most of it comes down to a physical presence.”

Despite the overall shallow quality to Hollywood casting, Dennings has been able to land some of the prize roles of her demographic in such films as Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and House Bunny.

“Look, I just want a job that’s interesting. That’s the most you can really hope for, and so far, I’ve been lucky.”

Dennings says she’s got a soft spot for Canadian projects, because they often offer a longer creative leash, and so she has played the hooker with the heart of gold in the Hamilton-shot Defendor, as well as her latest turn in Daydream Nation.

“I really look at the quality of writing first, not the location. And as far as the Canadian thing goes, I think Michael (Goldbach) is a very Canadian guy. But I don’t see this movie as essentially Canadian. For me, the most important thing is that the movie finds the universal, and doesn’t alienate anyone. There were a few more Canadian elements in Caroline, but I toned them down, because I wanted to make her more for everyone.”

Dennings says she even learned a few things from Caroline after living in her mind for months, and creating a whole backstory, as well as an iPod playlist for her alter ego.

“I had a great time on this movie. The group was fun, and we’d all go into the city on the weekends and go dancing. We celebrated a birthday – one where you turn legal – and that was a blast.”

Dennings says she’s never had much of a problem walking around town, regardless of where she is. “When I’m not working, I don’t really dress up or anything. I don’t get noticed and I don’t need to get noticed.”

In fact, Dennings says while she’s entirely comfortable losing control on camera while in character, she finds it painfully awkward to be herself in front of the mechanical eye.

“You know what I was telling my manager on the plane here? I said that I could be on-set, half-naked, covered in cocaine and screaming at someone, and never have an ounce of nervousness, but being myself in front of a camera makes me insane.”

Dennings says acting helps her make sense of her own life, and every time she works on a project, she learns a little something new about her deeper self.

“I asked my parents to do this since I was two,” she says. “There’s a part of me that seems to need this. One of my best friends is an actor, too, and it seems we really need it. It satisfies a part of us nothing else can, and when I’m not doing a movie, I actually get antsy,” she says.

“On this movie, I isolated myself on purpose. I looked at a lot of photography and latched on to themes that felt like Caroline. I wanted to see the world through her eyes – and that’s how the playlist with Billie Holiday and Radiohead came together.”

When the voyage finally wrapped, Dennings realized she’d taken a little bit of Caroline home – but only so she could appreciate her own life more.

“Look, my reality is very different from hers. I still have both parents, thank god. I couldn’t really relate to her sense of isolation, but I did understand being alone, and that’s where I stayed in my head,” she says.

“That wasteland of relationships (in Daydream Nation) is an interesting place to visit,” she says. “But really, you don’t want to live there.”

Daydream Nation opens theatrically in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver April 15.

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