For Underworld fans who are eagerly to see the hotness that is Rhona Mitra as a 12th century vampire, the long awaited "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" is in theaters today. Rhona's fanged vampirette wears tight leather and a steel breastplate while swinging a sword and romancing a werewolf - in that 'forbidden love' kind of way.
All that you need to enjoy this horror-action flick is to suspend any questions as to why vampires need swords and armor.
Rhona is well cast as an action movie heroine, which was evident in last year's futuristic "Doomsday." She may be buff but the 32-year-old actress says it takes a lot of work to make it all look real.
She told the New York Daily News: "It was very difficult to look elegant and graceful while throwing a sword around my head and being plausible at this moment when there's rain coming down and my contact lenses were floating into the back of my head."
"On top of that, I had to wear this incredibly form-fitting outfit. It was like an all-in-one - thigh-high boot, corset and chain mail construction."
This film is a prequel to "Underworld" (2002) and "Underworld: Evolution" (2006) which starred Kate Beckinsale. In "Rise of the Lycans" Rhona plays Sonja, daughter of the ruthless vampire king, Viktor (Bill Nighy). Sonja is secretly in cross-species love with Lucian (Michael Sheen), a werewolf who leads his kind against Viktor who has persecuted the werewolves for centuries.
"This is a departure from the first two [films]," Rhona says. "Aesthetically alone, the first two were guns and latex, and this is swords and leather. And I think, within the vampire world, to have that contrast is visually pretty exciting and really hasn't been seen before."
"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" opens in theaters today, January 23.
