Jovovich defines Joan as being far from perfect, and this film plays on that. "There are elements of her that are really great that you could use for yourself in any person, and of course, like anybody, there are things that AREN'T great; there's confusion, and things that she did that I personally think aren't true to God." Such as her "being responsible for a lot of death." And as for Jovovich relating to the kind of intense ardour conveyed by the character, she wishes she were able to, far more than she does "because I think everybody would do a lot better in their lives, could be a lot more truthful and honest about how they feel. Part of the reason why people are so fascinated with her, still, is that she's such an extreme personality that really, for better or worse, went for her true beliefs, and in a way, we're still fascinated by people that are that honest and have the opportunity and are fearless in that way. Of course, to be a fanatic, is dangerous."

The Messenger has numerous battle scenes, most of which involve Joan, front and centre. As passionate as the actress is about the film, it was, ultimately a tough film to make, though she came through the experience unscathed. "It was physically very trying. The more challenging scenes were shot in the Czech Republic, what with the fighting, the armour, the Czech extras going absolutely bananas, it was an experience I can't believe I got through intact. I didn't break anything, I didn't sprain anything, and I just can't believe the things that I did. I got really bruised and battered that's for sure."

The beautiful and alluring Ms Jovovich started modelling as a child. By the time she was 12, she was photographed by Richard Avedon as one of Revlon's "Most Unforgettable Women in the World". The Russian-born Jovovich segued to the big screen in the campy Two-Moon Junction (1988) and landed her first starring role as the turn-of-the-century young woman stranded on a South Seas island in Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991), the sequel to the 1980 Brooke Shields-Christopher Atkins box-office hit, The Blue Lagoon. After being wasted as Christian Slater's girlfriend in Kuffs and as Mildred Harris in Richard Attenborough's biopic Chaplin (both 1992), the actress found that most of her role in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused (1993) ended on the cutting room floor. Discouraged, she briefly retired from acting to concentrate on her fledgling singing career, which spawned a well-received debut album and even a hit single. In 1997, She returned to the big screen co-starring with Bruce Willis in the sci-fi thriller The Fifth Element, where she met and married her director, Luc Besson. Though the marriage recently ended, Jovovich still speaks with praise for her ex-husband, and won't shy away from questions about her failed marriage. "I have a really amazing relationship with Luc and we love each other very dearly and we connect so much in so many different ways. That's just the way it is. Whether we're together or not, or whatever happens in life, we're going to love each other forever, because you just can't take away the amount of trust and passion and love that's got into the creative ventures we've undertaken. So that in itself is so much more than most people can say for their own lives and relationships. I'm just really happy."

What drives this actress is her passion for work that seems to know no boundaries. "I think work is an amazing thing, because it's what you need to do to become more gifted, talented and more in control of the talents that you have. I need a lot more of that, that's for sure. So I look at this and what it's given me is two steps forward as an actress, but I still have 20 million to take in the road ahead." And the work isn't confined to her acting. Musically, things are going well with another album in the works and small gigs in the US with her new band. "It's called Plastic Has Memory, and it's really strange stuff, which I don't know how to label. It's like sonic lounge, very hard and unpleasant sometimes. The album I'm working on is still a work in progress, and we only got the band four months ago, so it's definitely something that you will see develop. But when it's soft it's really jazzy, loungy and beautiful, while when it's hard, it's insane. We really have a great time doing it and people seem to really enjoy it."