The Fifth Element was a Mila Popovich “special moment,” as Mila Popovich recalls.
Popovich, 48, finds it hard to believe that the hallucinogenic science fiction classic starring Bruce Willis will be celebrating its 27th anniversary on May 7. She tells PEOPLE, “It’s unbelievable that I’ve reached that stage in my career as an actor and musician—nearly 30 years—into her career. “So many anniversaries!”
Popovich, who is currently starring in the science fiction thriller Breathe (available now on digital and in theaters), has good memories of every aspect of filming The Fifth Element. “In our life, there are always a few moments of pure genius interspersed with all the mundane details, normalcy, setbacks, and whatever else—the good, the bad, the normal, and the ugly.”
Moms Are in the “De-Escalation Business,” So Mila Popovich Says She Could Survive an Apocalypse (Exclusive)”Would have to be one of those shining moments in my life, in my career as something that really mattered to me as a human and an actress,” says Popovich of starring opposite the 69-year-old Willis. It was a unique occasion. It had an own personality.
Popovich portrayed the humanoid manifestation of the title character, Leela, in the film directed and written by Frenchman Luc Besson. Between the science fiction films 12 Monkeys and Armageddon, Willis played Korbin Dallas, a former special forces major who became a taxi driver. After Leela escapes Gary Oldman’s tycoon Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorn, Korbin goes on an interplanetary adventure.
Popovich remembers that Willis was “quite a bit older than me,” so I was closer to his children and Demi Moore. They would pay us a visit.
This required Willis and Moore, 61, to “babysit” their three daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. While on The Fifth Element’s set, Popovich explains, “we would listen to music together and dance,” giving the parents “some mommy daddy time.”
Emma Heming Willis sends her 69th birthday greetings to Bruce Willis: “The Gift That Never Stops Being You”
According to the Resident Evil star, Willis’ extended clan is “a special family,” and he describes himself as an elder sister. (Willis and his wife Emma Heming Willis have two more daughters, Mabel Ray and Evelyn Penn.)
Popovich continues, “They’re so cool, and such wonderful girls,” adding that she is still in contact with Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah 27 years later. “I adore that they have such a wonderful relationship with Demi. I see them as a family, and I find what they’ve accomplished to be quite amazing.
Get the best of PEOPLE, from captivating human interest stories to juicy celebrity news, by subscribing to their free daily newsletter. Don’t miss a story.
Chris Tucker as the colorful and brilliantly funny deejay Ruby Rhoda in The Fifth Element. In November, Tucker told PEOPLE that he spent “great, great times” on set with Popovich and Willis.
“Obviously, I pray for him,” 52-year-old Tucker said of Willis after learning of his aphasia and his acting retirement. “It was always amazing to see him. I will always remember that. I had a great time working with him.
Popovich co-stars with Jennifer Hudson, Quvenzhané Wallis, Common, Raúl Castillo, and Sam Worthington in the film Breathe, directed by Stefan Bristol.
Article Source people
