Cobie Smulders talks Tom Cruise fandom and resisting carbs on set

I’m not actually that kick-ass in real life.

There are two kinds of people in crisis situations – those who fight and those who freeze.

I’m a freezer, and that’s just going by the couple of surprise birthday parties I’ve had thrown for me. Anytime anybody jumps out at me, I scream.

I’d like to think  I’d pull off some kick-ass move, but in reality I don’t think I would handle it very well.

Maybe now, because of all the training I had for this movie, I would subconsciously do that.

I might have traumatised Tom Cruise during some of our Jack Reacher: Never Go Back action scenes.

I didn’t injure him on set… although when I drove a couple of times, I don’t think he enjoyed being in the passenger seat.

I definitely hurt Patrick Heusinger, who plays our baddie.

I kicked him in the boob pretty hard with a boot.

I kept my Tom fandom in check – just. 

At first, I did fangirl a bit, but I hid it.

If I engage with someone and try to get that person to like me it’s going to be a mess, so I play it cool.

Did it work?

I got the job so I guess so!

Now we get along great.

He’s very normal, he’s so kind, and we had so much fun. And isn’t that the important thing?

I mean, of course, let’s make a good movie and hope that people enjoy it, but for me, it’s about asking myself: “Did I have fun doing that for the last five months?”

Life’s too short.

The food on set was pretty amazing, if a bit too tempting.

I was on a strict diet to stay in shape for Jack Reacher, but each day on set in New Orleans catering dropped off delicious food at my trailer.

I had to fight the urge to indulge in beignets [French doughnuts]. I told myself that when the five months of making the movie were over I’d eat and drink what I wanted, and I did!

I would love to do another Jack Reacher movie.

There are 21 novels and the films don’t always stick to the books.

I guess it depends on how well this movie does, but if people like it, anything’s possible.

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is out now.