Fitting the costumes was more involved than usual - I'm kicking, I'm moving, I'm trying work out if it's going to stretch, and most importantly, if it's going to split! 
Having skirted around the fringes of Hollywood with small roles in Pearl Harbor, Dude, Where's My Car? and Catch Me If You Can, Jennifer Garner increased her star power playing undercover CIA agent Sydney Bristow in the successful TV series Alias. As a result of the TV show, she is now fast becoming a recognised leading lady in film. Following on from the success of 13 Going On 30, she returns as the kickass assassin from Daredevil, Elektra, in her own movie.
Didn't Elektra die in Daredevil?
Yes, but like in her comicbook, she's brought back to life. She's resurrected by Stick, who is the head of this group of ninjas who have a bend towards good. She's come back different from who she was, but it's not because she was killed and brought back to life; it's more because everything in the world that she cares about - her father, Matt Murdock, and eventually Stick - disappear from her. She's completely isolated and becomes an assassin for hire.
Does Elektra's story connect with her appearance in Daredevil in any way?
We do reference Elektra dying in Daredevil, but other than that Daredevil isn't a huge influence on the film. It has a very different look, and it has a very different type of story and sensibility about it. It's pretty dark for a comicbook movie. We definitely follow what her character was going through in Frank Miller's Elektra comicbooks.
The character is now wearing her traditional red, how involved were you in creating the costume?
Of course I was very involved. Having been Elektra, I knew the comicbook fans weren't happy with her wearing black in Daredevil. So it was important for her to be in red. Also, fitting the costumes was more involved than usual - I'm kicking, I'm moving, I'm trying work out if it's going to stretch, and most importantly, if it's going to split!
There's a bit of artistic licence with her character: in addition to her trademark Sai swords, she has a compound bow which looks a bit like a portable Singer sewing machine. Do you know what I mean?
Very much so, yeah, my Mom has an old pedal one which I learnt to sew on that when I was a kid. Yes, it does look like that. It was a compound bow especially made for Elektra. Watching the expert put it together was pretty cool as it was really complicated, and it was really intense learning to use it. It's lethal - a bit more deadly than a sewing machine!
Did filming Alias help to prepare you for the physical excursions of Elektra?
For a while I was very much into yoga and running - now I'm much more careful that it's comprehensive. I stay stretched out and strong, and I keep my cardio vascular strength, because I can't poop out after a couple of takes. With the action scenes, I'm doing them for hours.
But getting up at 4am everyday is pretty extreme, isn't it?
Well, it's all about available time. My body doesn't kind of hold on to stuff, so I have to keep up with it, but it's become as much about my mental health, as my physical. If that's the hour you have to give yourself in the day, even if I wake up at 4am, at least I've taken some time out for myself.
Speaking of Alias, Ricky Gervais made a guest appearance in the show, will there be any more Brits showing up in the new series?
Kelly MacDonald (Trainspotting). JJ [Abrams, producer and writer] had seen her in her TV series, State Of Play and called her up and said, come on over, I want to write this character for you. I was thrilled that she came, as she was just fantastic.
