Priyanka Chopra Jonas gets a kick out of action — the stylistic long shots, the slow-motion explosions, the stunts.
And if there are a couple of hilarious sparring partners in the mix, all the better.
In her new film “Heads of State,” which begins streaming on Prime Video on July 2, Chopra Jonas plays Noel Bisset, an MI6 operative on a mission to rescue the prime minister of Britain (Idris Elba) and the president of the United States (John Cena) from a global menace.
After starring in shows like “Citadel” and “Quantico,” “I trust myself when it comes to action, and I get to do some really fun things,” she said. “I love learning from the stunt department. Their experience and expertise is very exciting to me.”
But the most insane scene to shoot in “Heads of State” involved Elba, Cena and a tight squeeze into a vehicle known as the Beast.
“It’s just the three of us and a couple of bad guys, and it’s raining bullets and bombs at us, and we’re driving through the streets,” she said. “It was the smallest space for the two biggest guys I’ve ever worked with. We used to chat about everything because you couldn’t leave the vehicle in between shots often.”
In a call from her home in Manhattan, Chopra Jonas sent Malti Marie, her 3-year-old daughter with her husband, the singer and actor Nick Jonas, out on a play date before revealing why self-care days, Magna-Tiles and signature scents top her list of essentials.
These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
Baby Monitors
Maybe this is the privilege of being a mom in a digital world. I have cameras all over to observe my daughter, and I don’t know when the right time is to stop doing that, especially when she’s sleeping. But that’s one thing I cannot do without. Anybody who has hung out with me will see how many times I look at that.
A Hot Shower
I know that’s polarizing for a lot of people, but I prefer a shower over a bath. I like to start with it hot and go all the way up to scalding and then go down to cool. When I get into a hot shower in the morning, it clears my mind, especially by the time the cold water hits you. It freshens me up for a bright day.
Snuggle Sundays
Those are family Sundays. We love hanging out in bed, being a big cuddle puddle for hours, talking, snuggling and playing. It’s healing.
Family Brunch, Anywhere
We have a huge family, and we travel so much that it’s easy around the world to constantly meet. We hang out and laugh and connect over food. Food is an important part of conversation in my life. I have my best business meetings when I’m breaking bread with someone.
A Scent for Each Role
I love creating a playlist for my character, but I also do that with perfume. For Noel, that was a Bulgari perfume called Orom. It’s super strong, tough and very oak-smelling but also has a softer floral scent. I feel like she’s a character who doesn’t get intimidated, but at the same time I love her, and she’s a girl, and she feels feels.
The Criterion Channel
I’m a cinephile and I feel privileged to be a part of a job in which I get to tell stories for a living. One of my hairstylists in a recent movie recommended Criterion to me and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. I recently watched “Blue Steel,” the Jamie Lee Curtis movie, with a glass of wine. It was awesome.
Self-Care
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve craved it more than I did when I was younger. The ritual of it calms me, helps me find my center and my peace. I’ll put a mask on, I’ll do hair oils and I’ll listen to an audiobook or a podcast. It’s one of my indulgences.
Magna-Tiles
Any toddler mom knows it’s a saving grace. They’re always in my bag. When baby’s getting restless, those Magna-Tiles will keep them occupied for hours.
Indian Snacks
I have a drawer full of Indian snacks that go everywhere with me. I’m a savory gal, especially nuts that are flavored with chili and lime and different kinds of Indian spices. Then there are snacks which we call Gia, which are like our version of chips.
Tuscany
It was a special trip my husband and I took many years ago. I love the cobbled streets, the vineyards, the small mom-and-pop restaurants, the family wines and people with stories from generations, and the fresh food and the olives. The history and the quaint nature of it is really soulful.
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