If you're attracted to women, you've no doubt stared slack-jawed at the black-and-yellow latex-clad images of Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II in Watchmen. Though she spends much of the movie as her civilian identity, Laurie Juspeczyk, the fanboys will be most looking forward to when she finally dons her dominatrix-like superhero costume to unleash much whoop-ass on the criminal denizens of Manhattan. I know I was. As part of my ongoing series of interviews with the cast and filmmakers behind the big-screen adaptation of the greatest comic book series of all time –- that's Watchmen for those of you not keeping track –- I discussed with Akerman how she gave dimension to an underdeveloped character on the page, latex fetishes, and her soon-to-be-infamous four-way with three Billy Crudups.

Cole Haddon: You've seen the movie in its entirety now, rather than as a bunch of unfinished scenes. What do you think?

Malin Akerman: It was so beyond my expectations. I was breathless for the rest of the day. I've never actually felt like this because, most of the time when you shoot a film, you know what it's going to look like. But this was great because it was such a surprise. You got to see [director] Zack [Snyder's] vision, everything he'd been imagining in his head. This guy is unbelievable. Watchmen is the thing I'm most proud of in my career, to date.

CH: A lot of Watchmen fans, fans of the book, think of Laurie as a bit of a whiner. I've heard some say she's a constant annoyance. But after the screening, I overheard a lot of people saying you managed to round her out, make her more relevant. Definitely not whiny.

MA: Wow. And this is from the fans? I do know while [the book] was being written, she was kind of an afterthought, just to add a female character into it. She wasn't one of the main roles at first. But I hadn't heard that [about Laurie], and I'm glad I hadn't before I went in because it might have affected [how I approached her]. I'm so happy that [fans] are pleased with it. I personally think she's a lovely character, this young woman who's coming of age, finding her independence, finding love. It adds a softness to the film.

CH: I think much of your success with the role is because you made Laurie more reactive. It was a smart choice as an actor.

MA: I think it's critical in any character you play that it really is about reacting instead of acting. You can always tell when a person is acting. When you have the ability to work with people who really give you something [to react to], they make the job easy. You don't have to do anything except react. You get so swept up in it, you just end up becoming what you're supposed to become. It's fantastic.

CH: Silk Spectre II was always eye candy for readers, and she certainly became that in the movie and on all those billboards. Latex does that, I guess. How did you feel about the costume?

MA: Well, the costumes were definitely a big challenge. I don't know if anyone here has a latex fetish, but [laughs] I certainly don't after this film. It is definitely not the most comfortable thing to wear for 18 hours straight. It's very constricting, and then you add heels, the corset, and a blonde wig to that. When they say, "Get up and fight," you go, "Excuse me, in this outfit?" It also takes on the temperature of whatever the room is. If it's really hot, you're boiling. If it's really cold, you're freezing. The [male actors] had the opposite because they had foam costumes that were heavy and warm.

CH: What was it like acting opposite Billy Crudup in that ridiculous get-up he had to wear around the set? [Crudup plays Dr. Manhattan, a glow-in-the-dark CGI-rendered superhero].

MA: I got to say, it was really funny that first week with Billy. We all made the same face a few times. And he'd finally just say, "Go ahead. Laugh."

**Slight Spoilers ahead**

CH: You share a four-way with Billy. And Billy. And Billy and Billy. What was it like recreating a nuclear man’s ability to please his girlfriend by being many places at once compared with the more human, realistic relationship you share with Patrick Wilson's character, Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl II?

MA: [Laughs.] There were two men in bed with me, and it ended up being three in the movie. But the thing is, they're in these white sort-of-pajamas with the blue LED lights, so mostly I was just nervous about, "Gosh, are you sure if he puts his finger in my mouth, I won’t be electrocuted?" I was like, "Billy, just try not to touch my face," because I'd sometimes get scratches, too. So it was mostly about figuring out how to do this, to make it work. It was almost like Reiki massage, where you're not really touching the person, you're just going through the motions. That's the difference between my scene [with Billy] and [my scenes with Patrick], which were more human and natural. We had to get a bit, um, closer. I ended up with all these bruises on my legs because the chain [we did it on] was so tight. I was just black and blue.

CH: Had you read the Watchmen graphic novel before you came to the role?

MA: No. I had read the script and was just blown away, not really knowing what just happened. So I went out and got the book and was even more blown away. It's so well written. I ended up most excited by how well written the script was, though, because you never know, going from a book to a movie, they tend to cut out way too much of it and it becomes this whole other thing.

CH: Finally, Watchmen is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. You can't go many places around the globe where people haven't heard about it in some form or another. How are you feeling given your part in it?

MA: I don't have words for how I'm feeling. The magnitude of this is bigger than anything I've ever been part of. It's a little nerve-wracking and exciting, and a little of everything at once. I really hope it's successful because it was such a passion project for all those involved. Hopefully the fans appreciate it.

Want more kick-ass Watchmen interviews? Read more from stars Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and co-creator Dave Gibbons.