The iconic German thriller premiered in 1999. But over two decades later, the film—which centers on a red-haired woman who has 20 minutes to find 100,000 deutsche marks and save her partner from a shady deal gone wrong—still gets people talking. It in fact gets talking to star Franka Potente, who is revisiting her role in the cult classic to celebrate its 25th anniversary and re-release in theaters.
Film buffs would perhaps focus on the movie’s inventive structure (three versions of the same setup, with wildly different outcomes) or strikingly modern energy, complete with thumping . But I have to know: How on earth did her hair recover from that dye job? In , Potente’s hair is not crimson or auburn, but Skittles red. It was so distinctive and the movie so beloved that filmmaker it inspired the character of Sydney Bristow, whom Jennifer Garner played in his television show .
Potente laughs, remembering her ordeal. “When I came to do the movie, my hair was jet black,” she says. “I changed it a lot back then.
And they were like, ‘Well, we did camera tests, and the decision is red.’” Potente is sure it wouldn’t happen like that now. An actor would be given a wig or the makeup department would use some other sleight of hand.
But she was 22 and game. In the end, it took eight tries to bleach it white. A particular brand and color was then imported from London to give her hair its signature red hue.
Keeping it in that condition was its own trial. Her follicles .
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