'Haywire,' The First Five Minutes: Gina Carano Dukes It Out

Meet Gina Carano. A former MMA star, she's now knocking heads on the big screen.

She stars in Steven Soderbergh's new film, "Haywire," as a covert operative whose mission in Dublin hits the skids after she's betrayed. Starring alongside such heavy-hitters as Ewan McCregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas and Channing Tatum, she asserts her ass-kicking ability in the first five minutes of the film, which you can watch below.

The funny thing is, she was actually suffering from a tough defeat when she got a call about the opportunity to play the seemingly invincible fighting machine.

"I was actually training for one of the toughest fights of my life against [mixed martial arts fighter] Cyborg," Carano told co-star Ewan McGregor in a recent issue of Vegas Magazine. "It was the first major female-headlined fight ever, a huge, huge deal. And I lost in like five minutes. I was devastated and had a black eye. I hopped in my car from San Jose, where the fight was, and drove all the way to San Diego. I was going to hide out there for a month. When one door closes, another one opens, though: In that same week, my agent called me saying Steven Soderbergh wanted to meet me."

"Haywire" hits theaters on January 20, 2012.

Comments

[waldopepper]

11:03 PM on 01/11/2012

I could take her.

[onionboy]

03:17 PM on 01/19/2012

You forgot to add "bags" at the end.

[Icky People]

12:48 PM on 01/11/2012

Looks like a Lifetime movie. Bad acting, bad music, poor production values.

[TheApeMan]

11:11 AM on 01/11/2012

I really don't understand why they cast her in a major movie role.
Yes, she's good looking.
Yes, she was a MMA/Muay Thai figher.
No, she's never acted before.
I can't believe there isn't a "real" actress that couldn't learn the fight scenes.

This is kinda like Randy Coultre, except that he hasn't had a lead role.

[jrb35]

02:55 PM on 01/11/2012

Because all the "real" actresses are 98 lbs with no muscle. Any action scene with one of them beating up a guy almost twice their size would be a joke. Angelina Jolie's fight scenes are laughable. This woman pulls it off. You believe that her kicks and punches have force to them.

[onionboy]

03:18 PM on 01/19/2012

The "real" actresses just use stunt doubles. Uma Thurman comes to mind.

[Barry Peterson]

10:22 AM on 01/11/2012

I'd rather watch Gina Carano, than Tom Cruise any day.

[LoLo72]

08:53 PM on 01/10/2012

They had to put a strong cast around her because she's not an actress. From reviews I've read the majority says the movie is Mission Impossible with a female lead.

[Lola Harrison]

08:57 AM on 01/11/2012

I hope the movie is as good as the trailer ...I miss A. Jolie !!!!

[Dave Ryan MD]

07:56 PM on 01/10/2012

This woman reminds me uncannily of my wife, especially as a much younger women. Tall, strong and gorgeous with an angel face. She could, if she wanted to, beat the pulp out of me or anyone else. She is tough as nails, still. This movie, even if it's bad, is one I have to buy.

[kapalabhati]

08:51 PM on 01/10/2012

Uh, Dave, if you're going to talk about your wife as a "much younger woman," you might want to use an alias as a screen name.

[rowdiman]

09:46 PM on 01/10/2012

LMFAO!

[Dave Ryan MD]

02:06 AM on 01/11/2012

Point well taken. She's leaner and not quite as sturdy looking now at 52 as the lady in this film. She's taken up half-marathons/triatholons. Still fine as heck, though.

[Prince Enki]

10:00 PM on 01/10/2012

Ok, Dave, meds time ...

[LittlePurpleUSA]

07:15 PM on 01/10/2012

How did this not go straight to dvd?

[NHBill]

01:00 AM on 01/11/2012

January release is the closest thing to straight to dvd.

[kapalabhati]

06:14 AM on 01/11/2012

Tell that to "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close;" on the other hand, there is "One for the Money." (And I am a HUGE Evanovich fan!)

[Highball]

07:12 PM on 01/10/2012

She is SO hot.

And this looks totally awesome, in the just sit back, eat your popcorn, and have fun way.

[cdub1991]

06:41 PM on 01/10/2012

Wasn't this suppose to be released last summer? I assumed I just missed it in the theaters or something.

[Verushka Byrow]

06:22 PM on 01/10/2012

I can't take her or this movie seriously. Every time I even read or consider she might be a worthy action star, I see the incredible list of male acting talent surrounding her to be beaten up and I fall down laughing that I'm supposed to take her seriously. It's never mattered to me what a female action star should look like, only that she can act, and doesn't need tons of more talented actors and their reputations as action stars themselves surrounding her in an effort to make her character and her acting "talent" look better.

[RickM1969]

06:04 PM on 01/10/2012

This reminds me of the action films from the '80's. light on story but great action. Can't wait to see. I've been a fan of hers ever since I saw her in a reality show about women fighters (can't remember the name of the show).

[noaxe396]

05:12 PM on 01/10/2012

Just goes to show a woman can have muscles and be tough and strong, yet still have curves and look smokin' hot.

[Sad But True]

04:47 PM on 01/10/2012

The cast is great, the director is great, and Gina Carano is gorgeous...but this flick looks absolutely horrid.

[LittleSanityLeft]

04:20 PM on 01/10/2012

Cyborg destroyed her and it's not because Carano isn't tough, it's just that Cyborg is a beast and would give a few men in her weight class some serious problems.

I can't comment on the quality of Carano's acting or the script (it all looks a little too typical), I can say considering her looks and skill set that this is definitely a better way for her to go career wise.

[Guy451]

04:37 PM on 01/10/2012

Cyborg just got busted for Steroids and is facing a year suspension. I think this fight should be viewed in that light.

[LittleSanityLeft]

05:21 PM on 01/10/2012

Yeah, just read that. Hardly a surprise really. Still doesn't change the fact that Carano's much better off as an actor then a fighter. For females there's very little pay and no longevity in MMA.