The Transporter series has deep, European roots. So after the fancy European cars and chiseled British hero, it only makes sense to cast a sultry, French femme-fatale as the female lead in The Transporter: Refueled. Enter actress Loan Chabanol, a relatively fresh face on the big screen, making her action-movie debut as the leader of a group of women in need of the Transporter’s services.

Amazing job holding your own with the Transporter boys and leading the femme fatales in the film! How did it feel to step into such a male driven-franchise as such a strong female force?

It felt very special! You’ve never seen this before, so when I read the script, I was like, “Wow, that girl is awesome!” She’s different. She hires the Transporter but doesn’t really need him. She has her own persona and her own strength. That’s what I loved about her!

Can you ever see yourself as Transporter?

If I had to why not! If it’s fun I’ll do it!

How did you physically prepare for this role?

I work out every week, but I’m not the best. I do yoga and cardio. I was training every week. I had to train hard to get around in those high heels.

Loan Chabanol as Anna in Transporter

Yea, walking around in those high heels is tough!

Running, you mean!

How was the experience working with the new Transporter, Ed Skrein? You guys had great chemistry!

Ed is great. We felt very close. The whole set was very close, like brothers and sisters. That made it very easy for me and I’m sure him, too.

Whats next for you?

I’m doing a French film. My first, actually…Then, in October, I’m doing a comedy. My first movie was a comedy, so I love the genre so much. I’m looking forward to just being funny and not so serious! I like that dynamic.

Ed Skrein and Loan Chabanol in The Transporter Refueled
Ed Skrein and Loan Chabanol in The Transporter Refueled

You had that in the Transporter, too. You played funny in a few of these scenes, as well as having serious moments.

I know! But I guess, you really don’t know when you’re funny. There’s one scene where we’re all in the car. It’s the best scene! When we were in it, it wasn’t funny at all, but then, watching it, it’s the most fun scene in the movie. People are definitely going to enjoy it!

It was so nice to see women being awesome and bad-ass.

Plus, they were really women.  They weren’t trained machines. They were prostitutes in the movie who were real women. I like that they were very normal, compared to other films – like, say, Nikita – where they are trained assassins. That’s what I kept thinking about during this role: She’s a regular woman. We’re trying to do this – and it won’t be easy – but we are going to try and get this done, no matter what. I feel like women can actually relate.

Right, it was super grounded.

So grounded! It’s not a pretentious film. It’s very entertaining and fun. All those crazy cars and amazing people, but still, people can kind of relate to the characters and their goals!

More: The 10 Most Epic Car Chases In Movies

Frank Martin (played by newcomer Ed Skrein), a former special-ops mercenary, is now living a less perilous life - or so he thinks - transporting classified packages for questionable people. When Frank’s father (Ray Stevenson) pays him a visit in the south of France, their father-son bonding weekend takes a turn for the worse when Frank is engaged by a cunning femme-fatale, Anna (Loan Chabanol), and her three seductive sidekicks to orchestrate the bank heist of the century. Frank must use his covert expertise and knowledge of fast cars, fast driving and fast women to outrun a sinister Russian kingpin, and worse than that, he is thrust into a dangerous game of chess with a team of gorgeous women out for revenge.

The Transporter Refueled is directed by Camille Delamarre off a screenplay by Adam Cooper & Bill Collage & Luc Besson. Ed Skrein stars alongside Ray Stevenson, Loan Chabanol, Gabriella Wright, Tatiana Pajkovic, Wenxia Yu, Rasha Bukvic, Lenn Kudrjawizki, Anatole Taubman, and Noemie Lenoir.

The Transporter Refueled hits theaters September 4, 2015.