Jessica Alba interview

Action heroine Jessica Alba talks exclusively to marieclaire.co.uk

After playing a lasso-wielding stripper in Sin City and the invisible woman in The Fantastic Four, Jessica Alba, 26, returns to our screens in The Eye, in which she stars as a blind violinist who starts seeing ghosts after an operation restores her sight.

Have you ever had any paranormal experiences, like your character in The Eye?

Yeah, I've had some strange things happen - in my parents' house. I've never seen a ghost, though. But we've had televisions turning on in the middle of the night, faucets turning on, doors opening…things like that.

Your character is blind in the film, until she has her sight restored. How did you practice being blind?

I went to two blind orientation centres, one in LA, one in New Mexico. I learned basic Braille and how to walk with a cane, and how to live in my home - from labelling the degrees on the stove to shampoo bottles and toothbrush and toothpaste, putting everything in the same place. Just trying to set my house up where I could live independently as if I was blind.

You're best known for playing Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four. Has it meant teenage boys pursue you wherever you go?

You'd be surprised how many woman that are fans of comic books and comic book heroes - especially of the female comic book heroes. They love that stuff!

You're engaged to producer Cash Warren. How difficult is it to have a relationship in the public eye?

Yeah. It is difficult. Everyone has an opinion of who you are and what your relationship is about, things that you've done or didn't do in your relationship - and it's just all crap, really. Things that are written about are all crap.

Would you like to work with Cash one day?

I don't know. We haven't really talked about, so I'm not really sure. I wouldn't mind doing something with him. He's incredibly smart and very business-savvy. I think him being part of anything means it's going to be progressive and successful.

You're also about to have his baby. How's the pregnancy been going?

Fine - except I have the worst heartburn since I got pregnant!

The Eye opens on 24 April.