The latest film from director Tarsem Singh, Self/Less, is a science-fiction action movie where Damian Hale (Ben Kingsley), a brilliant NYC billionaire is faced with the one problem that can't be solved with money or power, the inevitable decay of the body that comes with age and disease.  His only hope is a radical and innovative medical procedure called "shedding," in which his consciousness is transferred to a healthy body.

When Damian embarks on this unusual "Fountain of Youth" opportunity, everything seems great at first sight, a kind of plot line reminiscent of the movie "Limitless." His consciousness is transferred into a young body played by Ryan Reynolds that seems like it has been manufactured in a lab. Damian which brings his experience and wisdom to his new body, is amazed as he realizes he has the vigor of a young man, a winning combination that he can exploit. He goes out the first night and encounters the beautiful Leah played by Puerto Rican model turned actress Mariana Vicente, the two become pretty close but not long he finds himself on a sex and drug binge enjoying his new virility. But things turned awry when Damian's mind begins to be invaded with memories and impulses of someone he doesn't recognize and in his quest to find out who he was and what had happened he founds out that  he was married to Madeline played by the rising star Natalie Martinez.

Madeline has to decide whether his story is true or not and as time is running out Damian has to decide whether he will make a Self/less act for this young family. Entertainment Affair had the opportunity to sit down with actress Natalie Martinez to talk about her leading role in the film.

Question: Why did you want to do this film?
Natalie Martinez: I like jobs that are kind of challenging. This was like an emotional rollercoaster. I thought to myself, "Can I do it?" When I do it, I feel such a sense of accomplishment. It's a sci-fi psychological thriller but it's set in real science. It's not really that far off. I kind of like those movies that make you think and spark conversations after you watch them. It was a really interesting script and the people working behind it were great. We had such a talented cast and crew that were really amazing. I love that I feel tortured and have to cry throughout the movie.

Q: It must have been very emotional for you to do.
NM: I feel, lately, that all I've been doing is crying. (She laughs.) I'm a masochist. You want me to cry, suffer and go through hoops? I'll do it.

Q: It's interesting that Madeline, knowing that this man in her husband's body isn't really her husband, kisses him anyway at one point.
NM: It is interesting. I don't think she quite believes (that's not him). Imagine I'm telling you I'm someone else. She sees her husband right there in front of her physically so it's hard for her to believe it's not him. I've known people who have passed away, and I'd give anything in the world to see them in the flesh one more time. I don't care what form it is; I just want to touch them and feel them. That's where that response from her comes from. It wasn't even a thing about intimacy. It was more like "that one last time." So I don't think she was cheating on her husband; she was simply caught up in that moment. It was more like, "You're here again so let me just feel you, let me just hug you, let me just touch you."
Plus, he looks like Ryan Reynolds, so that helps, right?
NM: (She laughs.) Yeah!

Q: What was more tortuous for you: the emotional journey of your character or having to be under a house that's on fire?
NM: That's the best part for me. The reason I wear pantsuits is because I have constant bruises all over my legs. Literally, all I do is fight. I do muay thai and I box and I'm very active, so when you tell me to roll under a house when it's on fire, you've got guns shooting at you, and explosions going off, I'm down for it. That's actually the easiest and most fun part of my job. I love action roles. What's more exhausting is crying, because for me it really has to come from somewhere. When you have to cry and go through a scene and really expend yourself, it really takes a lot out of you.

Q: How do you prepare for these kinds of roles that require a lot of emotion from you?
NM: I have certain things I do to prepare. It depends on the role. Luckily, I've worked with great people so the director or the actors, or both together, have helped me kind of pull that out. The writing too, depending on the scene and what it's like, has also helped. I have a whole filing cabinet of videos, voice messages and letters and memories. I'll just pick out a file and then I'll get emotional, whether it's dead puppies or military heroes coming back home or Coldplay's "Parachutes." There are a million and one things that make me cry.

Q: Do you work with an acting coach?
NM: No, I don't work with an acting coach anymore. Basically, I have auditions and my boyfriend and I go over the lines and talk about certain things. So in a way, my boyfriend's my acting coach. I've booked four or five movies since I've been with him, so I'm going to keep him around for a little bit. (She laughs.)

Q: How was it co-starring with Ryan Reynolds?
NM: He was really funny and great and sweet and nice. He was cool. It was great to work with him.

Q: He's got "Deadpool" coming up. Are you going to see it?
NM: I auditioned for it. (She laughs.) I wanted to be in "Deadpool" so bad. I don't know. Being the love interest again would have been the Meg Ryan-Billy Crystal thing.

Q: Is there a superhero you'd like to play? Are you a comic book fan?
NM: Oh yeah! I want to play Princess Kitana from "Mortal Kombat." I'm a fighter. ("Street Fighter's") Chun Li is my go-to for everything. I'm her every year for Halloween, even off-Halloween. One year, I dressed up as Michelle Obama dressed as Chun Li for Halloween. I had to mix things up to keep it creative. I have, like, four different Chun Li costumes. Superwoman is always someone I've looked up to. I can just kind of associate with her. But I'd like to come up with some Latin, fiery superhero chick; a crazy girl that dances in the night and then goes and saves the world.

Q: If you could come back as someone else, who would it be? This is something that scientists are working on: moving human consciousness into a robot.
NM: There is so much that you go through in life, I don't need to do this twice. I'm really happy in the position I'm in. I don't think the grass is greener on the other side. I feel like this life is the chance you're given so live it to the fullest and do everything now that you've dreamed of or imagined, and at the finish line, just figure it out. Everyone else is going to die so what are you going to do? Stay alive? I could be a robot but when I give you a high five, you can't feel (the emotion). So none of those things interest me. I'm content and happy with my life, and I want to stick this one through. But it would be kind of interesting to see life as a different gender. I've had my trials and tribulations that are amazing as a woman, so I wonder what that would feel like as a man.

Q: As a Cuban-American, are you looking forward to visiting the country of your parents now that relations between the U.S. and Cuba are thawing?
NM: I've already been there. My great-grandmother still lives there, and I have a lot of other family members there. Culturally, I just wanted to go there. My great-grandmother is 100. She'll be 101 this year. So I really wanted to go there and see her and meet her. Actually, the moment I stepped foot there I felt like I was back home. Meeting her for the first time, it was like an instant connection. Seeing my family, seeing the land, and seeing my culture, it made so much more sense to me. It opened my eyes to the fact that we live in a world where some people don't have choices and don't have the freedom to do certain things. That was a big "Wow!"

Q: Are your family members in Cuba fans of your work?
NM: They are. They've seen bootleg copies of "Death Race." They call me "artista," the artist of the family. At the same time, sometimes that's just not me. I'm just Natalie. I just want to eat some plantains and hang out.

Self/Less opens in theaters nationwide on July 10th, 2015.