I recently had the pleasure of speaking with actress Carrie-Anne Moss about her role in the upcoming Chocolat, also featuring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, set to open in New York and Los Angeles on December 15, and nationwide in early January. Moss is probably best known for her role as Trinity, opposite Keanu Reeves as Neo, in the Wachowski brother's science-fiction blockbuster and cult hit The Matrix (1999). In preparation for playing Trinity, the Canadian-born Moss trained for months to master martial arts before the film began shooting in Australia. In Chocolat, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, director of last year's Oscar-nominated The Cider House Rules (along with other acclaimed films including What's Eating Gilbert Grape), Moss can be seen as the conservative and strict Caroline Clairmont.

Yet Moss's performance through subtle nuances shows that Caroline is not lacking emotions, even though she represses them. Chocolat explores small-town life in 1950's France, and the effect that the mysterious stranger Vianne Rocher's opening of a humorously decadent chocolate shop has on the various townspeople. Some scenes in Chocolat are pure slapstick, such as, for example, when Vianne offers the conservative Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), guardian of the village's morality, some chocolates called "Venus' Nipples." Some good moments of the movie are the humorous ones, such as the village priest Pere Henri (Hugh O'Conor) singing and dancing a rock-and-roll tune. But the really great parts of the movie are when Johnny Depp enters the scene. His presence, facial expressions and self-confidence are unique, and each of his gestures and body language expresses complete mastery of the young, yet mature and inimitable artist. His penetrating glances and smile lights up the screen. One of the young children who spends time with Depp at the chocolate shop, Gati (Marion Haudecoeur) has huge eyes in her tiny, unforgettable face. Juliette Binoche is also as great and beautiful as usual.

Although Caroline at first might seem in contrast to the sexy kung-fu mistress Trinity-particularly in terms of their historical and social contexts-under the surface both woman are rather similar; they are both strong, determined and believe deeply in their convictions. In Chocolat, Caroline attempts to stand between her libertine mother Armande (Judi Dench) and her own son Luc (Aurelien Parent-Koenig), wishing to prevent their reunion, until Vianne foils her plan. Along with Chocolat, Moss can currently be seen as Commander Kate Bowman in Red Planet as well as Natalie in Memento. She has also committed the next two years to shooting two Matrix sequels, for which she will begin training shortly.

THC: What attracted you to this script?

CAM: It was a beautiful story. I was just blown away by the story and how well-written it was. I also met Lasse Hallstrom, who is one of the greatest directors and nicest people in the world. I was darn lucky to get picked for it [Chocolat].

THC: When does filming for The Matrix 2 and 3 begin?