LOOK Magazine has published a new interview with Jessica Alba ahead of the UK release of Machete (November 26). I’ve added scans to the gallery and typed up some highlights below. Enjoy.

Jessica Alba, you star alongside some serious tough guys in Machete. What was that like?
Great! I loved getting the chance to work with Robert De Niro, Danny Trejo, Don Johnson and Steven Seagal. It was incredible to be on set with these film icons.

You play Sartana, a fierce immigration officer on the trail of a hired killer. Where you comfortable playing a tough girl?
I’m a lot tougher than people imagine as I’ve always had to defend myself. I never fitted in as a kid, I was always a loner who got beaten up or picked on by other kids and I was always changing schools. Then when I was first auditioning I had to work hard to win roles and overcome a lot of rejection. I’m Hispanic and looked a little different, which made it more difficult to get accepted. But I didn’t  let that affect me. I learned to fight for what I wanted in life, to stand up for myself and not take crap from anyone. That experience made me stronger

So are action movies where your career’s heading?
I want to distance myself from roles more geared to how I look in a sexy outfit. My goal is to work with the best directors out there. I’ve always taken my career seriously and I want to work that I can be proud of.

Do you think being sexy counts against you as an actress?
Even though my looks have helped me get parts, I’ve always tried to find roles that get past the stereotypes. Now I think I’m in a position to make that philosophy pay off. My role model is Angelina Jolie. She’s so beautiful and has an incredible career. People talk more about her film career and her humanitarian work than about her looks.