Dominic Cooper: Mamma Mia's Hunky Groom

Dark and handsome actor Dominic Cooper impressed on stage in "The History Boys", then in the film version as Dakin, a pressured Brit college student. He'll be seen soon in The Duchess opposite Keira Knightley. The London resident sings and dances his way through the film version of the fun, Abba-song-filled musical Mamma Mia as Sky, the hunky groom-to-be of gorgeous Mean Girls alum Amanda Seyfreid. Dominic spends most of the film in swimwear or beach gear and we have no complaints although the actor admits he wasn't always comfortable with his wardrobe.

We caught up with Dom on the phone while he was on the way to the airport in Berlin on his world-wide Mamma Mia press tour. He had lost some of his luggage and was trying to find it. Later, during our chat, his car was "attacked" by a bevy of Sponge Girls (women trying to get a tip for washing the car windshield). He stopped talking with us briefly, either to watch them or shoo them away, we're not sure. Imagine an eventful chat and that soft Brit accent...

Dominic: Sorry, I'm having a moment of panic here.

TeenHollywood: You lost some luggage, huh?

Dominic: Yeah. I don't know if I should call the hotel and deal with it now or go on talking. What do you think? [laughs] What's your opinion on this?

TeenHollywood: I don't know what you lost but we wanna talk to you [more chatter about the missing item].

Dominic: Okay. I'm soooo sorry.

TeenHollywood: Are you still in Berlin?

Dominic: I'm in Berlin but about not to be.

TeenHollywood: Was this the first film role in which you could use your early music training? [Dominic attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art]

Dominic: Well, unfortunately, I didn't have much musical training. I'd like to think that I did but I don't think that I did. I was advised strongly, at drama school, that I shouldn't continue my musical career. I was told I had no rhythm and that my singing voice sounded like a tired, drowning goose.

TeenHollywood: Yikes! Well, you sound good in the movie. Did you have to sing something to audition for the film?

Dominic: I did. I got a phone call about the audition and the first question was 'can you sing? and I said 'no', and put the phone down and that was the end of that conversation for a little while but they kept asking, whether I was sure I couldn't sing. I finally went in and had a lot of fun with it and did it expecting that I'd just be out of there as soon as possible and I could get to the pub with friends and laugh about it later and think nothing of it ever again. It was extremely nerve-wracking. I remember this electric piano being in the corner that played Abba songs by itself. It was very traumatic but then I found out that I got the part so I was mixed up and felt like a fool.

TeenHollywood: You are looking pretty buff in the movie. Was there a lot of working out to get that way and are you slacking on the workouts now?

Dominic: I was slacking on the workouts always! In fact I hadn't done anything and I realized I was surrounded by dancers who were continually doing training. I suddenly thought 'I mustn't look like a potato anymore' and I asked some advice from a personal trainer and he got me onto this very large vibrating mechanism that vibrated at four thousand miles an hour and I sat on that for a while and it did something or another.

TeenHollywood: Uh, that could be fun....or not.

Dominic: [laughing] Well, I'll tell you it was slightly too much. It wasn't that much fun. I ended up feeling rather sick.

TeenHollywood: How was working with Amanda [Seyfried] and singing your duet?

Dominic: When I first met Amanda she kept telling me that she couldn't sing so, when we first went and met the music director, this great man I'd worked with before at the National Theater, I felt a bit more comfortable. I started the duet and this awful sound came out, like a haggard old man who couldn't reach any notes. I thought 'it's okay. It kind of sounds all right' then, suddenly this absolutely incredible voice came out of her and it was another moment of absolute panic when I realized I was singing alongside of someone with an incredibly beautiful voice.

TeenHollywood: Hey, you sounded fine! Did they let you two have some get-to-know-you time before shooting?

Dominic: Well, just early on when we had to rehearse the singing more than anything. We had a long rehearsal practice and that was cool.

TeenHollywood: What were dance rehearsals like on the huge 007 stage at Pinewood Studios and was Pierce [Brosnan] there.. (having played 007 of course)? That would be kind of ironic.

Dominic: Yeah, lots of dance rehearsals. Yeah, Pierce was there dressed in spandex and white platforms and, unfortunately, at the same time, Daniel Craig [the current James Bond] was jumping into an Astin Martin wearing a very nice suit.

TeenHollywood: That is so weird! How about those crazy Elvis-inspired glam rock costumes that you, Pierce, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard wear at the end of the film while the credits roll?

Dominic: It was something none of us were aware of. We didn't know we'd be doing that and it was very late on that we got told about it. We couldn't believe it when we saw those outfits! I don't think any of us knew what to think.

TeenHollywood: What was shooting on the Greek islands like? What did the cast do off-set? Any fun nights you can actually talk about?

Dominic: [laughs] We always had fun shooting. It felt very much like an ensemble cast getting through extreme pain through trust because we all were extremely worried about our own abilities in singing and dancing. We had a lot of time and we'd get together in the evenings and had fun together. It was one of those perfect jobs like that. We hung out. And I think it's very important that we were like that. I think it comes across very much on the screen. It was essential that we trust each other.

TeenHollywood: What was your most fond memory of shooting the film? And what was something you would like to forget?

Dominic: I must say when we had one of the parties in the evening and seeing Benny [Andersson, Composer and Exec Producer] play the piano and the entire cast gathering around the piano singing the old songs of Abba was fantastic fun. And worst memory was the day I was put into a tight pair of Speedos and made to sing on top of a rock was quite uncomfortable but I ended up enjoying it.

TeenHollywood: You get to run into a room and jump on Amanda and two other girls the very first time we see you in the film [It's a big group hug kind of thing]. Was that fun? Did you need a lot of takes?

Dominic: That is the first thing I do, right. What a good way to begin! I think that was one of those spontaneous situations really [pause] Oh! We're being attacked by women with sponges at the moment!

TeenHollywood: Women with sponges??

Dominic: I think they want to clean the car. We call them squidgees. I told them we've got windscreen wipers for that. Okay, they're gone.

TeenHollywood: Do you know of any numbers or scenes you shot that have been cut from the film?

Dominic: Yeah, there were a few scenes cut. I think it was an interesting process for the director. The film changed substantially, actually, in the edit and I think it's very interesting how it changes. It's like live theater the way the tiniest of cuts make such a difference. They were just scenes that weren't necessarily working or helping the story move along. [As the director] you probably get quite close to them and fond of them. It must be hard to get rid of them. There a little bit of Meryl [Streep], myself and Amanda at the beginning. But, looking back, I completely understand why it's not used. There is always extra stuff filmed. I think there were quite a lot like that adapting from a stage show.

TeenHollywood: Your character is going to build a website for Donna's [Meryl's character] hotel in the film. Are you internet savvy?

Dominic: I kind of am. I've haven't quite managed to do the Facebook stuff, all those sites. I don't know how people get the time.

TeenHollywood: I'm with you there. Were you surprised at how laid back and kinda wacky Meryl was?

Dominic: She was really good fun. People always ask was I intimidated to work with someone like that and the answer is 'no'. It was just a fantastic learning experience. Anyone who has worked more than you has that much more experience on film. It's fascinating to watch. It's incredible what she did with the dialogue; taking so many risks and being so daring with the material she had. That's why she always embodies her characters so well. It was a great lesson. It was very exciting to watch her.

TeenHollywood: What message would you like to give to teens or college students out there who might be deciding whether or not to go see Mamma Mia?

Dominic: I think we're subjected to quite a bit of violence in cinema recently and I think this movie effects you on so many different levels because it's got a wonderful soundtrack and a heartfelt storyline in it. It's just something you can have a huge amount of fun watching. It doesn't try to be anything it's not and the performances are really exciting; the euphoria it evokes and the reaction people have to it is really incredible I think.

Okay, they want me to let you go. I hope you find your lost luggage.

Dominic: So do I, yeah. Thanks.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.