TORO photographer Darryl Humphrey met up with actress Natassia Malthe during filming of the popular TV series Fringe. In that episode, Malthe played a mentally unhinged character – but Humphrey didn’t know this. After a perplexing evening, he was told about the crazy character she was portraying in Fringe and the lightbulb went on. “I get it,” he thought. “She’s a method actor.”

 More shots of Natassia Malthe

Malthe concurs: “Well, I kinda lose my mind in Fringe, or at least my character does. Whenever I’m acting, I tend to accidentally become unable to switch off the character. I’m a little bit of a method actor, but without really wanting to be.”

For instance, she once appeared in a werewolf movie where the character was, in her words, “a bitch from hell” – and found herself behaving erratically off-set, spurred on by the fake tattoos and the wild dreadlocks in her hair, etc. She says, “I’m very kinesthetic, and when you’re that way you just feel it in your body. I know that other actors think with the logical part of their brain, but I wear my character inside my body, even when I’m away from the set.”

Her acting career has been weighted toward the horror genre. Malthe reflects on the trend, “I think that the reason I go into the category of vampires and werewolves and horror and stuff is, well, partly coincidence. But also it could be that I have a dark edge about me.” Yet she also calls herself, in the same breath, a “total comedian” – though one who has, admittedly, never been seen as a comic actress.

Yet the first impression of those who meet her is, she says, that she’s “a total comedic clown.” While not a comedy, "Scarlet" was certainly a lighthearted and high-profile project for the actress – starring in what appeared to be a trailer for a new TV series, but which was finally revealed to be a promotional campaign for a line of “Scarlet” HDTV’s from manufacturer LG. A lavish teaser was created by acclaimed TV producer-director David Nutter; ultimately, it was Malthe’s most enjoyable entertainment-industry experience. To advertise the project, she travelled to 30 countries around the world and met, among others, the king of Ghana and Prince Charles.

Malthe is currently immersed in martial arts training for an independent film to be shot in Croatia. As for her radiant beauty? “It’s all genetic,” she says, claiming that she does not take care of herself at all, paying very little heed to the nutritional value of the food she consumes. Ultimately, she attributes it all to the sheer good luck of her heritage, French on her father's side and Malaysian-Chinese on her mother's. Be that as it may, one thing is for certain: her parents have cause to be very proud of their wild child.

TORO recently caught up with Natassia Malthe for this  exclusive TORO Woman photo shoot, and revealed more insights into her personality with this questionnaire.

Q: What is your present state of mind?
A: Inspired. And I have a lot of anticipation.

Q: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A: When I’m happy no matter who’s in my life or what job I have. In other words, when I don’t need anything from the outside world to know that I’m enough.

Q: What historical figure do you most identify with?
A: Joan of Arc.

Q: What is your greatest extravagance or indulgence?
A: When I’m watching a good movie with a bloke that I know.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: My dog, though she’s not a possession. Sookie, a Shih Tzu.

Q: Which talent – other than those that you’re already blessed with – would you most like to have?
A: To be a singer. I’m taking singing lessons right now.

Q: If you were to die and come back as a person and/or thing, what do you think it would be?
A: Myself again but without all the fuck-ups [laughs].

Q: What trait do you deplore most in others?
A: It’s when people think that impressions are facts, and then treat you according to the impression. That’s just not very insightful. I don’t like being judged by impressions.

Q: What trait do you deplore most in yourself?
A: When I speak my mind without thinking first what I am saying. It’s like a kind of Tourette's. I have the biggest foot-in-the-mouth syndrome ever.

Q: What is the quality that you like most in a man?
A: I love men who take charge and who make me feel protected. I think I like old-school men – big dudes, cavemen [laughs]. The protector.

Q: What do you like most in a woman?
A: Women who don’t get jealous, and who see the value of other women.

Q: Final thought?
A: Being an actress in this business, the issue of integrity comes up a lot. In fact, I moved back to Vancouver after living in L.A. for 10 years. Living in L.A. I experienced situations that made me want to quit acting. It ruined my experience of being an actress, and I had to overcome that. In L.A., you’re competing with women who play games and who will do all sorts of things to get a part. They just play the game ice cold. But coming back to Vancouver made me understand why I’m in the business again.