‘Ballistic’ Exclusive Interview: Lena Headey

Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new action thriller ‘Ballistic’, which was written and directed by Chad Faust (‘The 4400’), and stars Lena Headey (‘Game of Thrones’), Hamza Haq (‘Transplant’), Amybeth McNulty (‘Stranger Things’), and Faust.

“A mother’s pain, a bullet’s purpose.”

Release Date: Apr 17, 2026

Run Time: 1 hr 36 min

Budget: $4,000,000

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lena Headey about her work on ‘Ballistic’, her first reaction to the screenplay, the grief her character is experiencing after the loss of her son, why she blames herself, preparing emotionally for the role, working with actor and director Chad Faust, and having fun destroying a car on screen.

Related Article: ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Lena Headey Boards Action Thriller ‘Gunpowder Milkshake’

Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to Chad Faust’s screenplay and why you wanted to be part of this project and play this character?

Lena Headey: Well, I loved his screenplay. I’ve known Chad for a million years, and he’s just a gorgeous human. I loved what he’d written. Initially, I think he’d written it as a father-son story. Then he was like, “I kind of started thinking about a mother.” So, from the jump, I was just fully in.

MF: Can you talk about the grief character is feeling after the loss of her son and was it challenging to bring that intensity to the set every day?

LH: Here’s the thing. I think challenging is a funny word when it comes to acting. That’s why we do it because it’s challenging. It’s delightful. For me, you get a script that’s kind of expositional, that’s challenging because you must find something to drive your interest and drive your emotional investment and curiosity. When you get a script like this, it’s just exciting. You just can’t wait to go to work every day because it’s all there. I just show up, be present, be courageous and vulnerable. That’s the joy but in the most enjoyable way. I think we’re all probably tiny sadists, but there’s nothing better than walking away from a day and feeling like you gave it. You gave it in the best way, and it’s up to somebody to do what they’re going to do with it afterwards. So, sort of feeling exhausted but high is, for me, the driver, and I guess for a lot of actors.

(L to R) Jordan Kronis and Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

MF: Can you talk about why Nance blames herself for her son’s death?

LH: Obviously, the loss of a child for any parent is the living nightmare, and I think it just hits Nance on every human level. Her deep desire for it not to be anything to do with her, to find someone else to put the blame on, but she’s ultimately carrying it. As we see during the movie, her discovery of the bullet and the ammo, and the fact that she is connected to all of this, unknowingly, unwillingly, is devastating. She is looking for someone to blame until there is nobody. Until the answers are, “This is life. This is what happens. He signed up to all those things.” Which, nobody wants to hear, and ultimately, it’s about war.

MF: What was it like working with Chad Faust as both an actor and director?

LH: He’s a wonderful actor too, which pretty much always makes a great director. He’s wonderful. He’s collaborative and present and doesn’t over direct any moment. He just lets it be. Then, he’s this kind of soft backbone to hold up everything. So, it’s a wonderful pre-experimental safe place to just be.

‘Ballistic’ director Chad Faust.

MF: Was there any one direction that he gave you on set that really helped you with a scene?

LH: No. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’m a parent, and I also write and direct. So, we were kind of 50/50. I would bounce things off him. I think being a mother is very powerful, especially in something like this. So, all the things were just deeply instinctive. I don’t think we discussed a huge amount. He would just let me go.

MF: Finally, there is a scene in the film where you destroy an expensive sportscar with a crowbar. Was that a fun scene to shoot and did you only have one take to get it right?

LH: It was fun. I think that was half our budget, that car. So, they were like, “Don’t mess it up.” Yes, it was obviously really good fun, and much harder than it looks. Those early ’90s cars were made tougher than today’s cars.