Interview with Galadriel Stineman, Gwen Tennyson in Ben 10 Alien Swarm

Ben 10: Alien Swarm follows teenage hero Ben Tennyson as he breaks ranks from the Plumbers (a secret organization that battles alien forces) to help Elena, a mysterious young woman, uncover an alien threat to our world. Joining him on his adventures are Gwen and Kevin, super-powered heroes in their own right, who must trust each other’s instincts to help save the day. Ben 10: Alien Swarm premieres on the Cartoon Network on Saturday, November 28 at 6pm

Ryan Kelley stars in the coveted role of 15-year-old Ben Tennyson, who with the Omnitrix, can transform into ten different aliens. Galadriel Stineman is Gwen, Ben’s super-powered cousin and voice of reason, and Nathan Keyes plays Kevin Levin, who has joined Ben’s team for the good of the universe but still seems to have a scheming side.

Also joining the cast is Alyssa Diaz, who plays Elena, a long time friend of Ben. Elena’s father was a member of the Plumbers (the secret society that defends Earth against aliens) who has now gone missing. Elena comes to Ben for help, but it still remains to be seen whether she is friend or foe...

Galadriel Stineman Interview - Gwen Tennyson

1. What was your reaction when you found out you got the part?

Galadriel Stineman: When I found out I was cast as Gwen Tennyson, I was ecstatic. I really wanted to land this role because Gwen is such a dynamic character and I knew it would be lots of fun.


2. Had you watched episodes of Ben 10 before? What did you think of the show?

Galadriel Stineman: I hadn't watched the show before I got my audition for the film. Between the time I had my first audition and we started shooting, I watched every episode from both Ben 10 and Ben 10: Alien Force. I have becomes a huge fan of the show now... I get so excited when a new episode is airing.


3. Are you similar to your character/could you relate to your character?

Galadriel Stineman: The character of Gwen and I have so much in common. We are both cool under pressure and proud to use our minds. Also, Gwen and I are both fiercely loyal to the people we care about and do everything we can to watch out for them.


4. What were your favourite scenes and why?

Galadriel Stineman: My favorite scene to shoot was early in the film... What starts as Kevin buying black-market alien tech ends up becoming a full-on battle with aliens, explosions, and motorcycles at break-neck speeds. Even though it was freezing in the warehouse we shot in, I had so much fun watching the explosions and doing some really cool stunts.

The scene that I am most excited to see is one with Humongosaur. When we shot this scene, we had to imagine this giant alien and all kinds of things attacking us. I can't wait to see how it looks with all of the CGI work!


5. Do you think Ben 10 fans will love this new film and why?

Galadriel Stineman: I think Ben 10 fans will love Alien Swarm because it is true to the series. Fans are going to get to learn more about their favorite characters and watch them go places they've never gone before. Also, fans are going to find a few exciting surprises in the film for the characters they know so well.


6. Was it physical role to play and did it challenge you?

Galadriel Stineman: The role of Gwen was a very physical role. Her powers and martial arts training allow her to flip and fly through the air, all the while throwing energy fields at the enemies. My arms got very toned from throwing so many energy orbs. The role definitely challenged me. I wanted to make sure to be true to the character in the cartoon while still adding my own idea of Gwen. Also, Gwen has such a unique relationship with Ben… although they are cousins, they are as close as twins. I wanted to make sure we showed that bond in the movie. Luckily, Ryan and I were able to get close pretty quickly.


About Ben 10 Alien Swarm
Ben 10 Alien Swarm follows teenage hero Ben Tennyson as he breaks ranks from the Plumbers (a secret organization that battles alien forces) to help Elena, a mysterious young woman, uncover an alien threat to our world. Joining him on his adventures are Gwen and Kevin, super-powered heroes in their own right, who must trust each other's instincts to help save the day.

Ben 10 Alien Swarm premieres on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 6:00PM, only on Cartoon Network.