“Women Can Be Afraid…”: Camila Mendes Opens Up About Getting Buff for ‘Masters Of The Universe’

Camila Mendes has been talking about her role in Masters of the Universe and what it was like stepping into a major blockbuster character for the first time. The actress plays Teela, a warrior from Eternia who stands out as one of the strongest figures in the story.

In the film, Mendes stars alongside Nicholas Galitzine, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, and Jared Leto. Her character Teela is described as a powerful fighter who also ends up guiding the men around her as they struggle to connect with their own inner strength. Mendes said she was drawn to that balance of physical power and emotional depth in the role.

When asked about playing such a strong character, Mendes admitted that it came with pressure at first. She explained that she was worried about how audiences might connect with someone who appears so tough on the surface.

“Honestly, it was a bit daunting because I always worry whenever you’re playing a character that’s so outwardly strong that the audience is going to have trouble connecting to her,” Mendes said. She added that the director helped shape Teela into someone with more emotional layers underneath her tough exterior. “Travis did such a beautiful job with his vision of the film and making Teela have a lot of heart.”

Mendes also spoke about the physical side of the role. To prepare, she trained for months and focused heavily on building strength and muscle for the fight scenes. She said the experience changed how she thinks about fitness and body image.

“I love that, because I’m somebody who loves to work out. I love fitness, but I’ve never had such specific goals, especially the goal of gaining muscle and bulking up,” she said. Mendes added that training for the film helped her understand strength in a new way. “I feel like women are sometimes so afraid of putting on muscle and weight training, because they think they’re going to get super big, but it’s actually one of the best feelings ever.”

She also joked about how much she embraced her physical transformation during filming. “I couldn’t stop touching my muscles during this project, I kept flexing for everyone I met.”

Beyond the physical preparation, Mendes highlighted what she liked most about Teela’s role in the story. She explained that Teela is not a character who needs saving. Instead, she is the one who helps others grow into their own strength.

“She can save herself,” Mendes said. “And not just save herself, but save the others around her.”

She described Teela as someone who supports Prince Adam and Duncan as they struggle with their confidence and power, guiding them until they are ready to stand on their own.

When asked about the film’s bigger picture, Mendes said she sees the story as a team effort rather than focusing on one hero.

“I think they’re all heroes, that’s the whole point. It’s a group of heroes that are all helping each other,” she said.

Mendes also expressed hope that Masters of the Universe continues as a franchise. She said she would love to return to the role and explore the characters further in future films.

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