Ali Larter: Holding Out for Heroes

Ali Larter is our heroliterally. As one of the stars of NBCs new X-Menlike series Heroes, which premieres September 25, Larter plays Niki Sanders, a single mom-stripper who has a power she cant controlwhen faced in bad (like shes going to be killed bad) situations, Niki passes out and her super-strong mirror image takes control. Sound wild? You havent seen the half of it. We caught up with the sexy starlet, known from her turns in Legally Blonde, Final Destination, and Varsity Blues, and gabbed about the gay parallels of the show, working with Milla Jovovich, and hanging at the gay West Hollywood watering hole the Abbey. So, why do you think the gays are going to love your character? Because even though shes down on her luck she dresses fabulous. [Laughs] I didnt want to wear anything stereotypically that you think a stripper looks like. That doesnt mean she cant have style. It doesnt mean that she didnt splurge on a $200-$300 pair of jeans. So, weve got fabulous clothes going on and I think that theyll also relate because shes a single mom on her own. She has an interracial son. Shes never fit into this world, and people hold it against her. Since your character has two sides to her, do you think shes a little more open-minded sexually? Absolutely. Do you think shes ever or may ever take a dip in the lady well? You never know. Lets keep it at that. You never know, but she is definitely open-minded and a very sexual creature. Speaking of open-minded, I hear youre an Abbey girl. Yeah. I love to go and sit drinking at the Abbey! I sit there with my friends. We throw down mojitos, maybe a couple martinis at 4. You never know, nothing like a cocktail at 4 oclock on a Tuesday. Its my favorite time to be there, actually. Its like, amazing. I go with my friend Michael. We throw back cocktails and I just always feel so welcome there and its just always a great laugh. I always have a great time. Do boys ever come up to you there? I love that they all love Legally Blonde! [Laughs]. Everybody loves Brooke [her Blonde character]. Everybody loves Brooke. Well, she was a very indelible character. What else do you have coming up? I just finished shooting Resident Evil: Extinction with Milla Jovovich. Hot! It was amazing. Paul [W.S] Anderson wrote a really cool script, a really interesting take on this genre. Its Mad Max meets The Birds. People that are fans of the video game or fans of that genre are just going to be obsessed with it. As will all the readers of Maxim who fantasize about you and Milla together! [Ali imitates a reporter] What made you decide to do Resident Evil? Who doesnt want to run around and shoot people in the desert with Milla Jovovich? You know? You cant really beat that. You cant beat thatshes as beautiful as they come!