Milla Jovovich explains why one Leeloo scene in The Fifth Element

had a profound impact on her as a performer. Released in 1997 and directed by Luc Besson, the sci-fi adventure film stars Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas, a cab driver who becomes wrapped up in a quest to find a legendary cosmic weapon. The Fifth Element, which marks one of Jovovich’s first major acting roles, features Jovovich’s Leeloo in a prominent role as the тιтular element, and she comes to team up with Korben to defeat a great evil that threatens Earth.

In a recent interview with GQ in which she breaks down her most iconic characters, Jovovich looks back on The Fifth Element, singling out her first big scene as Leeloo as the one that she found particularly powerful. The scene features Leeloo in a glᴀss cage as government and military officials demand that she learn to communicate with them, and the actor reveals that it helped her learn how to truly “become something else.” Check out Jovovich’s explanation below:

“That was the scene that changed my life as an actress. That’s where I really understood what it was to leave myself behind and become something else. And it’s still, when I watch it, it makes me cry because I see Leeloo and her innocence and her vulnerability. I feel so bad for her being trapped that way and not understanding what’s going on. Yeah, it still makes me cry.”

What Jovovich’s Leeloo Performance Means For The Fifth Element

The Sci-Fi Movie Opened The Door For Jovovich

The Fifth Element was both a critical and commercial success, grossing $263 million on a $90 million budget. In the years since, it has also developed a cult following due to its unique tone and story, as well as the bold performances from the film’s cast. While Willis plays a more conventional movie action hero, Leeloo is technically an alien, meaning Jovovich gets to show off quite a bit of range as a performer. That’s not to mention that Leeloo’s orange hair and bandaged appearance in the film has become truly iconic.

Playing such a prominent role in The Fifth Element‘s cast ultimately kickstarted Jovovich’s acting career, opening the door for Zoolander in 2001 and, crucially, Resident Evil in 2002. Jovovich would end up reprising her role as Alice in five Resident Evil sequels, the last of which was released in 2017, and the franchise has largely come to define her career. More recently, she has starred in Monster Hunter (2022) and In the Lost Lands (2025). Without Leeloo and The Fifth Element, Jovovich’s acting career could look very different.

Our Take On Jovovich’s Leeloo Scene In The Fifth Element

Why It’s So Important To The Movie

Jovovich’s comment about Leeloo’s innocence in that early Fifth Element scene is ultimately crucial to getting audiences on board with that character. Even if that particular moment may not make all audiences cry, Leeloo’s vulnerability and fear during this moment taps into viewers’ emotions and makes her someone worth emotionally investing in.

What’s particularly impressive about that particular Fifth Element Leeloo scene is just how different it is from the later roles that would dominate Jovovich’s career. Alice in Resident Evil, for example, is a no-nonsense action hero who is far more confident and capable from the jump. Though Jovovich continues to appear regularly in movies, Leeloo in The Fifth Element is sure to remain one of her most iconic movie characters.

Source: GQ