Naomie Harris, starring as Moneypenny in the new Bond films, and a rookie in the cop thriller Black and Blue, talks about the benefits of sensory deprivation, the best 007, and her extensive police training.

But first, the basics:

Age: 43

Hometown:London

Top 5 Bond Villains:

Naomie Harris: Its exploring the relationship between the community and the police forcea fractured relationship that has real trust issues at the moment. The movie felt incredibly important to me because it sheds light on that situation, offers some solutions, and has a powerful inspirational message.

I felt comfortable already because I did a film called Miami Vice with Michael Mann 20 years ago, for which I spent three months training with undercover agents. I had a boxing teacher and a firearms teacher, and I went out with the local police force. We went to practice-raid houses where real officers train, where people would suddenly jump out at you, and youd have to know who youre supposed to save and who youre supposed to shoot.

I also went out on a drug raid, and the police actually got the wrong person. Which was awkward.

Daniel Craig.

IM VERY PERFECTIONIST, VERY TYPE A. SO IM ALWAYS LIKE, MY INBOX HAS TO BE COMPLETELY TIDY.

Daniel is my favorite Bond because I totally believe hes someone who is a killer for a living, but I also see that he is damaged and vulnerable and capable of falling in love. He has a humanity and as well has this incredible wit and intellect.

I wanted her to be fierce and strong and intelligent and capable. I love her doing all the work out in the field and going toe-to-toe with Bond. I really dont want her to be seen as just the secretary anymore. She is Ms right-hand person.

Moonlight was a really rare way of making a film, because we shot it in three days. So I was able to fully inhabit the character, and I didnt actually want to release her at the end of the day. At the end, I felt Id really exorcized her completely out of me, so I was able to just walk away from the film knowing shes complete and not taking any of her with me.

I love flotation tanks.

The idea is no stimulation and also the sense of being back in the womb. I dont know how many tons of Epsom salts are in the water, but youre completely weightless and its the same temperature as your body. Its a really nurturing, healing experience.

My mom is an energy healer, and I meditate twice a day. I also go to a place in India for three weeks every year, where I switch off my phone and do Ayurvedic treatments and fasting.

You have to really train yourself so that when you get back, you dont immediately go into Oh my God, now my inbox is full of thousands of emails! and that sense of being overwhelmed. Thats what I did the first time: go straight back into stress mode. Im very perfectionist, very type A. So Im always like, my inbox has to be completely tidy.

You have to gently ease yourself back in by answering just a couple a day and repeating to yourself, Eventually, its all going to get done.

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Naomie Harris Talks Meditation, the Best Bond, and Intense Police Training - Men's Journal