Playing Lana Lang in Smallville, Kristin Kreuk gets into her fair-share of scrapes. But, if Clark ever failed to show, kick-boxing Kristin tells MKP she’d have no trouble holding her own

What attracted you to the part of Lana?

Actually I didn’t particularly love the character at first. She was the cheerleader and popular - she just didn’t have that much. But after reading the script and finding out more about her, she was also someone who had overcome so much. She was strong, she didn’t put up with bulls**t, and that really came through. In our second episode ‘Metamorphosis,’ when she had her first scene with Lex Luthor, she was so feisty. Over time those things have blossomed and grown. She’s not your typical cheerleader girl - she quit that because she wanted to be something else. She has a business (the coffee shop) and she’s strong.

Your character seems to do a lot of butt-kicking. Do you do your own stunts?

I do most of my own stuff. But there’s a scene in ‘Delete,’ which is with Chloe (Allison Mack). It’s this huge, big action sequence so my stunt double Kim did it. She’s really great, a really good martial artist.

What sort of training do you have to do?

Not a heck of a lot because it’s pretty simple, basic stuff that they just cut together. It’s all a flash of the foot, a head whipping here and there! So it doesn’t have to look excellent from a distance. I’ve got a dance background and a gymnastics background and I’ve done a bit of karate. But because Tom (Welling) and Allison (Mack) both train with this great kickboxer I started going. I used to just go to the gym and bike and do my own thing because before I couldn’t bring myself to have a personal trainer. But I’m starting to dance again - jazz and hip hop - so I do that to keep fit too.

How much has your life changed both personally and professionally since working on this show for the last three years?

I’ve changed in certain ways as a person. I’ve been a lot more open and secure and safe within myself but my life hasn’t changed that much. I love Vancouver where we film - it’s where I grew up - so luckily I feel at home. I have friends from my childhood and I’ve made new ones. Professionally, I’ve got a lot of doors open to me that I would never have had before. Everything’s good.

Do you feel the same pressures that a lot of young actresses feel in Hollywood - having to go to the right parties, be seen by the right people?

No, I don’t feel like I’m one of them. I’m really happy that I’m not expected to do that because I’m bad at it, really horrible at it. Like being in schmoozey situations and having to pretend to be a glamorous person. It’s really good to be in Vancouver where I can just be real and be myself and not have to pretend.

Both your parents are landscape architects, were they happy for you to pursue the showbiz route?

Yeah, my family is very academic, so acting wasn’t really ever something that they pushed me to do. My mom wanted me to dance but really it was all about getting a good job, a good education, making enough money to get a degree and go to university. But they were wonderful and supportive of me even when I decided I was going to do this. They would have been happy no matter what I was doing, as long as I was happy.

How has the show affected your private life?

I work less than I play so I have a lot of free time - I have more of a life than I do a job, which is wonderful. But my private life is so simple - just reading and talking, watching movies, walking and drinking coffee. That’s my life.

You got up close and personal with Matt Damon for your role in Eurotrip. How was that?

Fun. He lipsank and I danced and we made out. That was it. We had to do a fair amount of takes but it was just great. Luckily I didn’t get nervous, I’m pretty good at distancing myself. He was really sweet: a really smart, funny guy.

What does the future hold?

I don’t know what’s going to happen when the show’s over. I have no burning ambitions toward anything except for finding new experiences in my life and becoming a whole, full person that I really like to be with. Because in the end, you’re with yourself the most! My ambitions really lie in travelling and seeing the world. And writing a good story one day!