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When Jacinda Barrett saw the Italian film L'Ultimo Bacio in 2001, she knew it had great potential for an American remake. "The Italians saw the passion [in the story]," Barrett says of this movie about a man who cheats on his pregnant girlfriend. The actress immediately called producer Tom Rosenberg and told him it would be a good property to adapt. Rosenberg ultimately took her advice, and two years later, he called her to read for the role of Jenna, a mother-to-be involved with an unfaithful man.

Barrett jumped at the chance to play such a meaty role. In The Last Kiss (), the 34-year-old co-stars with the �bertrendy Zach Braff of Scrubs and Garden State. He plays Jenna's boyfriend, Michael, who is turning 30 and having a tough time dealing with commitment and his Peter Pan-like inability to grow up.

The charming 5-foot-10-inch Australian, who's quite skilled at losing her Down Under twang, took a circuitous route to the acting business. She first appeared before cameras as an international model, leaving her native Brisbane, Australia, at age 17 for fashion hot spots in France and Italy. She tired of the mannequin life, and when she made an impression as a cast member on The Real World in 1995 -- in one episode, she streaked through the streets of London -- she decided to become serious about acting. She's the only former Real World cast member to have established a successful acting career. She enrolled at the British Academy of Dramatic Art in Oxford, which paved the way for her burgeoning career. She also earned a pilot's license while in England.

Her beaming, freckled face can light up a screen. She co-starred with Nicole Kidman in 2003's The Human Stain, in which she performed a nude scene, and had a larger role as Joaquin Phoenix's worried new wife in the 2004 firefighter drama Ladder 49. She most recently starred in the disaster-movie remake Poseidon.

People who don't know Barrett's work will likely become familiar with it by the end of September. In addition to The Last Kiss, she will also appear in the comedy School for Scoundrels as an object of the affections of Billy Bob Thornton and Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder. Barrett says the movie, which will open Sept. 29, is "a lot of fun and really funny."

Barrett recently spoke to City Link by phone from Los Angeles.

You've already had a few potential breakout roles. Do you see Jenna as another one of those?

I think it's the strongest arc of any character I've had to play. There are very few roles for women that are so challenging. This is fantastic. It has the most emotional range, and it's so well-rounded. She discovers her parents have marital problems, and she has a lot going on in her life. A lot of roles for women can be just one-dimensional: You're the girlfriend, and that's it.

Is The Last Kiss a movie just for guys?

I don't see it that way. A lot of men and women have reacted really strongly to this movie. Some women relate better to Zach's character [than men do].

Was there anything in the movie that you could relate to personally?

I related to everything about it: dealing with growing up and responsibility. You're on the cusp of taking on these choices that are going to define you. You're seeing your parents as mortal beings. Everyone has that fear of infidelity. I was really in a place where I could relate to these characters.

You have some fiercely emotional scenes in the movie. How did you prepare for them?

We always knew that scene [when Jenna learns of Michael's infidelity] was one of those big scenes. We had to know the lines inside out. When you get that emotional, you can forget the lines. Zach and I were on the same level emotionally. When the director said, "Cut," we would laugh and get it out of our system. You can't sustain that intensity for 12 hours. At a certain point, you have to let it go.

Was it an exhausting role?

The part was definitely exhausting. Filming that one scene was one of the hardest days I ever had. I had never gotten that angry in my life, yet at the same time, it was very thrilling.

Had you met Zach Braff before?

We met years ago. He had just been cast in Scrubs. I also had a [television] pilot at the time. I also knew Michael Weston, who plays his friend in the film. I was also a friend of Cary Brothers, who's also on the soundtrack. I knew Zach in the very beginning. It's been amazing to see his trajectory. Just being together again and doing the movie was really cool. We were comfortable and very free, and had a no-holds-barred approach when it came to the physicality.

In one scene, Jenna is described as "one of the guys." How would you explain women who fit that description?

I think that's a compliment from men. I think men are saying, "We don't have to modify our behavior for her." Personally, I don't think you need to do that. I think it's OK if you're a woman [who] can enjoy time with men.

Michael's friends in the movie refuse to contribute to your character's pain. What do you think that says about a woman who attracts such loyalty?

I think that's great. It's a sign that they're all friends with Jenna, and not just as their friend's girlfriend. I think if more friends were like that, I think we'd all be in a better place.

Do you think Braff's character will resonate with this generation as strongly as his Garden State role did?

In Garden State, he so well articulated what other people were feeling. He knew it was a good role and a good story. It was coincidence that he found another one.

There are so many fine actors from Australia working in the United States. Is there something in the water down there?

They put little acting genes in the water, which is fantastic. We're a pretty tiny country. It's something about these salt-of-the-earth characters. We're pretty resilient and strong, and you need it to take all the rejection in the acting business.