CineMas Cool: Rosario Dawson Plays A 'Composed' Leader in 'Unstoppable'

Rosario Dawson put in serious time and research to prepare for her role in the Tony Scott thriller "Unstoppable" opening nationwide Friday (November 12). To prepare for the film about a runaway train, Dawson says she met with a real-life inspiration for her character: a female rail-yard manager.

Photo via Getty Images

"We had a great opportunity, we found this amazing woman, Mary Alexander," Dawson recently told MTV News. Rosario said she picked Alexander's brain about proper rail-yard vernacular, protocol and technical terminology.

Dawson plays Connie, a headstrong rail-yard manager who, along with co-stars Chris Pine and Denzel Washington, goes up against her corporate bosses in an attempt to stop a train loaded with explosive chemicals from careening into a small town.

Dawson recalled asking Alexander:

"To do that and know it was a woman who went through it, I was like, 'How did you work your way up? What did that feel like?' You get those obvious clichéd things about a woman working in a men's industry, but you also get this [explanation]: 'Listen, this is a high-stakes situation, this doesn't happen every day but when it does, you want capable people to be there."

Rosario added about her role:

"To be someone composed and a leader in that, that's what I wanted Connie to be. Not just a cool, spunky woman or a bitchy aggressive woman, but just the right person for the job."

Sounds like Rosario succeeded!

Are you planning on seeing "Unstoppable" this weekend? Sound off in the comments, or @MTV3.

Tags Chris Pine, denzil washington, Movies & CineMás, Rosario Dawson, Unstoppable