When Fast & Furious opened in April 2009, earning $71 million US in its first weekend alone, movie executives and critics learned an important lesson: never underestimate the public's love of Vin Diesel and fast cars. Even though it had been eight years since The Fast and the Furious was released, viewers flocked to Fast & Furious, eager to see original cast members Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster together again, racing cars and trading one-liners. The fourth installment in the popular street racing franchise went on to earn $349 million US worldwide, making production of a fifth film a safe bet.

Brewster was barely 21 when audiences first saw her as Mia Toretto in The Fast and the Furious; now 29, the modelesque brunette remembers what it was like to get back behind the wheel for Fast & Furious (released on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 28).

Were you surprised by the huge response when Fast & Furious came out in April?
I was surprised that it surpassed the first one. I wasn't surprised that it was successful, but that it got to be so successful. I was super, super happy. I was excited.

Why do you think it did so well?
I guess some of it is nostalgia. I mean, people just love cars and it's a universal thing that’s really appealing to people, but it's nice to see people back who were together nearly ten years ago and to see that everyone's still intact. That they're still happy to be working together. I think in a world that kind of sucks today, in terms of the environment and the economy, people want to escape. I think all the movies that are doing really well right now are the ones that are about action and that offer a pure escape for 90 minutes. I think we fit that bill.

What was it like to reunite with the cast and crew?
Initially, it was really awkward because I hadn't seen Paul [Walker], Vin [Diesel] or Michelle [Rodriguez] for years. But then it was actually better than the first time around because, the first time, I was an awkward kid from New York; I didn't really have my bearings. This time, I was super excited to be working with them again and I was more of an adult, so it was so fun to travel the world with them and promote the movie. I also got to work with [director] Justin Lin again, who I worked with on Annapolis, so it was an awesome experience.

How had everyone changed?
Surprisingly, not much. Paul still does his surfing and he travels the world, going shark hunting; he kind of balances his career with stuff that makes him normal and interesting. I think that's what makes him Paul. I really appreciate that about him. And Michelle will say whatever the hell is on her mind and I love that about her. Doing interviews with her is so much fun because she will break stuff down and start talking about how there are three types of roles for women in Hollywood and how that's bullsh*t. I'm like, "Wow, I don't have the guts to say that, but you do and that's why you're awesome." And Vin's the smartest business guy around; my hat's off to him. Everyone listens to what he has to say. That's kind of how it was in the first movie. I think I've changed the most because I've matured a lot.

You mentioned also working with Justin Lin on Annapolis. What's he like as a director?
He's really great as a director. He totally appreciates the position he's in and I don't think that's true of a lot of people. I think a lot of people get to where they're at and then they take it for granted and get really full of themselves. Justin is very level-headed. Every premiere we went to around the world, he was just in awe. He couldn't believe it. He's very specific about what he wants and he really cares about the acting and cares about the story. I just love working with him. He’s also very, very adamant about not wanting the girls to be the cliched, hoochie mama kind of girls. He got really pissed off when people were attacking the movie and saying that the girls are accessories, because he really made an effort to have that not be the case. He wanted the girls to be strong.

How did you feel when 2 Fast 2 Furious and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift came out and you weren't involved?
Tokyo Drift, it really didn't make sense for any of us to come back. I was disappointed I wasn't going to work with Justin – we were in post-production for Annapolis when I found out he had the job. I was like, "Oh, that's perfect that he's going to direct that, but sh*t, I don't get to work with him!" But with 2 Fast 2 Furious, I was kind of bummed, because that was right off the heels of the original movie and I did want to be a part of that. But Vin wasn't in it, so since I play his sister, it didn't make sense for me to come back. It was weird when that movie came out. But Tokyo Drift, I loved the movie; I thought it was completely different from the rest of the franchise.

You got your driver's license for the first film. Would you consider yourself an expert driver now?
I thought I was a really bad driver up until now and it was just because I was driving an SUV. I equated being really high up with safety, and that was totally wrong. I started driving my husband's car, which is a smaller car, and I was like, "Oh, my God, I don't even need sensors! It's so much easier to drive!" I felt like I could see better if I was high up, but that was stupid of me. So I'm a much better driver than I thought I was. I'm not the best; I'm bad in parking lots and when I have to maneuver with small little spaces. When there are obstacles in front of me. But I'm not the worst. I do like speed. My husband has a big engine in his car and I got really spoiled. I wanted to supe up a car and he told me, "You can't do that because of insurance and you can't return your car after leasing it." And I was like, "Dammit! What about Fast and Furious?!”"

Do you think you'll be back for a fifth installment of Fast and Furious?
Yeah, I would love it. If Justin's involved and Paul, Vin and Michelle came back, it would be really fun. It's not every day you get to be a part of such a cool movie and a movie that impacts people and that people have so much fun with.

Fast and Furious comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 28.

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