Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else falling through the roof of a flying yellow cab. But back in 1995, The Fifth Element Milla Jovovich almost wasn’t a thing.
Luc Besson, the film's visionary director, actually rejected her at first. He had met nearly 300 actresses for the part of Leeloo, including big names like Elizabeth Berkley and even Diane Kruger. Milla didn't make the cut during her initial audition because, according to her, she was "too made up." She looked like a 90s model, not a supreme being from another galaxy.
Fate stepped in a few months later at the Chateau Marmont. Milla saw Luc by the pool and approached him without the heavy makeup and the "supermodel" armor. He took one look at her and realized he’d found his Leeloo.
The Training That Changed Everything
Getting the part was only the beginning. Milla didn't just show up and look pretty; she worked like hell. For eight months, she was in a self-imposed "boot camp." No parties. No clubs. She even practiced karate and kickboxing until she could perform almost all her own stunts.
The only thing her management stopped her from doing was a jump onto a cement platform because they thought it would literally break her. Smart move.
But the most wild part? The language.
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Besson had been obsessing over this story since he was 16 years old. He’d already invented a "Divine Language" for Leeloo that consisted of over 400 words. Milla didn't just memorize lines; she helped refine the vocabulary. By the time they were filming, the two of them were actually writing letters to each other in this made-up tongue. They could have full-blown conversations on set that nobody else understood. It’s kinda poetic, though it probably drove the rest of the crew nuts.
That Iconic Bandage Costume
You can’t talk about The Fifth Element Milla Jovovich without mentioning the "ACE-bandage" outfit. It’s one of the most recognizable looks in sci-fi history, yet its origin was surprisingly practical.
Milla actually came up with the idea herself.
She and Luc were brainstorming how to handle the "birth" scene where Leeloo is reconstructed from a few cells. She couldn't be totally naked for the whole movie—that would be weird and distracting. Milla thought about how hospital gowns are designed: open, accessible for needles and tubes, but covering just enough for modesty.
She suggested bandages.
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Luc took the idea to Jean Paul Gaultier, the legendary fashion designer. Gaultier loved the concept and turned it into the minimalist, strap-heavy masterpiece we see on screen. It was awkward to film, though. Milla has mentioned that while the fashion world is used to that level of exposure, the English crew on set would whistle and hoot, which made her a bit self-conscious during those early takes.
Why Leeloo Still Matters in 2026
The character of Leeloo broke the mold for female action stars. Before her, you mostly had the "Rambo in a tank top" vibe or the damsel in distress. Leeloo was different. She was a weapon of mass destruction who also cried while looking at a computer screen of "War." She was vulnerable and feral at the same time.
It’s that duality that keeps the movie relevant.
The "Multi-pass" scene is a meme for a reason. It’s the moment Leeloo goes from a terrifying alien to a person trying to navigate a bizarre human world. Milla has said that scene was the moment she truly "understood what it was to leave myself behind and become something else."
- The Hair: Those bright orange locks were a nightmare to maintain. They had to be bleached and dyed so often that Milla's hair actually started falling out, requiring her to wear a wig for a good chunk of the production.
- The Box Office: While it was a massive hit globally, grossing over $263 million, American critics were initially confused by it. They didn't know if it was a comedy, a thriller, or a fever dream.
- The Romance: Luc Besson and Milla actually got married in 1997, the year the movie came out. It didn't last—they divorced by 1999—but that creative spark clearly fueled the performance.
Beyond the Screen
The influence of this role on fashion is still popping up on runways today. We’re talking about Jean Paul Gaultier’s "underwear-as-outerwear" obsession, which Leeloo basically pioneered for the mainstream. Even in 2026, you see designers referencing the high-neck neoprene and the vibrant, "technicolor tangerine" hair on Instagram and TikTok.
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If you’re looking to dive deeper into why this performance worked, pay attention to her eyes. Milla played Leeloo with a wide-eyed, slightly "off" intensity that made her feel genuinely non-human. She wasn't playing a girl; she was playing a concept.
The real magic of The Fifth Element Milla Jovovich is that she made us believe a supreme being would actually find humans worth saving—even if we are a bit "strange," as she famously puts it.
To truly appreciate the craft behind the character, go back and watch the sequence where Leeloo "downloads" human history. Notice how her facial expressions shift from curiosity to sheer horror. It’s a masterclass in non-verbal acting that often gets overshadowed by the explosions and the flying cars.
Next time you watch, look for the subtle ways her movement changes as she "learns" to be human. She starts off jerky and bird-like, eventually smoothing out into the confident, kick-flipping savior of the world. It’s a transformation that very few actors could have pulled off with that much heart.