By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

HOLLYWOOD—Loan Chabanol’s big acting break was auspicious: she starred alongside Woody Allen in John Turturro’s 2013 comedy “Fading Gigolo.” The French actress, model and artist subsequently landed a part in Academy Award winning writer/producer Paul Haggis’ romantic drama “Third Person,” which starred Mila Kunis and James Franco.

The brunette beauty now settles into the passenger seat in Luc Besson’s rebooted “Transporter” action franchise, alongside former “Game of Thrones” actor Ed Skrein, stepping in as driver Frank Martin. “The Transporter: Refueled” is directed by Camille Delamarre from Besson’s screenplay.

Chabanol, who is in her early 30s, plays Anna, a former teenage prostitute bent on revenge against the man who forced her into that occupation years earlier. She concocts an elaborate scheme in which she and her equally beautiful cohorts (wearing platinum blond wigs and sunglasses) kidnap Frank’s father (Ray Stevenson) and make Frank serve as their getaway driver in a bank heist in order to secure his release. They plan to use the money to bring down Yuri (Yuri Kolokolnikov), Anna’s nemesis. Things get complicated when Frank and Anna’s relationship becomes more than just business. Set in Monaco, along the French Riviera, “The Transporter: Refueled” delivers high speed chase sequences in flashy fast cars that fans of the franchise have come to expect.

Frank’s car of choice is a souped-up 2012 Audi S8, which manages to easily traverse the narrow winding streets of the posh Mediterranean seaside enclave while eluding the bad guys.

Chabanol recently spoke to Front Row Features about taking on her first action role at the L.A. Forum, her taste for more action and how she managed to relax between scenes.