Cutie Erika Christensen (“Traffic,” “Swimfan”) co-stars with Jodie Foster and Peter Sarsgaard in this Friday’s thriller “Flightplan.” She plays a flight attendant named Fiona, who finds herself under intense pressure after a mother (Foster) on board the airplane claims that her daughter has been kidnapped while in flight. Kyle Pratt begins to finger the crew on board, including Fiona. So is Fiona in on the plot? Is there a bigger conspiracy at hand? Or is Kyle just plain crazy?

We won’t tell you, but we will tell you what Erika had to say at a recent press day promoting the film:

Q: You seem to handle the role of the flight attendant really well…

ERIKA: You know what’s funny? I actually have family relations to the airlines. My mother had a pilot’s license. My grandfather and step-grandfather were pilots. My grandmother was, back when they called them “stewardesses,” a flight attendant. I actually had a ball wearing that little uniform and making sure everything was under control.

Q: So I’m assuming you’re a really good flier?

ERIKA: I’ve always been a good flier. I love the whole experience.

Q: Both “The Upside of Anger” and “Flightplan” have really good actors attached to them so is that something that you absorb while being on set?

ERIKA: You’re absolutely right. With a cast of such quality on both of them, it’s great to just sit back when I have the opportunity and just watch. Watching Jodie on this is incredible; it’s the perfect role for her. It’s so intense and so emotional. She just jumped right into it and is so professional.

Q: Is working with Jodie Foster one of those things you can cross off on your “to do” list?

ERIKA: Probably being Jodie Foster was one of the things I wanted to check off my list. I started when I was 12 and “Taxi Driver” was so top-of-the-line. So I thought it was really inspiring and wanted to use every opportunity to swing what I could from her.

Q: Was it claustrophobic to film the movie in a confined area like that?

ERIKA: We were worried about that actually. The cast was thinking that they’d lose their minds. But we didn’t. The thing about that too is that we had the same extras everyday. It was such a community. It was like a microcosmic little town. We were like all little towns people with extras and a crew. It must have been 300 people there everyday. But we could go outside and whenever I had a chance, I’d go to first class and take a nap. [laughs]

Q: Have you seen the final cut of the movie? What did you think?

ERIKA: I love it. It’s a great ride. Even knowing what was going to happen, I was caught up in it. At a certain point, without giving it away, when things start to dramatically go wrong from a passenger’s point of view, if I had popcorn I would have definitely thrown it everywhere. I was so excited.

Q: You really won a diversity award for the projects you’ve picked and have chosen. Are you really selective about what you do?

ERIKA: Oh yeah. I don’t know if my agent will be upset but I quoted him saying that he would jump out a window if I turn down another project. The main thing I look for is something that I personally feel something for. Something that I can be proud of and means something to me, somehow.

"Flightplan" opens in theaters September 23rd.