(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Olivia Wilde "felt really Western" when her character emerged from the shadows in Cowboys & Aliens.

The 27-year-old Hollywood actress portrays Ella Swenson in Jon Favreau's sci-fi thriller, which sees extra terrestrials try to take over the Wild West.

The actress was thrilled to discover her character echoed stereotypical behaviour from the Western genre. She relished starring opposite British actor Daniel Craig, who plays cowboy Jake Lonergan.

"I literally realised I was gonna step out the shadow in the saloon to approach Daniel. I thought Oh God, I'm the woman in the shadow.'

"Then when I came out it was one of those moments when you think, Ooh this really feels Western right now, this is fun'," she laughed to Cover Media.

Olivia completed a variety of daredevil stunts in Cowboys & Aliens. One sequence involved her character being lifted off a horse and onto a spaceship. The actress didn't feel nervous because co-star Daniel was always on hand to help.

"[I felt safe because] Daniel was riding next to me," she smiled.

"It made me realise how ambitious it was to lug these machines into the middle of nowhere to tell a story, really beautiful."

Cowboys & Aliens hits UK cinemas on August 17. (C) Cover Media