Film Club and Final Thoughts

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Know your sleep score with Apple Watch. iPhone eleven or later required. I weaving to my podcastiful I wish I could take credit for it. But this is thank you for joining me. What an honor to have you. I've been watching your work for a while now and I think you're one of the best artist working today. like I mean, I was watching overour Dead Body recently and just that scene with you and Jason at the table wherere where you're reenacting what's going to happen is one of the most powerful pieces of acting is you're so good in that scene. And Nick and Brian were in here recently for Pizza moovie and Overour Dead Body. But welcome and I want to timest today because this is going to run a little bit in a few weeks, but we're recording this on the day that Carolina, Carolina opens in theaters. That's right What does that feel like? obviously you've had experiences where movies have opened, you've been there the day those films have opened. What does it feel like on a day your movie is out to the world goosh, I don't know. I think I just feel really proud of this one. so I'm genuinely excited for people to go and see it. think We made something really special and I hope people I hope people are lining up in the theaters and hustling their ways in. but I mean It's funny, isn't it? Because the experience of filmmaking is what I love the most. I think if I put too much pressure on the outcome I mean it for the wrong reasons, do you know what I mean? It's great if it's a success and people love it, but ultimately what I love about My job is the actual making of Yeah And because that's what takes months and months and months of mine time and then I kind of have to let it go a little bit because I have absolutely no control over What's that letting go process like though emotionally? Because I feel like every film I would imagine is different. But I mean, again in twenty twenty five and twenty twenty six, you have five or six films opening over a period of time. and I'm sure you shot them in different periods of time as well. Obviously, and some of them come out out of order and how you shot them Is there a consistent way you say goodbye to your characters in terms of like when the production ends? I imagine it's kind of like a musician where they write a song, it comes out, and then it becomes the audience's song.. Do you feel that way a little bit. I do I have worked with actors who almost get like emotional about, o now now it's not just mine, it's the world L which I found interesting. I don't necessarily feel like that. I just get what I call the actors's hangover where after a job For like two weeks, I'm like a bit weird Like what do you mean I think Especially if like Carolina Caroline, we will All in Kentucky, we all were making something that we really loved and we all got along. And we just had this incredible experience. and then It's such a strange thing, isn't it? Be Someone yells That's a rap and then you kind of never see anyone again until maybe the premiere But so there's this weird mourning period afterwards, especially with Carolina where it was just so much fun and We were all just in love and then you Leave and you're at home and you're excited, but it's also you' sort of It's sad but it's over, you know? Yeah, I mean and we'll get dive into this when we get into the film itself, but there's themes of empathy in this film and devastation of like you really care for these people Obviously, I think that's the beauty of movies is this idea that we can empathize with flawed characters, people who are doing things that may be breaking the law. I won't go into detail, but Kyle's character has a very tough scene or something very bad happens and the way your character has to empathize with that and still feel that love for somebody who does something It's very interesting. By the time this comes out, the movie will be out so we can kind of gauge what that scene is. But I think empathy is a really interesting theme here. and I empathize a lot with the characters that you play And I asked that question initially about the idea of the movie coming out today because I think pivotal theatrical experiences are so monumental to us. I mean I don't mean to say this one, but Return of the King was a big one for me. Your uncle was in that movie, which didn't I forgot Hugo Weaving was even your uncle before I was doing research. That movie was like a pivotal moment for me as an audience member. It changed the way I experienced films made me understand the communal language of a theatrual experience. What was that for you growing up? Be I know with having him as your uncle, I imagine those movies were different foruin. What do you mean by ruined? Absolutely ruined those movies for me. Be my dad likeike read all of those books to me and my sister growing up. So when the movies came out, we were so excited And I kind of knew My uncle was an actor, but all of his films You know, they were rated like M and so I never really saw them. Like the Matrix kid. You know, like I never or like Yeah. And then I remember Wing Lord of the Rings. And then like, you know, you're kind of like lost in this like beautiful magical world. And then your uncle, like silly uncle Hug goes like Got a wig on and pretending to speak ellvish and you're just going like, okay, well I'm out now. This is so annoying. mean that's inc. Well outside of those films, I imagine you probably had a pivotal theatrual experience growing up. Was there one that kind of spark that idea of how powerful it is. Like I I remember sitting in the theater and seeing R Ready or not and all the films you' made, there's an energy that happens in a movie when a movie's great. And you can't really it's almost like tangible, but you can't explain it. Yeah. What was that for you growing up? I mean the moovie that made me realize I want to be was U The first pirates of the Caribbean. Yeah. I went into a theater and It was the first time it was a packed theatre and I just had like out of body experience. Like I was so invested in the story and it's such an epic movie like Lord of the Rings, you know, where it's just this total fantasy. I was totally immersed in this world And then the credits start rolling And I just remember feeling like confused as to what had just Yeah and furious that I wasn't invited I was like, this looks like the most fun thing you could possibly do. Wh why Why was I not involved, you know? Do you think that was the spark for you? Totally. Like like like I need to be in those worlds. I need to make these I need to tell stories for audiences. Yeah, I was walking around in a days afterwards just going I want to be a pirate I want to you know, I want to be a swashbuckling like getting up to going on adventures and then I think that was also the first time I sort of put two and two together that that's an actual job that people And I remember asking my dad like loads of questions afterwards And then yeah, shortly after, I think. That's when H I started like working. And you come like your father's a filmmaker in a way and also teacher. Y. Your mother, from what I understand, was a therapist, but also works in museum studies. Is that correct? No, she's yes about my dad. My mom yeah works in art museums and like would curate children's programs And now she's ye getting her PhD in art therapy. So does that do you look at those links as like, okay, I grew up in an artistic family in a way I was kind of destined for this or do you think you found it on your own Or do you think your parents being in the arts really was helpful to you? It is interesting, isn't it? I don't know, like is it genetic? becausecause there definitely are a lot of artists in my family. My grandmother's an incredible painter, and so is my mom My sister is really creative And then yeah, my uncle like everyone seems my cousin is an actor. We're all I don't know if it's like nature or nurture, but I definitely was encouraged to U like explore Uh my creative side. and when I said I wanted to act my dad and my mum. they were just so Supportive. I'm so grateful. It wasn't the cliche, like donon't go down that path. getet a backup job kind of thing. They just believe that you could do it. Totally. I mean, they did say like You know, like, do you want to get a degree as well? just in case, But They were like, you know, at fourteen, my dad driving the two hours to Sydney to findind me an agent and wow. I mean, I was definitely like, you know ushing him to do that and I'm so grateful that yeah, he just support He was like, you know, he came with me to LA the first time. I came over to help me like meet agents and stuff and That's so cool. mean I just I love stories like that because you think about, okay, would I be where I am now? had I had that support? because some people were like their parents like, no, that's not going to work. G do this. but it's just like I remember Emma Stone speaks about this a lot too where her mom like took her to LA and the audition process and everything. It's just it's insane. You talked a little bit just now about like the mourning process of like end of a film I imagine certain characters are harder to shake than others, but I also imagine that some some maybe you miss more than others. Like I say this a lot often when I see a movie that profoundly impacts me is like I miss the people that I was spending time with Totally. You know what I mean mean like at the end of the day, when you when Carolina Caroline ends, I kind of missed I wanted to go back to their original vibe when they first met in those first moments before any before it went to in a way, but can you speak a little bit about like certain characters and why some of them might be harder to shake and arere there ones that you kind of miss more than others. not that they're not as important to you, but maybe ones that emotionally struck you Yeah I mean Caroline really had has a sweet spot in my She was tough to let of, I guess. I mean I just haven't played a character like that who was so vulnerable and sweet. and you know, the fact that it's a love story It was such a challenge and so rewarding that that it was a positive ience I don't know if I like I'm trying to think if I've ever felt like I miss a character I've It was really fun doing Radioot two and bringing back Yeah, stepping back That was really cool. whichich the opening shot of that film is like correct me if I'm wrong, you you're basically matching the end of and the beginning, but you had to pick up the shot for the new one Yeah. So were you sitting in the exact exact same like physicality of that moment. They here, hereere's your shot from the end of the film Do that again. Yeah, we had the shot from the The Eing of the last of the first one like up and then I had to, yeah, have my physicality exactly the same, but the like hair and makeup continuity, they to do so much like every blood the cigarette up and the cigarette we had to do. I mean, I think they had a whole team of people in post working on like matching that. That shot so it was seamless for like I think like a month they spent on one frame. Is it stitched from the first to the second or did you redo the first moment? Both. Wow. So it starts with the The last shot of me walking out. So I didn't we didn't recreate that. So it's also me walking out sitting down. so that's all from the first one And then just when it pushes in, then it we stitched it and it was I think these spent so long trying to get that. Such such a smart idea. So that must have been interesting stepping back in her shoes. Like was that your first time playing a character again outside of like a television show or something. And even that I'd never have gone, I guess in a different episode, you'd step in but I guess that's interesting. I didn't think about that. Yeah. So I don't know Yeah, I don't know if I've like Mr. playing someone, but I just really I Letting like, yeah, letting go of Caroline was she was so fun. and that accent was so fun and her clothes were so cool There was something like you know, just like admirable about her that I that I loved. Yeah, I loved her too. Just going a little bit on your journey. I know you start in Australia, Australia television and it's a bit different, I would imagine than American television or American. But you know they're still telling stories. The modeling thing to me is interesting because I don't know if you would agree this, but when you're doing modeling, do you feel like you're playing a character in when you're doing a shoot in the sense of like it's It's obviously a heightened version of something you're doing and whatever you're doing. but Is there anything there like metaphorically about acting that you feel like can play into that world of modeling I know it's be I don't think so. No, no. it's just I'm laughing because I have an alter ego that I use for shot like I use a character. Do you? Yeah, her name's Bridget. What I this out there would I've known this if I researched this? I think I've kind of talked about it a little bit, but I have this character Bridget and she is like really vain, really vapid. She like just wants to look good and like There's nothing going on in between like she's ' otherwise on red carpets and stuff I feel so silly. And like in photo shoots, I get so You're playing a character. So Id play Bridget Why Bridget it? What's the name? She's like, you know Where did where did Bridget come from? The name? Bridget How didd you even get that name I don't know. I just wanted like a hot girl name and Bridget seemed like the perfect likeike hoty. And then so like if I'm going to a red carpet or a photo shoot, like my stylist and really good friend Jordan will be like Okay, Bridget, like you go. 'ause otherwise before I'll be like.. And then Bridget. Best thing that's ever happened to you financially. go. easy. Sold my car on Carvana. Amazing offer. Really? I hit two hundred on the scratcher. Did the scratcher come to your house and hand you a check? No. How many scratchers did you hit to get that? I hit a button on carvana dot com d Once. Okay, that's fair. It's like the lottery, except you always win Not like the lottery at all, actually. Exactly inexplicably good Offers worth bragging about. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pick upp these may apply moovie now What's her It would be really boring. I don't know. I don't think what her what's her film? Put her like drop her in like some crazy environment be wild. She Well yeah, maybe a comedy. She'd just be posing everywhere. J leaning on different people I just want more quick question about that. When you're doing photos shoots and things like that, lighting in marks and hitt things hitting marks or whatever and lighting there's a story that you tell through photographs that you don't get through like motion picture obviously versus still photography. Do you see like does that at all affect the way you like you go, okay, ye, I learned how to block through taking photos and that helps me on film sets, knowing where my light is and where my frame is. like how aware you of your frame and your shots? I think that was all from I worked on a soap opera. that was my first. job. I never really was like I kind never thing that kind of just was always like press stuff or whatever, but Learning the technical side from being on a soap opera because they're doing like You know forty episodes a week and you have to know where your mark is and you have to find your light and you have to know your lines. otherwise you're out. Like it's a machine. You have one take and then they have to move on. So the learning that teechnicality What likeike yeah, fifteen. I think that helped so much when it was first time on a big movie set, I at least knew exactly it. Is Rady not your first American film?? No I did a movie called The Babysitter. Right. And so that was an American production Yeah, yeah. and wow's okay, so that thats that's your first lead as an American feure. Wow. And so that film, how different was that from your Australian production? Oh my gosh, the Americans man. It is here Give me like give the detailsameras It was on the Warner Brothers lot and it was I could walk past the friends fountain every day and I had a whole trailer to myself. like that was so new. You know, back on home and away like There was a tril ofood The twenty of us. You know, it was very much like I don't know. I think that show, it's just like it was The best because There's you can't have an ego if you're on, you know, like you just, but yeah, then coming to the states and It's like They give you lunch. Like you don't need you. They feed you. you don't have to like go out and buy your own. That's amazing.. There's a craft like they have snacks and It was just so It felt like I was in It's cool that youve got that appreciation though because I feel like Those things are taken for granted in the business here. So it's cool that you were able to kind of see that line between like, wow, this is because I mean, I've been interviewing for fifteen, twenty years and obviously we get to go to cool places and cool hotels and things that aren't my real life. I'm like, I'm always like, wow, I get food today or I get like just keeping that like child like a wonder of it. c My best friend or my sister, when they come to visit me at work. That's when I really get a really good reminder of how cool the job is, you know, they're walking around being like, this is amazing. Like look at these cool stunts you get to do, you know's so nice to have them on set. They make They remind me like, yeah, this yeah, this is cool This is cool what I do. I mean, it's amazing. And this is a question I often ask artists because like The moment you become a parent, I have to imagine changes the way you're going to be emoting to material now and probably the roles you choose going forward. I know it's early in that stage for you, but in the sense of You look at artists before they had kids and after they had kids, like Steven Spielberg, the director he became once he had kids, I would imagine changed the way he directed his movies Do you see that divide already in the sense of how you're already looking at material, reading scripts now as a mom? I'm just wondering how that feels artistically to you. Are you drawn to different things now? Yeah, I think I never I never wanted to play a mum. because I just didn't know what it was like. I was like, I really don't I can't identify with like the depth of this love that you have for something because I just haven't experienced it and it always was Gam mean because I just I was like, I don't know what that is. Would you turn down mother rollles? Yeah, I'd be like, I don't know I don't know. I don't know what that is like, but now I'm like, yeah get it now. And you haven't played a M on film yet, right? No. mean Y Uh I technically wasn' at the end of Aie Manie, but it was like one scene. It wasn' The story wasn't about being a mother. Whereas now I'm I get it You know, Do that scene in any meani hit different to you now? Yeah whichich I love that film. We actually did a Q and A for that at the Arow. I think it was the arerrow. Yeah, it was the row with Seaan and everybody from the cast. That movie is phenomenal. It's so good. So phenomenal. But I guess that final scene maybe does that mean something? Now it's ye, yeah.. I mean, it did it it's not like I'm like what is it like? No I just. There was like an emotional depth that I feel like I can appreciate more And then also Mike job and this script really blows me away. I think it's affected me more in Okay I have to leave my child potentially for a long amount of time. like do I really want to do this? So it's made to the decision making easier, I think. Your priorities is If some' on the fence about something like, oh, maybe it's good. I don't know. Let's let's go. Maybe it'll be fun. Like that I don't want to do that anymore. Be it's an interesting thing. I can't imagine how it changes you as an artist. like you're going to probably I'm cur have you acted? You haven't acted since you became a mother yet U no. So that's going to be I'm curious what that's going to be like. I know I'm so curious to. I'm like afraid I think it's gonna be amazing. Do you sleep Probably not. No. You just don't sleep. Now, I don't know. but I'm just I'm excited I play like a zombie. would I mean, honestly, I'll watch you in anything. the way you play with genre is remarkable. And I think a lot of actors sometimes get stuck in a certain genre. You have been in comedy, thriller, psychological thriller. I the way you've worked with movies, comedy and everything and horror look at you in one specific genre, I see just like an amazing of work that you've done Is there something to that? like that design of like how you shift in between genres and kind of O do you just look at it as life? You're just playing out elements of life in a way? I don't know. think No no, I've just been really lucky. I think It was Becauseuse a lot of the first like those genre movies Those were like jobs that I was auditioning for and that's just Those are the roles that I got, you know? It was only later when I really did have a sort of choice and it was more incoming things that I could decide and like offers, then that's when I got to kind of plan a little bit more and think. But when you're first starting out, you're like, anyone want to take me But I have really tried to I mean, I love doing and I love Jean R. You are a scream queen. There. You are. but you're also not just a screen queen. Yeah. What I want to say Yeah, I've tried to Choose roles Mm that kind of break it up, which is why When Carolina Caroline came along, I just thought it was such a great opportunity to exercise and challenge another side of me that I hadn't done before. playing like a romantic lead is something I've never done Yeah And you're so great in this. I want to talk about empathy because I think empathy is a really interesting piece of filmmaking. and as we go along this story, you have to make these decisions where these characters are breaking the law But you root for them in a way, obviously to a certain point. And I'm just curious for you, can you speak about empathy in the way you approach your characters and acting? And like I watch movies a lot where like you know, I was thinking about this movie the other day, Spielberg's movie The Sugar Lland Express, where Goldie Hn's character, they essentially take a police officer hostage to get their kid out of foster care Yeah and they're criminals. But you root for them to get there, even though they're holding a gun to somebody's head. It's like Can you speak about why as actors or as audience members we sympathize and have empathy for I think it's just a real life situation, but you are such a good t a great artist that you make me feel for her know, I'm just wondering how empathy plays into the way you Crafterter characters. Sure I am I mean, with Carolina, Tom Dean is such a talented writer that reading the script, you're on her side, Like he wrote her in such a sweet way where there is this There's such a yearning from her and she is searching for answers, you know, big questions and that we all sort of have like who are we and you know, what makes us who we are? and am I good? A I bad? And I think there's a line in the movie where she's saying, you know, are we good people pretending to be bad or bad people pretending to be good? And when I read that, I was like Only a good person asks that It's funny, that's the line that I wrote down while watching the film. Yeah, but that was that's the whole film in a nutshell. Right Yeah. because a bad person wouldn't QionQ question it at all. They go I'm awesome. I'm doing the right thing. I'm incredible So I think what's heartbreaking is that as a reader of the script, I knew that she was good, I knew that she was J making wrong choices and that's what's heartbreaking. and I think that's what we can empathize with is we've all ' not on that level, hopefully, probably. We've all ve been guilty of doing something wrong, but we're not necessarily you know Yeah. I mean, it's to me, I think these moments are really cemented without giving anything away are the phone calls to your father and the Yeah Those to me are they're these breaks of like like she's going through this insane experience, but then there's that grounded person at home, which is why that scene in the beginning is so important when you sit down and he tells the story about wasas it Ecuador? Yeah. Yeah. I was like, that' and that kind of remained echoed in my mind throughout the film because I kind of felt his presence with you the whole time, like almost guiding you in a way. And there's a phone call that you make later on in the film that's like devastating, but I won't go into the details on that. but I think the idea of conning is interesting as well. There's almost a performance to it in a way, like acting. Can you speak about that idea like I wouldn't call what you do in real life a con, but we are actually but you're selling us on a person that you're not. R. And I was wondering if you can compare that idea of like audiences, essentially in a way emotionally investing with you. But we know Samara Weaving is on that screen, but I'm looking at Caroline So it kind of feels the same way in a way. Totally. Yeah just manipulating people way. Yeah going, Ha, let me make you feel things. I mean That's what acting is. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I know, and it's I mean, my worst nightmare is people being like, a character. You know what I mean? Oh, I've lost. now there's Sam, you know. And you don't obviously, sometimes with editing, you don't have control over whathing. that do you have to relinquish that control? Is that how hard is that Knowing you did a great take and maybe they didn't use that one. Oh, it's tricky sometimes when I know that they've used a different take than I would think and then I'll be like, Hey, so what about that? other wasn't there a take I was really crying. Single teier was actually When it was like really emotional and they're like, Yeahah, but I don't know and I'm like. But u The alternative of me having I have produced a little bit and it's not for me. I think I for my personality and for my mental health, I It's best if I just show up and do my job, which is act and that's all I can control and then really just relinquish the rest. It's a collaborative process. Yeah, It really is. I mean and you have to almost give trust in. L right now as I saidit you're interviewing you, I have no idea how My guy set up these lights, Is it recording properly? I have no idea we could be not recording and just talking. And but it is like you have to trust in trust. And I think that's the thing. Now it's like especially choosing jobs, I'm like, do I trust this filmmaker? Do I trust this person? where I know that I'm going to work really hard. Are they going to work just as hard? becausecause if not, it's really annoying. Back to what we were saying a little bit ago about saying goodbye to characters. I want to take that a little bit further because I remember I was interviewing Ben Stiller for severance. I got amazing. Phenomenal show. But the metaphor of severance to me is interesting of like they go to work, they don't know they're at work or they go home, they're a different person. best. That's kind of like acting Right? Like you kind of you go to work, you're playing a character. You're not you. And then when you go home, so you show up to set as Caroline, then you go home as Samara ight No, I'm really not that method. Well, so'm saying what I'm saying is you aren't bringing her you are not bringing her home. it sounds like you're going home as yourself. Yeah. And I reason I ment I make that comparison is because you have to go to work and be somebody else and then and then go home and be you. Right. So essentially you're kind of severing a little bit between the two Then still is something so profound that I haven't stopped thinking about, which was Your body doesn't know you're acting. Yeah. but you know you're acting, but your body still has to go through Right. And so I'm watching you in this movie last night, and I'm like, wait a second. like I know I'm going to speak to you today. I know that you're awesome. like I've seen we've talked before, you have an amazing like you're just such an amazing presence in person, but that character is going through some really tough things And I have to imagine to myself, I'm like, what is she doing at the end of the day after those takes? And so I'm wondering have you developed some type of way to sever when you go home, especially now as a mom, I'm wondering is that something you think about of like how do I break it up Um It's true. Your body doesn't know. I've said that before, especially with like ready or not where you're just like, You're in a state of panic and real fear the whole time. And my brain is like Hey, it's not real But it does feel the next day like you've been chased It it's so like the adrenaline is so much. Yeah Um, With Carolina, I mean I don't know, I do call it an emotional hangover. L you know if you've had like a bad breakup or a You know, you've heard some really bad news. The next day you feel kind of like you've had a night out. Yeah you're like, I have a headache. I feel dusty, I'm tired, I feel emotional You do get a bit of that It'scially after a big emotional ane. But I think, um I haven't done this, but my Uh, My drama coach suggested this, which was really interesting It was for a role I did where I was playing a really like gnarly bad . And I really I didn't like I didn't like the feeling of it. Interesting. And so she was like, okay, when you put on your Uh costume your you can feel all those bad things But then when you take off your jacket, I want you to like imagine taking off the character. Interesting, you know, and like leaving the I think it's like how I think she got it from a likeike policemen Like you put on your badge and you strap your, you know you put your uniform on and now I can think about horrific, you know, like a detective. And then you take it off and you' you can be a mother and focus on You know, because you don't want to bring home all the I haven't thought about things you saw that day. You're right. Like the police officers, like the things like I watched training day and I'm like thinking about Ethan Hak, I'm like You go home at the end after that. Yeah yeah. O you like press your family? Yeah. I think that's where she got it from. Like you take the uniform off the kid. youll leave that Denzel Waston spoke once about like he put a character's shoes on and he found the character through the shoes. Yeah. Is there is there kind of know what you're saying but is there do you have a consistent anchor? Is it shoes? Is it clothes? Like obviously you look at Rady or not the I think shes wearing chucks. And like or like the different clothing and like are there things that have become consistently anchored to That's my character and this is me. I think it's different each time for me. L for Carolina, it was her accent Okay Like as soon as I started speaking in that voice It was like, oh there she is. Do you stay in it Okay I feel really silly. I used to I tried once. But the I felt too self conscious stay in the American accent But yeah, I just I just rehearse rehese, rehearse and make sure so like every line is as perfect as I can possibly get it Huge Aackman spoke one time about there was like a sentence that he says that has all the vowels and consonants Yeah. and he would say it in the accent and it would bring him there. I know accent questions are like actors get asked all the time, but do you have a certain way in to your accents? I work with a great dialect coach Liz Himmelstein different drills for different accents, but I think With this one, it was the they say the ease and they They kind of pronounce an E like an I. So instead of ten, it's ten you know, So I would There was like a few drills of the EI thing and then Can I get two t s for a twenty? You know, like And that you would just say that and it would almost like and it would be like, oh there she is like. Wow. And then one thing I find interesting that like you have to you have to remember your lines, you have to be in the emotional piece of the character and All that It's a. Can you believe it I mean Just unbelievable, unbelievable. We were geeking out a little bit before we started Babylon's my favorite Damien Chiseell film I think it's an it's amazing. It's a masterpiece. I think about the Ge smmart Brad Pitt dialogue incred constantly. about like how people are going to a hundred years are going to flicker back ono life when you go on that screen. You have an obviously you have a great sequence in that film with Margot as you're walking in this door and the camera. But if people out there watch any behind the scenes footage of Damiens's movies, like even in Lala Land He does these Lenus and him do these insane whip pans where they're going back and forth. Can you talk a little bit about what that was like to film? because these are and for people who haven't seen it, it's a scene where Margot's essentially her character is trying to cry. Olivia, which is who's Damen's wife in real life is directing as the director in that scene, but you're walking in As it goes on and on, it gets more and more you get more and more stressed out she's not paying attention to you. But talk about filming that moment. It was amazing. actuallyually I don't really remember a lot. I was so unwell. I had Where you? I was there was a little ambulance to the side of the set for me. because I had Maybe the craziest migraine I've ever experienced in my life. So I was like throwing up and like had an IV in the ambulance just off to the stage. And then they'd be like, okay A you ready? I'd be like, yeep. And so I was just like And I think I was on so many different like painkillers and steroids and That' amazing. for the character you know you was And then it kind of made me not nervous because all I had to do was like through this scene. And so I like improvised some wild shit, which Damen was like, Hey, that's great. we'll keep that in. you know, I think I was like, I need a drink or whatever. But the way that they shot it was in so deliberate and so inccredible to be a part of. those whip pans and push ins were amazing. There was actually one where it goes from Mago to me, but how they shot it. She wasn't actually on set that day because of I think it was just how much equipment they had to get on the stage. Um And then so when they turned around, I wasn't there. for her either. So we were like but just, yeah, the way they moved those cameras was And so precise, like you had to you know, all that home in a away training c handy because if you didn't hit it properly, like Some I mean, I want to list some of these. You've worked with some phenomenal DP's, Don Burg just on monster trucks, Don Burg is one of the greatest DPs of all time. Robert Z aeckus iss guy, shhot for Force Gump Ben Davis And you also that was on billboards, right. You had Shelley Johnson on Bill and Ted. You had Jess Hall, who's incredible Chevalier? Yeah. Chevali. Chevalier, sorry my apologies, then Lenus on Babylon. You had some amazing DP's Yeah What is your relationship? I guess it kind of goes back to that question about home in a way as well, but your relationship to your frame, shooting on film versus digital. Yeah. So Babylon shot thirty five. This film shot digital but it looks film. It looks film, no. Yeah, But is there a preciousness when you're shooting on film? Check the gate, knowing that you can't go a million takes. What does that give you I think I have to try not to think about that or else I'll be too stressed. Really? You know what I mean? If I if someone's going You know, like if I put that pressure on myself, I'm not going to do a good job. likeike I think Ling is like ninety percent just relaxing. so I need to just not think about you know, if we're running out of light or if we're running out of time or if there's a the hair in my face or I have to just try it and to keep all that noise out and just trust like trust again. That's someone's job is to make sure all I have to but you know, I prep very well so that ye, if a takeake is messed up, I really don't want it to be because I don't know my lines or you know my accent dropped or, you know So it's just such an interesting process this. I want to talk about score as well. I mean, I'm going read some of these off. Carter Burwell scored three Billboards, which you which is the composer who works with the Kohn Brothers, Brian Tyler on Rit or N not onene, Chris Bowers. I mean, like you have some brilliant composers. As an actor though, you're generally not hearing that music until post Sometimes I guess like one battle after another, I know PTA had some of Greenwood's music on set for the actors and they could hear it while watching the Vistaivision Dailies, but like generally speaking, you don' That's cool., it's amazing. It's awesome. because it gives it puts them in the headsace. L DiCaprio probably could hear that score and go, I know how because that score was all tone and score is tone and atmospheric. It can change a whole You' ever seen the shining trailer where they put happy music on it? Incredible. I'm sure it looks remarkable. Yeah ye. It does all the work. that's what I want to ask you I don't have to do anything. Okay so that's where that's where the question comes in because I think there's a balance there because the score can elevate. It can also hurt ruin. Yeah. I mean, look at no countountry for old men. There's no score in that movie at all. like Deacins's cinematography. But when what's your emotional relationship when you hear yourself set to music? And I think you have so many amazing performances that have been set to great score is does it give you any more insight into the work you did? Does it elevate it for you in a way where you go, wow, that music pulled something more out of there than I could give on the screen in that moment I mean, I think for And for Carolina, especially they they knew they had a song in mind. Chris Bayer like who did the Chris Bayer Yeah. A They had a song in mind that was like their song. Yeah And so we had an emotional attachment to it. So in there there's like a scene where we're Dancing. in Which is a callback to an earlier an earlier one. Yeah and Kyle and I were just sobing. We were absolute wrecks because we were shooting that on the last day. So that was the day cp. We shot a lot in chronological order. And so it was the last day and the music was so powerful because we had done the scene where we were playing it you know in a happier time Um So that was the power of of that song, you know, it does it does so much heavy lifting But we have to have gotone on the arc for that moment to work. Yeah. earlier when that's when you're dancing Editing of that sequence is interesting because you're dancing and there's the love making sequence I don't want to say I feel weird saying sex sequ know I always feel weird saying that. But Jenally, I want to ask about it from an editing perspective because it is cool. L that first scene you guys have that dance is edited with the romantic sequence. And I think do you know that's gonna to be edited that way when you're shooting both scenes It's the one where you first. No, I know. I'm trying to think if it was in the script or not. It's so cool I can't remember if it was written that way or if Adam edited it that way. No, I think, you know what? I think that was how Adam edited it So like and it works so it works almost like if it was planned. It's great, isn't it Yeah because because the way that we're feeling and the blocking and the emotionality of the dance, It's kind of like it makes a beautiful edit. Itally sweet. Is there an edit of yours that's meant a lot? Like when you've seen a sequence come together through an edit that like really kind of blew you away? L that really was cool for me as an audience member because it spoke to their relationship and their character so well But do you have like editing memories of like, oh, that was really cool how they put that together After we shot it. Oh, that I've been a part of. Yeah Joe was cool. I mean, I wasn't in this I wasn't in the scene, but Jimmy Watered, my husband. We did a movie called Borderline. Oh yeah. And he has this incredible sequence where it's like It's a wner and it's also a time jump And it goes from, and there's a musical number in it There's like It can't even It like It just blows me away. Really? And And I know how how much work went into it It's truly such a great So when you saw the final product versus how you shot it, I was like, this is awesome. And because your husband directed it though, are you in the middle of watching the editing process or do you watch it for stay out Wow. Yeah. Okay, but if your husband directs a movie can you say use that take? Don't use this take or are you more of? No, again, I'm going trust you, whatever you That's cool Yeah s what a beautiful thing to be able to work with someone like so nice. I can't imagine. It's so fun. My wife and I are in the same industry in a way where we're both like are in the film industry. and like it's just nice to have But then we're also very different in that way. And so to be able to be able to share our art together. It's just a remarkable. It So nice. Yeah. I can't imagine. The filmmaking that you've done and all the movies that you've made, obviously, like I was talking about your characters and saying goodbye to certain characters, but living in a world where you get to play people that you're not, I imagine you get different perspective on life Right?. And like as somebody who's me all the time and I don't act You get to live the life of somebody you're not. You get to see the world through their eyes.. Are there characters that have changed your own perspective more than others? And do you ever have you ever had a moment in your real life where you go I learned that from my character. That's how I'm going to associate with this moment. Yeah. U I played someone with u severe body dysmorphia. And it opened up a lot of questions of like U plastic surgery and women's bodies and society Dictates is like beautiful and just the amount of pressure women have. U It really changed how I see It really changes how I viewed yourself f about Like there was there was a lot of conversation when that show came out about like U women who like Uh Uh alter their appearance and how much judgment they get for it. And I'm going Okay, but you can't Win Like there's all this pressure to look a certain way. and then when they do it, you're like judged for it. So And then studying the like mental illness aspect of it and going, okay, well, I don't know, it's just like a whole rabbit hole I went down that was really interesting and I hadn't really thought about it that much before, but that really Yeah it changed how I saw. Yeah. to me, it's what a cool thing to be able to like find perspective in your life through characters. Yeah in an interesting way. Now that you have this incredible body of work we're talking about, are there filmmakers that that you haven't worked with yet that you're excited to? Who are you watching right now? Who do you like and like who is somebody that you go, that person would be a perfect fit For me, I would feel really comfortable taking time to shoot that movie with that person mean There's so many talented people. that are around like Sorry Asta would be amazing Um Sam Rami would be cool U Those twoly. I mean I mean, And then you know, just like all the, I mean, just watching PTAs, you know, one battle after another, I was absolutely blown away. That was incredible the Howoin Brothers, I'm a huge fan of Do you go to cinema a lot? I do.ike a couple once a week? Do you go How often do you go? I mean, I have an eight week old baby. Sure, sure. I haven't gotone in a while. But I would try to go Yeah, once a week. And And we're just neew the Chinese theater, which is such a good theater to see. Yeah. moovies in, you know? I love living in LA because the amount of theaters we have access to. Like tomorrow I'm going to a seventy millimeter of Terminator two. Oh the best. My favorite movie ever. Yeah, which is the date on that post the logo there it's the date it opened in theaters, That movie changed my life. but like I love having access do you seek out film projection? Do you seek out like Yeah, I think they're playing the Odyssey aren't? They are Yeah. I'm so excited. want to I to get a babysitter You have about a month and a half to get that sort of Yeah. Yeah. it's so cool. I love Yeah. it's so true. in L.A they can they, you know movies that I've never seen in Lwce of Arabia and seventy milleters something like that. I mean that's I have to imagine being in the business that you are. This is an exciting time right now, especially with like what's happening with backrooms and obsession and these younger filmmakers stepping in, but also the Chris Nolans of the world who are these event cinema filmmakers that make you want to leave. The fact that you're already thinking about getting a babysitter that movie is there like that to me is cool because you're somebody who works in the industry, but you're also still passionate about the industry. It's what I gather when I meet you. You have to be. Yeah. but you love what you do ye Babylon, one more thing on that. I mentioned the Gene Smart thing and I want to use that as a question because that in this scene for people who haven't seen it, Ge Smart basically writes an article about Brad Pitt's character and the death of his career, but when you're going from the silent error to talkies and he's just reallyally having a hard time with understanding this And she says to him, in a hundred years, someone's going to turn your work on You're going to come back to life And this is im mortalization of what happens through art. But it's so beautiful. Do you have a sense of that now at this point in your career of like, Wh in a hundred years you know, not to be dark, but when we're gone We're dead, over our dead bodies in a way. But do you think about what that means of coming back to life as a character for people? Not really Interesting now. Do I think about what I'm dead what people are going to watch? I mean, that's a really harsh way of saying it, But I mean, do you think about the fact that you kind of live on through cinema? in a way or I think that's cool. I think that's so beautiful when it Um, When I watch movies with people that are are dead in the ground, buried alive Dcomposing. When I watch movies with dead people. It is, it's true. Like I just watch Reds with Warren Baby. Diane Keaton The best movie maybe I've ever seen in my life. And Diane's coming back to life on the screen. Come on, right? It's a Yeahah I mean. What was your experience with Reds? I couldn't believe it. How did happen I did not believe it. I'm in a film club Oh shit, really? Raw Doggs film Rw Dgs film club. If you know you know U And we hadad to see Red's, the drama like the drama Um this silly comedy that I can't imine t barrying Sorry. How often do you meet like Whenever we can, virtually or in person in person. W this is incredible match You haveve merch Yeah. Can I buy merch What's it called Oh Roddogs? Yeahah Yeah, yeah you said Rodogs Who? How many people were in the group there is sixix of us Any other actors or filmmakers or just friends? This o, when did you start this though U Well I can' A year ago. It's like a book club. Yeah movies. Yeah This is the greatest thing ever The best thing ever. So you get on and just dissect the movie. Yeah, we just sit around and we chat about movies and it is the best. Do you ever go back and rewatch them after the discussion based on what things you might have learned from other people's No. That's interesting though. But sometimes we'll watch them together And that's is interesting. How do you pick the movies you watch for the group for the film club? I'm so interested in this now. And can I join We have categories. so we have like The classic and then a more contemporary And then there's also called the Clifford Clawuse. Clifford Clause. We have the Clifford Clawuse, which is because my husband was like, everyone should watch Clifford, you know the That's like from the eighties. Martin short. Yeah yeah. play playing a little kid. Yeah It's like Jack. Remember when we Jack Robin Williams, we play like a fourteen year old ye, something like that. And everyone was like, what is this movie Clifford? And a lot of people were like furious that they had to sit through Clifford and they like did not realize they were like, this is the least funniest thing ever. And we were going, No, it's really funny. So there's also the Clifford Clauses, which is like A movie Kind of leaning towards a comedy, but a movie from like your childhood that like shaped your Oh, Kind of who you are And it's the cliffid coals. But is yours the answer you gave me at the beginning? No, I think that's too mainstream. I kind of have to think of like Like there was this film that I watched. I haven't seen it since, but I do remember really liking it and I think it fits the clip of applause. It's called Slap Hershey's French. Yeah no onereat title. I know. Fantastic. Really good title. Really It was like a teen high school movie But that might be my Clifford Clawuse choice next when we next hang. Yeah. I need this to be a series on Netflix. Yeah. Just you and your friends I would pay to watch that. People would. It's too late. And you're watching classics. Oh yeah. What's a classic film you've never seen that that people would be like, oh my go, she's never seen that. I am in the same boat. there are classics I've never seen. I think people should be more honest about movies, they've never seen. I know. I don't know if this is a classic, but I haven't seen it, and it's really embarrassing. Which one That that's a great one That's a great one that you can now I can now see because the sequel iss coming. I know. That's why everyone's like, Practical magic's back and I'm like, I know, is wasn't amazing? and I'm going, I haven't seen it. I always wonder how we miss certain ones, right? Like certain ones come out and like just they just kind of go over our radar. Well my dad was such a fan of like Brit British comedy. so I missed a lot of American Comedies growing up And so find like I discovered Adam Sandler and like that kind of cohort of people later and like You know, we watch the British office, not the American office. My wife's Welsh and she she She doesn't even like acknowledge the American office. Yeah. It's. It's great. Yeah. mean I haven't actually seen either. You haven'ten either? I haven't seen office. Do yourself a favor. Should I? Oh yeah. You are gonna giggle your pants off. Don't you feel like when people recommend something to you and it's like thirty seasons, it's like you have to like it's a daunting task Like I just got through euphoria. At a time. Yeah.t a time. I know. Watch one. And then if you love it, you'll go, oh my God, I have thirty years of watching this. What's your favorite TV show of all time? Oof But's tough That's really a tough Qion. Breaking bad. Oh, like a drama anythingthing. you wouldnt go back to h I mean Okay, this is a random one, but have you ever seen stafflets flats? No It is please explain it What's his name St Aathlettss flat. It's an incredible show. It's a comedy. It's kind of like I