Happy Sad Confused - Lily Collins

Episode Date: July 6, 2017

Lily Collins has never been one to waste time. As a teenager she flirted with a career in journalism, but decided to double down on her passion for acting and things have been paying off in a big way ever since. Since her film debut in “The Blind Side," she’s led fantasy films like “Mirror Mirror” and “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” but 2017 will likely be the year she’ll look back on as a game changer. In this, her first visit to “Happy Sad Confused,” Collins talks openly about growing up as the daughter of a pop icon (Genesis’ Phil Collins), why she decided to open about intensely private subjects like an eating disorder in her book “Unfiltered,” and what it was like to audition for a “Star Wars” movie. She also discusses her roles in three new projects, two films on Netflix, “To The Bone,” a candid film about recovery from Marti Noxon, “Okja,” a wild adventure from Bong Joon-ho, and the Amazon series, “The Last Tycoon.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Lily Collins on ruling all of media with two films, a TV series, and a book. And then there's little old me. I'm Josh Harrow with just the host of a little podcast. You have no business being with her. Seriously, she just totally outmatched me, outgunned me. In everything. In having cool parents.

I don't know why I keep bringing people on that just are more accomplished than me. The bar is obviously very low, but still. This is a good one. She's a good one. Lily Collins is a good one. She's a good egg, as they say. Do they still say that?

No, they do. We'll bring it back. Okay, we're going to bring it back. She's got a lot to talk about it, and we covered it all in this week's show. By the way, that's Sammy. In case you haven't listened to the podcast before, that's not my alternative personality. It's me, Lily Collins. That's not.

So we have just returned from the 4th of July break. Yeah, you still have hot dog. Hot dog remnants all over your face. That's the usual way I roll, though. It was just breakfast. Yeah, exactly. I got, did you see any fireworks? No.

They used to be on the west side and now they moved into the east side. Right, and you're a west side. And I'm a west side girl, so I didn't see any. Right. I watched them on TV. You didn't ask me. Hey, did you see any fireworks? Totally natural.

I did actually, Sammy. Really? Where? I was flying. I was in the air. Where are you thinking from? I was hurtling through space and time to return for this podcast. podcast intro. Where were you? I was visiting some family and friends in the D.C. Virginia area. And you flew. We flew back from Dulles. We decided it was actually cheaper than a train. Well, yeah, I was going to make fun of you, but sometimes that Amtrak, especially in a holiday weekend. We trained it out. We trained it out. And then you flew back. And by the way, whoever was on my train that noticed me, I saw your tweet. And did you just not respond to it? I don't know what to do in that circumstance. So he saw it, but he.

purposefully didn't respond to it. Look, if they enjoy my work, they're probably listening to this podcast. So now I want to clear the air and just say, I didn't know what to do in that situation because I didn't know, like, were you behind me, front of me next to me? I don't know. I don't want to make a whole thing of it. But I acknowledge your appreciation of my work, and I appreciate it. And I do too.

Thank you. Anyway, I saw some fireworks from up above, which was a cool vantage point to see. I feel like that's something that would scare you. Oh, I was just going to get to the second part. The real part of it was, I was terrified. That's not something I could see you being comfortable with. No, seriously, what the fuck? You're, like, descending into JFK and, like, their fireworks on all sides of you.

Yeah, they definitely never checked out to make sure it was safe. They definitely were like, let's just try it. Well, we're going to be fine. I don't think these were all legal fireworks. I think these were rogue fireworks. Yeah, the Macy's Day Parade does rogue fireworks. It wasn't Macy's. I'm telling you, I know an authentic firework when I see one, and these weren't.

Well, listen, you made it. You're here. I know. I live on the edge. Fairly. I can see you're still very worked tough. Yeah. It was a tough night. But I survived.

We both survived the holiday weekend. God, Lily needed you. Lily, well, we had already taped Lily, so she really didn't. We would have aired this. Someone, I'm sure someone would have come on and been like in memorium. Here's the last podcast. This is his last podcast ever. But that's not the case.

This is a conversation with Lily Collins. That is delightful. She is starring in many things right now. She's in a very cool film. called Okja, which is on Netflix right now. Very, that I'm going to watch it tonight. You should definitely watch. Tell me what you think.

It's from Boong Hong. I think I'm, hopefully I'm pronouncing that correct. He did Snowpiercer a couple years ago. Oh, do I love Snowpiercer. Did you really? Yes. You were filled with surprises. Tilda Switten and Snowpiercer is one of my favorite performances ever.

Well, you'll love her in this one. She's in Oakja as well. Jake Gyllenha also doing some crazy shit in this one. I love it. And Lily is kind of like a kind of a resistant. fighter in this. It's kind of a, I don't know, this is a hard one to describe, I'll be honest, but it's a, it's a young girl with like a genetically created hippo pig thing that they want to like use for meat,

but she's on the run. And it's crazy. It's, it's very odd, but it's very cool. So check it out. It's free if you have Netflix. So just do that. Also on Netflix, a much different kind of performance, a much different kind of film we talk about in this episode is To the Bone, which is a film, you know,

pretty serious subject matter deals with eating disorders. And Lily talks about the fact that this is a film, very few films I can't think of like virtually any off top of my head that have dealt with a subject matter like this in a relatively mainstream way. It stars Lily. Keanu Reeves is in it. It's from Marty Knoxon, who is a well-known, most well-known as a writer she wrote on Buffy way back when. And it's a subject that's very personal to Lily's heart. She talks about her own issues with eating disorders in the past. And she actually talks about. how she confronted some of that in her recent book, which is also out there right now. Unfiltered is her book that came out a few months back. We talked about that. My God, she's shilling so much. There's so much. I'm not even done. There's also a TV series called The Last Tycoon on Amazon. That's her and Matt Bowmer, another friend of the show. We love Matt Bowmer. We love our Matt Bowmer. So anyway, a lot to check out with Lily Collins. And her first time on the podcast, surprisingly, she's somebody that we've talked to you many times over the years in my travels here at MTV. And it was great to catch up with her.

But she's never been on the podcast before. It's actually about a couple of years since I talked to her, period. So it was a fun catch-up. This is a nice... Since the Snow White movie. Yeah, mirror mirror, mirror. Yeah, I visited the set of that one. That was fun.

And, of course, if you don't know, not that it's that important, but it comes up in the podcast. Yes, her dad is, was, always will be... Phil Collins. The one and only Phil Collins. Insert your Phil Collins joke here. Yeah, because just, you know, Josh wanted to say that in the intro, he wanted to say that we had Lily Collins. She was in the... Stu, Stoos, Studio.

You're not as proud of it now that the mic's run in Argue. Well, I had a test run before we were on mic and it didn't sound good coming out of my mouth. No, but I'm happy you did it now. Lillie, I hope you're not listening to this. Lily, she's never coming back. Because I don't know why you would watch a podcast. One day. Anyway.

All right, we did it. On to happier things. Enjoy this conversation with Lily Collins and watch all 17 of her TV shows. And read them. Yeah. And read her book. She's super smart. And then listen to her dad afterwards.

I just have a whole Collins day. Turn on a little, Phil. Yeah. Watch a little hook. He's great in Hook. Oh, yeah, he is. And then get into the Lily Collins Uber. And congratulations.

You just had a perfect day. Yeah. And you survived the fireworks just like us. All right. See you next July 4th if we make it. We'll be dead. Here's Lily. There's no official.

But you're here in my little weird podcast studio. It's so good to see you. It's so good to see you too. This is awesome. This is like a legit thing that you've got going on. I've grown up. We have professional producers and microphones and headphones. It's kind of for real. I don't want to intimidate you. I'm a little intimidated. I took my shoes off because I wanted to feel more comfortable. I hope you're comfortable because you've been traveling the world. You were in Shanghai. I was like two or three days ago. It was. It's been crazy. I think I've been up in the air more than I've been on the ground, but... Did you have a second there at least? Well, I was in Barcelona for a week doing some shoots for Lancombe. Yeah. And then we went to Shanghai for about two days. They couldn't get in touch with me. I was busy.

It's all good. I know you're the backup. Next time, next time I'm going to do a duo shot. Right. And then I went to Shanghai for a really special cool Lancombe event and to open a store there. And I had one day of free time. So, of course, I went to Shanghai Disneyland. So tell me everything.

What's Shanghai Disneyland like? Oh, well, they opened it a year ago, and I didn't even know that it existed there. But it's fun. I mean, it's Disneyland, so what can you not love about it? Is there anything, does it feel like you might as well just be? It can't feel like you're just in California. No, it feels different. I mean, there's only a certain amount of rides.

And I have to say, though, that the Pirates of the Caribbean ride there is pretty epic. But no Johnny Depp showing up in character. Did you see how you did that? No, Johnny Depp showing up in character. I did see that. I did see it. Although the characters in the ride look very realistic. Right. Still wasn't the real deal.

Still not the real deal. Unfortunately. But you have a ton going on and I was just saying it's kind of surprising we haven't talked for a second because especially in this moment, let's see, I think you've got two films, a TV show and a book we should still probably talk about. So I guess that's a good thing when doing publicity. You kind of just kill a few birds with one stone. Yeah, it's definitely something that I've never had happened before where you shoot things back to back and then they come out back to back. Like, usually something happens, and a year and a half later, it finally shows light of day, or it, you know, comes up at a festival ages down the line. But it's exciting and also it's ironic because two of the things are both Netflix and then one's Amazon. You're the queen of streaming right now.

And then my book is on Amazon. So I'm like, wait, this is kind of funny. It's all cross promotional. It's exciting, though. When you look back, because it's funny, like, I always enjoy talking to people that, like, kind of, you. your career has dovetailed in terms of, like, your growth as an actor. Like, I came to MTV about 10 years ago. Oh, ready?

Isn't that crazy? Oh, my God. That's crazy. And I feel like I've been talking to you since you kind of got into this. I don't know if we ever spoke for Blindside, but certainly mirror and moral instruments, et cetera. And it's always fun for me just to see an actor's growth and sort of the choices they make or choices they don't make or whatever. Right. So just give me a sense, I guess, I don't know.

I mean, do you take stock off? in terms of like where you're at, in terms of like, do you set goals or is that fruitless do you find or what? I think I've always been a very passionate, driven person from the age of like five. But then from high school, I always knew kind of what I wanted to be doing, but I didn't ever have like by this age, I have to have this done. And I never would have said by 27. Now I'm 28, but at 27, I'm going to have a book published.

You know, so it's not, I kind of, I kind of go with where the passion is, and I have accomplished more than I probably thought I would have at a certain age. But I think that that's a, that's cool, as opposed to like saying, I wish I could have done more because I had said in high school, this is my bucket list, you know. But I think when it comes to filming projects, I just like to keep surprising myself in terms of what kind of movies I choose or what opportunities come my way. way or things that I really wanted that don't happen. You know, that's also part of the journey. It's like, wait, this is where I'm supposed to be. And then it doesn't happen. And you realize, okay, well, everything happens for a reason because if I had gotten this project, then this wouldn't have happened. I think I've kind of developed that mentality from the get-go because it's a way more positive way of thinking as well. Yeah, you would drive yourself in the same. You'd drive yourself

crazy, especially in this business when things change at the drop of a hat. So it's not fruitless to have kind of, to have goals in any way. I mean, I'm a very goal-oriented person, but I also have learned to kind of go with the flow, and it's so fickle that you just, yeah. Well, you're in an industry that's notoriously just out of even, like, you know, you can talk maybe to the top 2% actors that have the luxury of, like, they can do any role they want.

But, like, literally 99.9% of every other actor is frankly just, A, happy to be working. Right, exactly. And be happy to have, like, maybe any choice. Yeah. So it's got to be interesting where, like, how much control can you actually exert on your own career? Yeah, I mean, it's definitely at a point now where I know what kind of projects I like to do. And I've never been someone that wants to work just to work.

Sure. I love working. But if there's not a project going or that I'm pursuing that is something that I really believe in, I will find something else to do. another outlet like writing a book like seriously that stemmed from i've always loved journalism but the like the thing that kicked my butt into like actually doing it was the fact that i had done warren's movie rules don't apply and then for like a year a year and a half i didn't film i wasn't not for lack of auditioning i just nothing was really happening that i thought was where i wanted to be headed sure and i thought oh well i'm getting stir crazy because i'm a very

driven person and I'm like okay I've had enough of a break now what can I do to fill my time so I was like wait I've always loved journalism so like let's write a book and then the second that I got the book deal that ironically was when I booked these three things that are coming out back to back it was the pilot for the last tycoon which bled straight into the to the bone which then like two weeks later went to Okja and then weirdly enough now all three are coming out at the same time so it's like one of those you know the world just saying, okay, well, you wanted to work. Now make it happen. Were you writing during production? Oh, God. Is that good for you? Actually, for me, I like to juggle things, a lot of things at once. Like, I almost have trouble focusing on one thing. Totally. How are you? It was an interesting thing because I, in my brain, I thought, great, I've got a book deal. I'm going to be like Carrie Bradshaw. I'm going to move to New York, stay in an apartment in the winter, and I'm going to write my book. And then booking all these things back to back, I was told, look, you don't have to write the book. You can push your

deadlines. No, there's something telling me that this is the right time, and I don't want to, if not now, when. And so I ended up writing on a lot of the sets or in my trailer or in different countries. And that was probably, it was definitely the hardest thing I had done so far, being isolated and basically going over to South Korea alone for Okja, writing the end of my book, it was, you know, you're playing these characters and then you're, at least for me, writing a book about myself. So it's very therapeutic, but also very hard to be writing about these things. But I think, and my last chapter is actually, it's titled Soul Searching, so it's about my

experience writing in Soul. But I think because it was such an emotional experience being there alone and being kind of forced to face these issues I talk about. I was so in a different emotional place than I would have been had I been with my friends in L.A. having a great time. Like it wouldn't have pushed me to those emotional depths that I was in to write the book. So I think it was 100% meant to happen that way. But it was so hard.

I mean, the dedication and like all I wanted to do was go have fun and explore. And I'm like, oh my God, I have my deadline, the time difference. I've got this chapter to get in. you're like trying to make it all happen. But then I kept thinking, okay, at the end of the day, when you can say and you've turned it all in that you wrote it 100% yourself and that you actually did it all at one time, it's going to feel so good. Oh, my God.

I have the most respect for anybody that's able to follow through on that. I mean, I did like, I did the easiest book imaginable. I did like literally a book of interviews, like transcripts and some introductions and stuff. Oh, great. Even that, I was like when I got the galley and I got the cover and it, like more satisfying almost than anything else. ever done. I'm sure the same for you.

Yeah. Oh, when you like actually held it in my editor, like FaceTime me, she's like, it's turned in. And it was this, this amazing opportunity to kind of say, wow, I pushed myself past what I thought I was capable of. And what was actually amazing was that because Oak just shot in South Korea, Vancouver, and New York, during the New York portion was when my deadline was. So I was in New York at the hotel, which ironically was like two blocks away from Harper Collins. So every day before work, I would walk to the offices. My editor gave me her office to sit in and finish writing the book. I was there with the layout department. I actually could be a part of the whole end process and turn it in and leave New York to go to Vancouver

to finish the movie, having completely finished it. And it was this cool experience. I don't think a lot of authors get to be in the publishing house turning it in like that. So it's kind of a really cool office job for the summer you know what was funny is that some of the people in the office actually they kept seeing this young kid I look like a young kid walking in with like their sneakers

and their backpack and going to the kitchen and I would like have my tea or my lunch or something and they would tell my editor oh have you seen the new intern and one of them said have you seen the new intern she's got great eyebrows and my editor was like oh that's really ironic do you have

any idea and they like burst out laughing because they had no idea that it was me. So you were, I mean, and I know from talking to you in the past that you, and you mentioned it yourself, you know, journalism was something that was important to you. Maybe it was even something you wanted to seriously pursue. I mean, you clearly made a go of it and probably like juggling interest also at the same time as acting. Like, did they come at the same time in terms of interest when you were a kid or was it like, did one evolve into another or what? Acting was always my forefront of what I wanted to do, but I've also always loved literature. and just writing in general in school.

And when I was auditioning or beginning to audition at like 16, 17 years old, I was getting told no. You know, I was still really green. And I wanted to find a different avenue to explore everything from being in front of the camera to knowing your angles to the editing process to writing.

So that's where kind of the broadcast side came into play. But I had started writing for magazines. before auditioning just to get experience writing. So they kind of were happening at the same time, which was great, but then at the same time there came a point when I was hosting the orange carpet for Nickelodeon

and interviewing people I wanted to work with as an actor and then realizing that kids or the younger audience are only going to believe me as a character to a certain extent if they know me as Lily really, really well. So it was an interesting kind of crossroads that I had to really then focus on one. But then, look, I get to be acting and then I wrote a book. So I never have to close the door, which is a really cool opportunity. And how much of your childhood was splitting time between the States and the UK?

You spend most of your time in L.A.? Is that right? Yeah, I moved. I think I moved just before I turned six. And I would go back every summer for two or three months, go back for Christmases. But I went to school, lived in L.A., and, you know, I still go back for Christmases, and we have the house there. And I do feel extremely European, even though I sound very L.A. Was the environment in which you with, I mean, I would assume, I mean, you went to Harvard Westlake, I did.

Which, like, has, you know, a lot of the people go there probably have famous parents, I would think. So does that lessen kind of, like, the stigma or the feeling of, like, I got a weird thing? Like, everybody's got a crazy weird family. What's ironic is I just had my 10-year high school reunion, like a couple weeks ago, which was so bizarre. But I'm still finding out whose parents I actually went to school with their kids. Because no one asked question. Like, no one really cared. And so I had now being in the industry to the extent that I am, finding out that all these studio heads, kids were actually in my grade.

I'm like, wait, that's your son or that's your daughter? I had no idea that I was going to. You could have been networking at 10. I was like, oh, my God. But it's actually funny because we, no one really, you know, everyone was there just going to school. And it didn't, it wasn't really register at the time. At least for me, it wasn't really a topic of conversation. So now it's funny just being able to go into someone's office and see a photo on their desk.

And I'm like, do you know that? Wait, Bobby? Yeah, that's my daughter. Like, oh, my God, we went to school together. And when did, I mean, is there a discernible time you can pinpoint when you kind of realized what your dad? dad's career was meaning to people outside of your family and friends that it this was not the norm like I think I was actually ironically at Disneyland um when I was probably like 12 or something and I remember just going for the day to how you know going to Disneyland and um people coming up

and asking for photos and like ironically wearing like a Genesis T-shirt and asking to take photos and I didn't understand and I was like but we're at Disneyland like I don't you know why are they coming up and I then realized that it didn't matter where we were. It was, he was who he was to other people for, you know, a different reason other than being dad. Yeah. And so I quickly, I quickly realized, but also it was just, he was always just dad, you know. So it's great to kind of have the best of both in a way because I got to grow up just

knowing him as dad, but then also really respecting as the performer. Do you have a different relationship with, like, a great film like Hook or Miami Vice? than I do? It's so funny. Well, Hook I was on the set of when I was two, apparently. I was in the math. I was like she couldn't have been around. Yeah, no, I was very little, but I remember I was on the set for that.

And Miami Vice is hilarious because my mom's actually in the episodes with my dad. My mom plays, I think, his girlfriend in those. So whenever I've seen them, it's just my mom is not an actress. She's not in the industry at all. And she kind of cringes when she sees her episodes. But I love it. I think it's so fabulous because the outfit. are everything. Of course. And the hair.

I recently had to do, I was, I was thing, the carpet for the Baywatch movie in Miami. Oh my God, amazing. And the wardrobe called for, literally it was a cocaine chic was what I was told. What? So I literally was like, what does it even mean? It was like white suit. Like it was, it was like, it was anti-Josh horror which was like, I burned that outfit as soon as I was done. Oh my God. That'll be the day when someone puts on their wedding invitation. Yeah, totally. What is the dress attire? Cocaine chic.

cheek um so jumping ahead we talked it sort of about like you know like doing the uh journalism hosting carpets and things like that and then i mean blindside was the first film right which is a crazy serendipitous i did um i did two episodes of the new version of 902 and oh right and on my last day of shooting that the final episode i was in my trailer and i found out that i had gotten the blindside and it was a week after my 18th birthday, I think, or 19th birthday. And I don't think I even realized that it was Sandra Bullock. I auditioned for it once, and it was just this whirlwind. I said, well, you're leaving next week, and this is what's going to happen,

and this is the movie, and you're going to move to Atlanta. And it wasn't like we set out to make a movie that we knew was going to be what it was. It was just an amazing story to be told about a real family who were there on set, and it just turned into what it turned into, And it was, everyone said to me, this is not normal for your first movie. Don't get used to this. And I was like, okay. And I was in school.

I was at USC at the time. So I was FaceTiming or Skyping with teachers and writing essays on set. And I flew back and forth for finals. It was hard. It was not fun. It was like, all I wanted to do was not be in my trailer writing a paper. I wanted to be exploring, you know. And coming out of that because there was like the whole award circuit on that.

And then did you find that like suddenly you were getting interesting opportunities or did you feel like you were? No, not at that point. I was, I think the award circuit was exciting because I was a part of something great. Yeah. But for me, I was still in school. I was still, you know, it was my first movie. So I mean, I'm still auditioning for things. You know, I mean, it's like you're still kind of trying to prove different sides of yourself in the acting world.

And so at that point, I was just so excited to be a part of something. But, I mean, yes, I was getting new opportunities in terms of like new meetings and new interest in that sense. But it was still very much the beginning, which I kind of love. I love the idea of working your way up because then you appreciate once you're there so much more. Sure. But it was a wild, a wild experience. It was fun. Did you feel like at that point you were like, I'm, you know, this one part away from whatever it is that I'm trying to get to?

Like, did you feel, were there those parts that at the time felt like, oh, this is going to change. Mirr, mirror. I was actually with Carrie and my mom. I was, I had just gotten off the plane to go do WonderCon or Comic Con for Priest. Yeah. I saw you at WonderCon that day. You did. You did.

And I think that was like literally the first time you and I had met. Yeah. And I got off the plane and got to my hotel and got this phone call. It was April 1st. It was April Fool's Day. and I got this call saying that you'd got it and I literally had auditioned like the day before and it was the quickest process

and I remember I broke down in tears and I was laughing because at one point I was like you're joking it's April Fool's Day I'm going to fire all of you if this is a lie and also oh my God this feels really special and that was the moment that I thought something for lack of better words magical is happening here

and that experience was just it was so wonderful but it really was kind of a turning point for me It was a, and I got to visit you guys, you and Army and Tarsem on the set. And it was, it was very unique. I mean, anyone that's seen the film knows just like what Tarsem does. It's insane. And like, yeah, I look back on that.

I don't know how you look back on it. I'm like almost like, how was that movie made? It was just so bizarre and out there. And the sets were just vast. I mean, you remember walking through the like snowy hills, like a massive warehouse that they transformed with horses and the costumes. Everything about that was so beyond epic scale. that it's, they don't, I mean, they get made like that now, but still, like, of that caliber and that quality, it's very rare.

So how do you look back on that experience in retrospect? I mean, a unique filmmaker, I think it did pretty well, box office was, yeah, right? And it's, and it's, and it's very stylized and it's very tarcem, and it was very fun and family-oriented and what you want to get from a movie that's about a fairy tale. and so I I mean I grew up a lot during that movie I think I was

I was you know stunts and sword fighting and this and that I mean it was it was really fun to be alone in Montreal for the summer shooting that movie and it did open it opened doors but it also really I got to have fun

and play around with the character in a way that I was only my was my fourth film but it was definitely the biggest experience I'd had to date. And it should be said, I mean, you were the lead in like a big studio film. And you're playing a character

that everyone knows. Iconic character. So there's you're checking off a lot of boxes and there must be a self-confidence or something like, okay, I can, I can survive. I can satisfy myself and others and yeah. And being, I'm playing opposite you know, Julia Roberts and Army Hammer and Nathan Lane and just

amazing other people that were, you know, just so supportive. And I just was soaking in every moment is like, teach me. Totally. Yeah. So, mortal instruments. Yes.

I was going to say, that set, I remember our visit. I remember the day you came for the party sequence with Magnus. And I'll never forget, because it was so late. It was late. You were there all day. And we were all in our party outfits. And it was like in that room upstairs. And you were interviewing us.

And it was just madness outside with like elf ears. And like, it was like the weirdest. Like, it was the weirdest set for you to visit. But it was kind of awesome. It was awesome. I liked it. Everybody was like a little punch drunk by the time I was interviewing you at like 3 a.m. It was like, a hundred percent. It was like Jamie and Kevin and I were like, are we really doing a poor Josh? He's going to get like the half-assed version of us. That's how I like it. So what is the takeaway from that? We talked a lot as, as you said, during the process of that. That was such an important one. I know for you personally and you really love that character. Mixed emotions when you look back on it in terms of like, or do you feel like satisfied with what you did or what?

I love the books. I love the character. I was so excited to get to play her. I wanted to play her for numerous movies, but that's not how it panned out. And, you know, it's doing great as a TV show. And I think everyone who's involved in that is so passionate about it, so I'm so happy for them.

But, yeah, I mean, I was definitely bummed when it didn't go further. But I had such a great time on that set. And I've made lifelong friends from that. And, you know, I really, I mean, I got to play another. literary heroine that everyone had opinions on, but you really get, you learn how to kind of develop a thick skin when you're playing a character that everyone thinks they know and have ownership over, kind of like Snow White, but with this, it was like the fandom is so passionate, which was amazing because they're so dedicated to telling the story, but also everyone, you know, has their opinions.

So you learn to really separate yourself as, like, I'm going to do this as an actor, and I'm also a fan of the book. So you kind of have to figure yourself out in those terms, which taught me a lot. But no, I mean, I had the best time. I really enjoyed that. But then again, you think about I was bummed when it didn't go further. But then, again, everything happens for a reason. Probably wouldn't have done rules don't apply, et cetera.

There's so many things that I wouldn't have been able to do because it would have gone on. But then had it gone on, it would have been great. You know, so it's like you really have to just kind of take it as it comes. So let's talk, bring a little bit more current and we're going to get into the 17 projects you've got going on right now. But first, I do want to talk about rules don't apply because, you know, like everybody that grew up loving film, and every Warren Beatty film is and was an event. And I had a great deal of affection for it. And I'm sure that's a life-changing experience for you. Oh, totally.

Yeah. It's like my year with Warren. Totally. Well, that's what I was going to say. I mean, this was like an infamous project that he had been talking to actors about for at least a decade. Oh, like longer. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, crazy.

It feels like every actor in Hollywood had met with him and spent time with him potentially. signing on or not, like how much, did you spend almost like more time before the film, like getting to know Warren as much as on set? I mean, it's not, it's not a typical filmmaking experience. I think Alden had about three years of it, which is amazing. I had maybe six months of it, but originally when I met Warren, I wasn't even available for when they wanted to go and then, and then Mortal Instruments didn't happen. Right. So then I was available all of a sudden. But yeah, there's kind of this like intro period where you just meet for lunch and you go to the house and meet Annette and the kids for dinner and you have meetings and you talk on

the phone for hours. And he just gets to really know you as you. And then you start to talk about the project. And there's just these kind of, it's very organic. Meanwhile, it's probably not totally organic. It's all very thought out in his head very smartly. But it was like rehearsing. for a play, I guess, because we would go up, Alden and I would go to his house and there'd be, you know, Albert Wolski for costumes in one room and you'd have hair and makeup and the other and we'd be talking to them about the character and then Alden and I would go rehearse and we'd be up there for like nine hours at his house every day or then during the movie every weekend. So it really was this all immersive, inclusive experience, which is amazing in itself. It's overwhelming at times because it's just very, um, very period like Ilya Kazan style all immersive you know and you're living in LA where my friends are but I can't go out with them because it's very isolated experience so I feel so much more more schooled on the film industry after that experience and I have a deep a new deep profound respect for movie making and also

choosing projects you know he always said to me Warren always said like you're defined more by the things you say no to. He's infamous for that, yeah. I know, and that's what, exactly. And Kazana told him that and, you know, he's just, he's a teacher, he's a mentor. So I gained a lot more from that than just a movie. Did you shoot, like, my sense is you shot, like, probably enough for two or three different versions of that film.

Like, was the film that came out the film that you felt was in your head when you were shooting, or were there kind of, like, different kind of? I think there were, there were multiple different versions that we were shooting. I mean, Warren's very specific on intention, and as long as your intention is pure in a scene, then it's going to go the way that it should go, and it might go ten different ways. So I think he shot many different versions, and I know that the editing process was super long, which he's known for, but that's kind of the genius behind the whole thing. But yeah, I think there were moments that surprised me in the edit, but I also was allowed to see

the first edit to the end so it totally changed throughout the process which was super interesting to see but I think it's very multi-layered and there's a lot to be gotten from that film and you could take it in so many different

directions that if we hadn't filmed it the way that we had I think the comedy would have been very different but because it's very layered in this drama of the period as well it could have been a very very dramatic movie or there could have been a moments of lightness. And I think it's a little kooky because Howard Hughes was kooky.

Sure. So I think the edit makes you feel as though you're almost in his head. Must have been also, at least you had kind of like Alden at your side to go through this insanity. Yeah. We both, we both rely on each other so much. I mean, it was, you know, and Matthew Roderick, the three of us were like the three amigos on set. Like, what are we doing? Have you been, I mean, I'm sure just as like a consumer of pop culture, have you ever gone through an experience like what Alden is probably going through on Han Solo right now? Oh, my God. I'm so excited for him. I think maybe, like, to a one-tenth degree when we were doing mortal instruments, because, you know, so many people would show up to our sets, and there was all this, like, excitement and secrecy about, like, the script and the images and what people would look like.

But to no extent that he's going through. And I'm so excited for him. I think no one's more deserving, and he's so phenomenal as an actor, and he's just such a fun guy. Did I hear correctly, were you one of those privileged that got to at least meet with JJ for Star Wars? Did you have a... I didn't meet with JJ. I did audition. I had fun auditioning for it, but God knows how well that went.

Did it feel at the time like it went okay, or was it like, yeah? I mean, I felt, you know, I left the room being like, I think that was great. But then they're like, we're going in a different direction. And you're like, okay, cool. Is that like, because you're just saying that or are you really going in a different direction? Did you get to hold a lightsaber at least? I did not. No.

No. I think I might have pretended with like a fake prop or something. They're making one of these a year for the next like 50 years. You're going to get your shot. I'm definitely around and available. Okay, good to know. All right. So where to begin on the many projects here?

I saw it to the bone. You did? Of course I did. Oh, amazing. An exceptional piece of work. Marty Knoxon. Thank you. Love Marty.

People that don't know. I mean, her pedigree goes all the way back to Buffy. I think of her first feature directing, though. This is. Yeah, it is. It's her first feature. So, and this is a subject matter that like I, myself, don't think I've seen really dealt with in this way in film.

It's one of the kind of like the few, it seems like, taboo subjects left in pop culture, right? I think so, too, and it's so interesting because I believe it's the first feature film done on eating disorders. But it is so interesting that it hasn't been touched upon yet because it's becoming more and more prevalent in today's society and almost just less talked about. I mean, it's considered still quite taboo, even though it's very, very important. prevalent with all ages and you know everybody but um it's exciting to be a part of something that is so personal as well and um i ironically wrote my chapter in my book about my experiences with eating disorders a week before i got the script and again it was the universe just kind of saying maybe this is something that is really important for you to go through right now and to talk about

and to join forces with someone who is older than you but has gone through it like marty and maybe you can make this a conversation piece. And it is that. It is definitely something that we hope promotes conversation and promotes a greater understanding for those maybe that aren't familiar with the issues. But also it was so therapeutic for me to be surrounded by the facts and a character that, yes, has similar experiences to my own, but is also very much a character that I could experience it in a new way and come to maybe a greater understanding of my own experiences.

What are some misnomer's you think about eating disorders that for those lucky enough not to have been touched by this, but other themselves or in their family or friends that you'd like to dissuade people of? Well, I think, you know, a lot of people say where do you put the blame? Where can you pinpoint, you know, the main triggers or whatnot? Is it the fashion industry? Is it magazines? Is it TV? is it and there is no one common um finger to be pointed out i mean it's it's there are so many

experiences that are individual to the person and there are many reasons as to why um eating disorders formulate and i think it's just really important to realize that this movie is about a character and and her story and you do see other people that she interacts with and their stories but it's it's a very individual experience and um it's just it's not shameful to ask for help and you're also not alone i think as when i was going through it um at the beginning i thought you know i was the only one that could relate to this that i was alone and that admitting to it was you know um a weakness and in fact the more i started talking about it and opening up myself and writing the book, but also playing Ellen, the more people were like, oh, my God, me too.

Or, oh, I have, it's like, you know, less than six degrees of separation. It's like two degrees. That's either they had experienced it or family members or friends. And the second that you open up and talk about it, it's actually more empowering than you would think. Is it difficult for, I mean, obviously, you know, the entertainment industry specifically is such an industry that's like based on kind of validation. You know, you put yourself out there. I mean, I know you're a big on social media. It's like you put a photo out there.

How many likes do you get? What are the comments, et cetera? Does that reinforce in some weird way, some of kind of like the baser negative thoughts? Or are you able to kind of separate that aspect from what you went through years ago? Well, I think in terms of like social media and stuff, you know, I was kind of. Not very active for a long time on social media because I wanted I didn't want to do it because people were telling me it was good to do I wanted to make it work for me and be something I enjoyed and when I when I started really being active on Instagram For some reason unbeknownst to me a really

Empowering supportive community of young women formed around my Instagram which was the most amazing gift to be given because before they even knew about any of my association with these issues or struggles, they were just so supportive of empowerment and using our voices and everything that I've stood for since I was in peer support programs in high school. And so for me, I never was using social media as a platform to get more likes or to read comments because it just never was anything but kind of supported. And I know that's maybe a very rare experience on social media. I'm also very much aware of everything from cyberbullying to, you know, the more negative sides.

And that's why I'm very outspoken at events like We Day and, you know, teen empowerment stuff. But I think I, you know, my issues started when I was in high school and social media wasn't a thing back then. I think it might be a different thing now. but I'm of a generation that kind of existed before social media, which is weird to say. You know, I remember getting a cell phone and it was a flip phone. So I still feel like I'm of a generation that can say, you know, before this existed.

But it's very different today, which is, I think, even more of a reason why it's important to have this movie come out at a time when it is so, everything is so instantaneous and in your face. And, you know, with social media, everyone poor, Everyone can portray or filter their curation of photos to look a specific way. And people want to reach or attain that perfection. But perfection doesn't exist. And I think it's also cool when people come out and say, oh, well, these pictures were all filtered anyway.

You know, so like when, you know, there were those people that went and took every photo that they had ever done and explained how many shots they had taken before getting the perfect selfie. I think people are finally realizing, well, you know, there is a curation involved in some of these what seems to be perfect accounts or whatnot. On a much more trivial note, you've got Keanu Reeves in this film. I mean, playing my doctor. Who my wife would leave me in a sense of the long-standing obsession. And I know from experience he's like one of the nicest human beings on the planet. So nice. So Zen. He's on a different plane than all of us. Come on.

He was amazing to have on set. All the women were like, God. Keanu was so zen. He like, because, you know, in the sequences with all the women in therapy, and he's just there to calm everyone down. He actually really was just trying to understand everyone. He's like, okay, let's just all take a deep breath. And it was great energy on set.

And he was like, he was so nurturing. He was really concerned, you know, with the subject matter, obviously, but also as all of us in the movie, he just really was always so attentive and wanted to make sure I was okay and so lovely. An empathetic guy. Empathetic. And can also kick ass. So he's great to have on your side.

The perfect guy. Yeah. How best to describe something like Oak Joe, which I've also seen and I also love. So different. So different. Both involving food or lack thereof. Exactly. Bong Joon Ho, an amazing filmmaker.

This is the one that you travel the world for. You kind of play a bit of an anarchist rebel fighting the – well, you probably are trained. Yeah, no, I play an Animal Liberation fighter. an ALF member with four guys headed by Paul Dano and we are going on this journey from South Korea to New York joining this young girl Mija in search of her pig Okja to save Okja from its you know eventual potential demise by Tilda Swinton and her

corporation that is genetically modifying pigs in order to feed people What a What a movie It's just another one of those movies And you know You've got Jake Gyllen Hall Playing this crazy Animal Whisperer Oh he goes for it

He goes for it He goes I mean everyone in this movie Is playing such a character But that's what Bong does You know director Bong is Kind of a curator Or a master of

Character Characters Not caricatures But characters And I think He is able to So brilliantly Tell a story

in a very visual way but also it's so multi-layered that you kind of leave going was this an anti-corporate America movie was it a nutritional movie was it a pro-environmental and it's all these things it's about innocence lost

it's about love it's about friendship I mean there's so many things there and also it's funny and it's satirical and it's a clashing of culture as movie which is what we kind of felt shooting in South Korea as this like motley crew of Americans and Australians and British. We all kind of came into the situation like,

what are we doing here and is this going to work? And that's exactly how we are in the movie. You know, it all kind of mirrored. Did you get to spend, I can't remember, did you get to spend much time with Tilda at all? I mean, speaking, she's like in the Keanu, like, realm of kind of like another plane of existence. She's just, she's the best.

I actually have spent way more time with her during the press. Oh, it can? Yeah, I mean, I never shot with her. We were in sequences together, but the way that director Bong shoots, sometimes you'll never actually interact with the other actors, but you'll shoot your portion of a scene and they'll shoot the other portion another day.

Oh, really? And sometimes, actually, it's very rare that you shoot a scene from start to finish. It's just the way that he shoots. It's very interesting. But I basically met Tilda in New York City on the sidewalk by a trash can one day. And I just said, oh my God, hi, I'm playing red because I had bright red hair. She's like, I know! And then the next time I saw her was it can.

I mean, literally so strange. And I've spent so much time with her promoting it. And I think she's the most amazing woman. But we didn't actually film together. So we've talked about a couple of these, like, cool actors and very different kinds of filmmakers. Are you the kind of actor that, like, do you have like a kind of experience, a kind of director, a specific director? Like, what are the kind of the, you know, if not specific roles, kind of experiences you're going after? Okay.

I would love to do a British period drama and Joe Wright. like has it nailed obviously um tim Burton I think is I would love to be and I was devastated when I did not get to play Alice in Wonderland I must say I was just that movie was so amazing and I remember auditioning for that I was very green when I auditioned for that believe me were you in the room with Tim I was not no I was with his amazing brilliant casting director in London and thought it was it was a really cool moment to even get the opportunity to audition but I just thought, Tim Burton, my God. What was the Tim Burton?

Edwards is her hands. What's your favorite? Oh, I mean, yeah. Edwards is her hands is amazing. But, I mean, all of his films are so visually stunning and just amazing to watch. It's like people watch it. I mean, it is people watching. But, like, as an actor to analyze all the different characters, it's just fascinating.

And the way that he tells stories in such that visual way is, it's a genius all in its own. Wait, Beetlejuice 2. Okay, we bring back, we know that. that Winona's going to be back. This is true. So I feel like you could be a relationship with Lydia's niece, Lydia's daughter. I would love that. I mean, Beetlejuice one was amazing, let alone Beetlejuice 2.

Yeah, I mean, you know, I also like love Paul Feig. Yeah, love a good comedy. Paul is a lovely person. I've spent some time with him and he's hilarious and so wonderful. And so I would love to do a comedy. There's so many different types of films that I would love to do. And I've never wanted to, you know, be pigeonholed. And so I love to just kind of keep switching it up and trying new things.

And, of course, there are those directors also that if they were to call, you would never say no. You would never say, I'm busy. It's the Tarantino's P.T. Anderson's all that kind of. I mean. Oh, my God. Well, Wes Anderson would be fun, too. Yeah. If your name is Anderson, basically.

Basically, yeah. And I mean, like, you know, if Martin Scorsese, we're like, he's all right. That's fine. That would be like, Woody Allen, no big deal. Woody Allen. I know. What were the films that you were obsessed with as a kid? What was...

The Breakfast Club, John Hughes, any of the John Hughes films. Pride and Prejudice with Kear Knightley. Any of the Harry Potter's, let's just be real. I'm just going to geek out. Funny Face and Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn. all of the Road 2s with Bob Hope I was like

when I moved to LA Oh my God Yes My mom and I like Would watch all of those And like Nick at night We'd just binge watch Did you watch

Ishtar? That's kind of like A descendant of the Roads Morocco etc Oh my God of course How could I not? Highly underrated film Highly highly underrated

My movie watching Kind of span from like Monty Python because of you know British and my dad loved it to literally like, you know, the Harry Potter's or, I mean, I, I, I, I loved Clueless when I was, you know. Sure.

And I remember, like, the first time I ever watched that at a sleepover. I think I was in, like, fourth or fifth grade. And I was like, what is this? And then I was like, Greece? What's Greece? Oh, my God, I'm obsessed with Greece now. So, yeah, my movie watching has just spanned all over the place. Were you into, I liked Fantastic Beasts?

Did you like the... Yeah, well, I love Eddie. Yeah. I've known Eddie for, like, over time. 10 years, and I, anything Harry Potter related, anything he does, and anything J.K. is involved with. By the way, I think today celebrates like the 20 years since the first Harry Potter book. I remember. Were you written on that from the start? Oh, my God. Was I? My mom would, we would be in stores shopping and I would be in the corner underneath some like storefront just reading the

books. I just, I was the biggest fan. Still am. But I can't believe it was 20 years ago. Is there a human being that's like more influence the generation of kids and in such a positive amazing way than Jake. I don't know. I remember when she was at Edinburgh at the castle reading the first chapter of book three or something. I was in London with my mom and I made her go back from dinner to the hotel room to turn it on TV just to watch it because I was like had to be one of the first to hear it out loud or like going to the day the books came out in stores and like dressing up and like being in line. Did you daydream of being Hermione? Was that like that? I that is one of the greatest regrets

that I didn't get to audition for Hermione. I literally, of course, I crimped my hair like her. I mean, it was all about Hermione. I did see you followed in Emma's footsteps and hiding the books in the subway thing recently. Yeah, that was cool. I really loved when she did that.

I thought it was a really amazing way to kind of integrate whatever book, obviously, you're promoting, but just reading and sharing and the idea of a library still existing, You know, not everything being digital. That was really fun. And last thing before I let you go, we should mention Last Tycoon as well.

Yes. Oh, God. Another thing. Oh, my God. So much going on. Another one of my favorite. Based on a book. And another one of my favorite people, Matt Bomer. Oh, I mean, what an angel. I'm obsessed with Matt. I mean, who isn't?

He's amazing. First of all, he's like the human Ken doll. I mean, he's like the little. It's absurd. And he really is. I mean, I know I said Kianu Zen. but Matt is one of the most like calm, cool and collected human beings

and what an awesome person to be first on the call sheet for a show, by the way, because it sets the tone for everybody and he is, I mean, he's totally Monroe star in this. And you've shot season one of this one? Season one, done, nine episodes. Got to shoot it like 15 minutes from my house, very convenient. Most amazing hair, makeup, and wardrobe, the production design, the scripts,

everything about it is so wonderful. and, you know, it's the golden age of Hollywood. It's not really been shown in this way. And also, the great thing about being on Amazon is that you can really go there. And so we're not really, you know, it's not edited in terms of what you can tell. And F. Scott Fitzgerald passed away during the writing of it.

So it really allowed us to take it and run and to elaborate on these characters. And playing Celia Brady is so fun because she's this, young woman who's so driven to be in the industry and her dad's obviously the studio head and he's kind of discouraging her but she really wants to fight for her own kind of journey

and step outside the shadow and really do her own thing and she gets into some crazy situations that I don't think a lot of people would associate with being things that happened in the 30s which is really exciting because I'm like that happened in the 30s

I was very hush hush but we're like making it really not hush hush which is great amazing so okay so those 17 projects and do you have a break now, or do you know what you're shooting next? I don't know what I'm shooting next. I'm really hoping that we get to do, you know, go further with Tycoon, but I'm not sure when that's going.

But right now it's all focusing on the press of all and getting the good word out. And getting the good word out. And there is some exciting things on the horizon. I just don't know exactly timing, which is actually okay. I'm learning to like, I'm learning to be like, you know what? Yeah, by the way, can't wait for a vacation. Like, whenever that comes will be great. But I'm just really excited and thankful that it's all coming together.

And, you know, you just take it as it comes within this industry. You just never know. And then around the corner, I mean, you're going to be on a Vancouver set doing Beetlejuice 2. It's going to be amazing. Putting out the vibes. I just want you in it for no other reason that I know I'll get an invite, hopefully. Oh, you will 100% get an invite. Okay, just want to put that out there.

I mean, always. Hopefully not at 3 a.m. Anytime, whatever it takes. Congratulations on all the films. to the bone. Everybody should check out on Netflix. Wait, let me see if I get this right. Netflix for To the Bone.

Okja on Netflix as well. Last Tycoon on Amazon. Yes. And while you're on Amazon, pick up a book, guys. I mean, stream queen. Got my bases covered. Man, queen of all media. Oh, God.

Lily Collins, good to see, buddy. So good to see you too. And so ends another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. Remember to review, write, and subscribe. to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley and I definitely wasn't pressured to do this by Josh. This episode of Happy, Sad, Confused was produced by Michael Katano, Mooka Mohan and Kasha

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