Happy Sad Confused - Samara Weaving

Episode Date: August 28, 2019

She's kicking ass in a big way in her new film, "Ready or Not", but don't be scared, Samara Weaving is a delight. The up and coming star joins Josh on the show this week to discuss her exploding career, including upcoming films with Keanu Reeves and Daniel Radcliffe.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now. Today on Happy, Sad, Confused, Samara Weaving on her breakthrough role in the new film, Ready or Not. Hey, guys, I'm Josh Harrow. Let's welcome to another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused, first-time guest. First time, probably for many of you, even hearing the name Samara Weaving, I would guess. but this was a unique opportunity, I thought, because you may have heard about this film, Ready or Not.

It's now in theaters. It opened just last week. It's one of those films that kind of snuck up on me and I think a lot of critics and audiences. When I saw the trailer, I was like, I didn't even know this movie existed, and I suddenly was super intrigued by it. And lo and behold, when I saw the finished product,

it's a wild, fun movie that I definitely recommend. If you don't know anything about it, basically, It's kind of a horror thriller. It's about, Samar Weaving plays a young woman who gets married into a very wealthy family and quickly finds that she suddenly has to be kind of indoctrinated through a game that is played,

and the game basically entails her being hunted. So it's a pretty dark premise, but it's played in a very arch and funny way. It's super entertaining, has a great ensemble around Samara, including Andy McDowell, and Henry Zernie. You may not know that name either. Henry Zernie, I've always been obsessed with ever since he was Kittridge in the first Mission Impossible movie.

I've been like holding out hope ever since that that character comes back because he was amazing. And I have a few. I bet he does come back in one of these next two of Mission Impossible movies. Anyway, side track. But the biggest, I think. talking point around this film has been the leading performance from Samara Weaving. Samara, you probably haven't seen her in a lot of things. She was in a miniseries remake of

Picnic at Hanging Rock. She was in the Netflix film The Babysitter. She had a choice little role in three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri as Penelope. Very funny in that. But she's now suddenly getting a lot of really interesting opportunities. And this one, this performance in this film really stands out and if you watch it, you'll see that she definitely has some star power and charisma

and she's definitely one to watch. She has just finished shooting the new Bill and Ted film, guys. Come on. Amazing. She plays Alex Winter, aka Bill's daughter in it. I can't wait to see that. She's also in a crazy new action film

called Guns Akimbo opposite our old buddy Daniel Radcliffe. So lots of really cool things happening for Samara. And I'm always intrigued in getting actors at that kind of moment when they're about to break. And it's all kind of just starting to happen. And that's definitely the moment for Samara right now. And if you're wondering about her last name, yes, she is related. She is the niece of the great Australian actor, Hugo Weaving, you know, from, of course,

The Matrix films and so many other things. So definitely some talent in the bloodlines. of the weaving family. So real fun to talk to Samara on this conversation of the podcast this week. Other things to mention, well, guys, I just got back from D23 in Los Angeles, which if you don't know it, is essentially Comic-Con for all things Disney. And Disney has enough things just to have their own Comic-Con. They have, obviously, Pixar and Star Wars and Marvel and the animated films. And now Disney Plus, and I'm probably forgetting a thousand other things, and all the Fox properties now. So there is an embarrassment of riches, and D23 is kind of their big fan event where they

bring out tons of stars, make a ton of big announcements, show lots of exclusive footage, and also give some access to the press like myself. So I did a bunch of interviews with, it felt like on, it was on Saturday, I felt like I interviewed every, movie star on the planet in the course of like three hours. So it was everybody from Jane Johnson to Angelina Jolie to Anna Kendrick. It was just, it was everybody was there for all manner of films. And it was exhausting, but a lot of fun too. Oh, and by the way, and the Star Wars cast. Spoke to Daisy Ridley, our old buddy. spoke to JJ Abrams, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran. It was, it was a lot of fun. So we're just starting to, we're going

to just start to roll out all these interviews. There's a lot of them. So look out for, I'll be touting them on my social media, Joshua Harowitz, on Twitter and Instagram, but also follow along MTV News, and they will spread the good word on those interviews. They were a lot of fun, a lot of cool conversations. So hope you guys enjoy that one. Also worth noting, new Comedy Central After Hours episode up with the great Danny McBride, Adam Devine, and Edie Patterson. They are the stars of the righteous gemstones on HBO. We did our own kind of riff on hot ones, an homage, a parody, a tribute to that very popular web series. We did ours a little bit differently, went a different direction. I'm very proud of it. Those guys were a blast to shoot with. It's very funny.

And again, follow that. We can check that one out on Comedy Central's YouTube page. I've sent it out over on Instagram and Twitter. So highly recommend. recommend that one. And that's about it. That's enough plugs for one week, right guys? Okay, on to the main event. Here is a bright, shining new star. Meet Samara Weaving. So as you can see, it could be more casual Samara. I love it. Should we just have a chat? Let's just have a little cheeky chat. A cheeky, welcome to cheeky chats. Welcome to Cheeky chats with Samara weaving. Hi there. Hello. Great to meet you. You too. How's the press for treating you? This is probably a good one because there's some good, good energy in the universe.

There's some good energy, yeah, it's good. The reviews seem, everyone seems to like it, which is nice. I'm sure you saw this one. I mean, as the days have gone by, like, it is, does feel like it's like gaining momentum, but I saw the one from Guillermo Datoro yesterday, the tweet. Oh, the tweet, yeah. I mean, I've stayed off of, like, looking. It's too much.

It's a little. Well, I think just for me, if I care about the reviews and the judgment, then, I don't know, maybe it's just not a healthy thing to do down the road. I think it's very healthy to just separate myself, but my fiancé texts me the good ones and he reads them out loud. And yeah, it's nice. You need somebody to separate the, yeah, no. I mean, when you have the likes of Guillermo, like not only talking about the movie,

but your performance. I know, I'm still in shock about it. It'll hit me in like a week and. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you should enjoy this ride. Because as you know, you've been doing this. It's not like this is your first rodeo, but this is a different kind of an experience.

would think. I should enjoy it more. I have such bad anxiety. Like, the movie making part is fantastic. The press stuff gets me. Yeah, okay. So we're going to treat you nicely today. Don't worry.

As you can see. Oh, I mean, you could treat me. You did a shit. No, you didn't. You did a great job. Why am I saying she did a shitty job? What's wrong with me? I mean, you can't.

It made me feel better. No. Are you the kind of person, though, that, like, on a job you expect the best or worse? Like, you're on a job. Like, are you expecting, like, when I eventually see this in theaters or on TV, like, I'm going to be disappointed or I'm going to be excited. I never know, because a lot of it's in the edit. Yeah.

So even if you feel really good, you just, you just, you just, you just never know. Was that a lesson you learned early on? Like, oh, wait, this is kind of out of my control. Oh, yeah, from age 14. It's like, okay, I can just, you know, do the best I can do and hope for the best. Yeah. And luckily with this, they nailed it. Clearly.

Yeah. So when did the, did you notice a shift in the recent months of like when people started, at least whether you were noticing it were friends worked. Honestly, I wasn't paying attention. The good thing is you've been working, too. Yeah, I've got something to remind of things. But when I saw it in theaters with a whole crowd of people at a Fantasia Fest, that's when I was, yeah, I've calmed down after seeing that reaction. Had you seen the film before?

Yeah, but with, you know, execs and producers and everyone's going to say, oh, it's great. So, you know, you don't know the honest opinion until you're there with, you know, the like real horror fans. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and that's the right audience to kind of really engage it. Yeah. And I'm sure, I haven't seen it

with like a packed audience, but I'm sure this is like the kind of thing where it's going to... Yeah, like I was biting my nails for the first opening and then when everyone started laughing at the right moments and getting, being afraid

at the right moments, I calm down. You're like, oh wait, we kind of did what we were trying to do. Okay, cool, yeah. So, okay, so let's let's go back. Is this way, first of all, Is this your first podcast? I feel like I was doing some research. This is my third.

Oh, fuck. I hadn't until two days ago. Okay, well, great. Yeah, so sorry. But this is the best one. Yeah, clearly, three minutes in, you can already tell. And this is my first one-on-one podcast. Okay, I consider that a solo exclusive with Samara.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I definitely. Okay, so talk to me growing up. What are your parents do? Where were you? I know you kind of floated around a bit. You traveled a bit. do you consider like where did you grow up if somebody asks you that what do you say i say it's a long

story how much time do you have yeah exactly uh yeah i was born in australia but i left it two weeks old and we grew up in fiji singapore indonesia um a little bit in italy and then moved back to australia and then within australia we moved pretty much every two to four years wow yeah so okay so what it counted what i assume based on what your parents parents did or what was... Yeah, I mean, they're just... I think they just love moving. I think that's why they're still married.

Is that every two years? Yeah, exactly. My mom worked for museums. She has a PhD in Puranican art, which is a very niche ancient Singaporean art. Oh, I'm a little rusty on mine. Oh, yeah, yeah. A little rusty on Puranican art, yeah. You may have made that word up for all I know.

I'm going to fact-check this afterwards. Yeah, I'm doing. Yeah. Yeah. And then dad, he was a filmmaker and then he worked for corporations when we were growing up. And then now he's, has a PhD in film noir and is a professor, professor of film at a university in Australia. That's pretty cool. So were you exposed to a lot of specifically film noir growing up? Yeah, yeah, a lot of Ingrid Bergman and Betty Davis, yeah. So did, did Did you absorb that and love it, or did you reject it because it was your dad's love?

I loved them, but I think, because he has a critical mind of films, he was, you know, teaching us at a young age, you know, like, oh, do you look at that shot, it's beautiful. And we were like, we just want to enjoy it, the movie. But now I find myself doing it. No, but it was a great, like, education as a kid. Yeah, you soak that up. Yeah. So, okay, so by nature of moving around a lot. What do you feel, how do you feel that defined you as a kid?

Like, does that, because that can make you adaptable or it can make you... I'm not adaptable. Okay. So it went the opposite way. However, I really appreciate it now because I was always a performer. And the lifestyle of a performer, you go to different cities and countries and you have to make a whole new family on set. You meet 200 people in one day and you work with them for, you know, a couple months. then say goodbye and you can do it all over again.

And I don't think I could be, I don't think I would be as loving of that if it wasn't for the, yeah, for growing up with the same environment. That is interesting, yeah, because I've talked to a lot of actors about that. It always boggles my mind because I think it happens for a lot of actors, like, especially early on, that, I mean, you know this, like, by the end of us of a great experience, you've really bonded with these people. You really do. And you're like, and you feel like you're going to.

When will I see you again? Yeah, you're going to see them like the rest of your lives. And the reality is often like... Yeah, it's like one in ten films. You might find a real, really good friend that you do hang out with a lot. And it's not even like malicious. It's just life. No, it gets in the way.

It gets in the way. Yeah. Hey, are you in L.A.? No, I'm in Serbia or, you know... Back in Serbia. Yeah, back in Serbia. So the upbringing has served you well in that because you kind of had a crash course in that. And I also think it contributed to...

my love of the work because I was so shy and have severe anxiety and my parents put me into drama courses at a really young age because I wouldn't speak to other children for you know weeks and as a way of getting me out of my shell they'd put me in drama classes and I really loved it that was the outlet yeah it's interesting again that it's a recurring theme I mean I'm similar like I talk more on mic than I do off mic I feel like it's strange most people don't um associate actors with introverts but i definitely yeah so what was that because so ang when you talk about anxiety growing up yeah has that something that's always kind of stuck with you in some fashion oh yeah right now i'm freaking out no it's not there's a lot of liquor up

it's like 10 30 in the morning so i don't know if we're really ready for that but if you know i got nine of these to do otherwise for sure but how does it manifest now does it get kind of affect your life or work for the negative? I don't remember not being anxious, so I don't know. I mean, you know, there's definitely ways to cope with it and things not to do and, you know, therapy and all that,

jazz, and it's great, you know. I think the more I talk about, the more people are like, oh, me too, you know, yeah, yeah. So what about on a film set? Is that? Because, like, that's my happy place. Is it? That's where I can just be a lunatic and don't feel judge.

That's great. Well, yeah, that's the key not to feel judged. Yeah. Not to feel like, to feel that there's freedom. Or judged, but in a sort of critical way, not a personal way. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, not a personal judgment, but like, we're all in this together.

Let's fuck around and see what happens. Yeah, and you can play with it. And you're not being yourself, you're being a character, which, you know, I don't know, it's, I think I saw a quote where it's, you know, it's easy to be a character, but it's hard to be yourself. Yeah. With actors, yeah. Yeah.

Okay, so early on, they put you into. Do you say like acting classes, like a theater program? Yeah, in schools and outside of school programs. And do you remember immediately finding that to be like a safe place, like a fun outwe? Yeah, I think my first role I was like five or six at a production and I played The Grinch. And I was like four foot tall running around like blonde hair blue eyes

thinking I was the scariest thing possible and, you know, all the parents laughing and I was had a great time. explains a lot about where you've ended up so far your career and the kind of material you're in all goes back to the Grinch. It all comes back to the Grinch. When does it go from fun to something serious in terms of like I'm actually going to give this a go? I honestly, I've been asked this question a few times and I can't pinpoint a light bulb moment. I think it was a natural succession from doing it at school and I was always doing theater

outside of school and I just anywhere it was I would gravitate towards and then yeah I don't even remember when I think I auditioned for a show called Out of the Blue in Australia when I was 13 or 14 and it was just of course you know it wasn't a decision I made it just was there and I was so grateful that my parents really supported on like me on doing that. that. Well, they probably saw how happy it made you in other forms. Yeah, and I think I was quite determined as well, you know, because I loved it so much. And, oh, I get to do this all day every day and great. Yeah. Okay. Sign me up. What, um, backtracking a little bit. So you mentioned the film noir being exposed to for your dad. Like, what were you into as a kid? Like,

what were, do you remember actors or filmmakers or, like, were you, were you into Australia? I mean, that was the heyday also of, like, one, like, this, like, wave of amazing Australian. Yeah, but Australia, they love real dark movies, and I was really young. Right. You weren't watching Animal Kingdom at 12 years old. Yeah. It's in no town, yeah. I don't know. What was that? We, in Indonesia, it was hard to, we couldn't really go to the films because they were all either subtitled or dubbed. And in most of Asia as well, I think. And my parents were really adamant about not letting us watch. television too much.

You know, we sort of had to use our imagination and mom always made us paint, you know. If we didn't do our homework, she would just say, well, if you'd just do a watercolor, we'll let it slide, don't mind. I'll make that bargain every time. Every single time. Yeah, so we sort of used our imagination a lot

and we'd just make short films and do skits for our parents. Yeah, my dad had a huge, it was almost like a library. It was a whole room, but instead of bookshelves, it was just full of DVD. So I remember watching the breakfast club and falling in love with that And I watched it about 17 times

And we had a like a dodgy copy of friends Because it was the only way we could find English speaking TVDs So I was in love with friends I have great memories of my dad coming home And whilst watching that together But we only had up to season six I didn't realize it had finished until I was like 18 and I was like, wait, it's finished, or not.

Yeah, exactly. Home and Away season 39 or whatever. Oh, yeah, 3,000. I remember reading the scripts on Home and Away, and it was like, episode 5,000, you know, 149. I was like, great. Do they actually put the number on? Oh, yeah.

I love that. Yeah. Were you traumatized at all by, I noticed by the math that the ring probably came out when you were around 10. That was my first horror film I ever saw, and it traumatized me. I think that's why I can. I'm not even talking about the character name. Oh, yeah.

Oh, but do you know, my sister's name is Morgan. So it's like, your parents knew something. It's something in the water. I don't know what happened, but Samara Morgan, yeah. That was the first scary film I watched in. I remember the girls at high school were really excited to sneakily put it on when the parents were away and it was kind of an excuse to like cuddle up to boys, but I was just sat in a

corner rocking like I couldn't and I was trying to leave. Yeah, this was not fun at all. Yeah. This again, your love affair with horror. Exactly. They're really fun to make. They're fun to make. Again, therapy.

You're probably working through something. Well, yeah, it's like I'm paying someone to make my anxiety even worse going on. This is a win-win for everybody, I think. Okay, so at what point do you discover that your uncle's kind of a big deal? Hugo Weaving is your uncle who... I don't remember a moment. I remember in primary school, I think I was trying to brag about it. I was like, he's in something, he was in The Matrix and the Sims had just was huge and I think

it had this similar brand name. So everyone was like, you're Uncle's in the Sims? And I was like, wait, I need to ask, because I wasn't allowed to watch The Matrix. I think the first film I saw him, it was when I was looking through my dad's DVDs. I think I must have been about 13. And I found Priscilla Queen in the Desert and I loved it. I was like, my uncle's awesome. Yeah, Pretty cool in the discover. So, and how is that, I mean, you were, I think your first film was in a film with him, correct? Yeah, one of the first, yeah. So how has that influenced?

Has he been a direct influence through your career, or does it feel like something very apart from your development as an actor? A bit of both. I mean, he's really first and foremost, Uncle Hugo. I mean, of course we talk about, I mean, his son is a fantastic actor as well. and so and you know my cousin was at um clown school in France at lecoq and um so we're all these like gypsy actor artist types which is so much fun to be around yeah yeah so when when you eventually did watch the matrix where you put in a weird spot where you were rooting for your uncle against neo you feel like you're like why is why is kiana reeves beating the shit out of my

uncle no i think i was looking at it as a with a critical mind like oh that's so cool how they did that and yeah I just loved that those films was so mind blowing at the time yeah yeah yeah did you get the heads up from Keanu on set that there was another Matrix brewing I did it I got to read about it on Twitter come on your new friend is not giving you the inside dope

so um okay so you mentioned the first gig which was out of the out of the blue right in Australian is that is that considered a soap kind of a thing or it was a drama series it ran for six months or something. Got it.

Yeah. And that goes into another longer running. Yeah. Then I did Home and Away. I did for six weeks while I was at school. And then I had to make a big decision. Do I go to university or home in a way? And was that a big decision?

Yeah. I think my parents, you know, they sort of sat me down. They were like, well, do you love it? Like, is that your end goal? And in this industry, if you can get work, then do you do the work. and I learn a lot of technical stuff on that job, so I'm very grateful. And that, so educate me home and away versus, for instance, what, neighbors? Is that another big one?

Yeah, they're similar. One's set in like a suburban Australia and ones by the beach. I did the beach one. And which one are you? You're the beach. That sounds like a better gig. Well, you would think so, but it's based in this magical place called Summer Bay. Actual magic?

No. I got really excited. I'm going to look up 3,000 episodes but in Australia we do have winter so we were on a beach in the middle of winter we'd have to like cut Sam's lips are blue and yeah TV magic We all got glandular fever and shingles and yeah it was crazy

That's great well you weren't everything you needed to know about what this business would be early on Yeah after you do that you can do anything At what point do you start to I mean, at that point, are you already thinking about making a run at a career here in the States? Like, is that an end-all, be-all goal? Because you can be probably a jobbing, successful actor in Australia. Yeah, that was the goal, was to just keep working.

And I was so young on her in a way I started when I was 17. Right. So I was just excited that I got to go to drama school every day and, you know, got to do this. But, you know, oh, I get to see what a set looks like. and this, you know, it was a huge production and I thought that was really cool and I just wanted to keep doing that. How soon did, like, when did you come to the States

for the first time? I came to this, oh, I'm so bad with dates. It was straight after I finished her in a way, so maybe I was 21 or 20. I can't remember, so, you're going to have to fact-check with a guy. Yeah, I'm really going to have to get the staff really in overtime on this since then, oh, geez. I came over to get the staff.

representation. But I still lived in Australia because I could get work there. And I'd seen a lot of people move to America when they were still known in Australia. And it's so hard to get work there. So I was just auditioning from Australia. And luckily got, I put myself on tape and I could still work and do like ambassador things in Australia and make money. Got it. And then moved to the States when I finally booked a job there. Got it. Yeah.

So was there, was there a template for you, like an actor or actress to emulate at that point? Like a path that, or again, at that point, it was like, I'll take. I was just going with the floor. Yeah, let's see what I get. Sure. Take me. Anyone want to hire me? Great.

What's the first big Hollywood audition that like got you. do you remember one that was like oh i must have done because i was unemployed for nearly two years i don't i i yeah like millions um yeah i honestly anything and everything that needed like a 20 year old woman i was there were they tv series movies everything yeah mm-hmm did you find yourself going out for the same kinds of parts no completely different well that's good yeah it was fun yeah and what why because that's seems relatively lucky to that you were already being thought of in different capacities. Well, I thank my team for doing that.

They didn't pigeonhole me, you know, they really believed to me that I could, you know, that I could be versedital in roles, which was fantastic. So what's the first American production that you were? I did, I think I did, I was in like two scenes of monster trucks. Right. The worldwide phenomenon. Oh, what a hit. Again, there's a lesson there.

I don't know what the lesson is, but there's a lesson. Well, it was great. I mean, I wasn't carrying the film on my shelf. I was just it was really great to see how American productions worked just to see a little snippet of it. I feel like I've actually heard it's a decent movie, despite like it being dumped into whatever. No, it's okay.

And then the big one was the babysitter. The babysitter. So for Netflix, directed by Mick G, a cool ensemble cast. You're the lead, you are the babysitter. So did that feel like a jump in terms of like the production of being the lead

in a production like that? Yeah, yeah, really a lot of pressure I was freaking out. Again, back to the anxiety. Yeah, well, because, yeah, I hadn't done an American accent for that long before, so I had to dialet coach, and I really wanted to, you know,

because it was sort of the big, you know, opportunity, if I failed at that, I didn't know if I was going to be hired afterwards. Right. So I really wanted to do a good job and put a lot of pressure on myself. But McGhee was wonderful to work with. He's so lovely.

He's so sweet. He's so sweet. So he really calmed me down. I did, I moderated a panel that he did a Comic-Con years ago for the Terminator movie he did. And I'll never forget, he's like such a showman. Oh, yeah. Usually when you have to moderate something, it's like, you've got a job to do. Like, you're kind of like traffic cop.

I get up there and literally I'm like starting to introduce the cast and I'm like, and here's Mick G. And McGie just like, thank Josh. He comes up to the podium and I like sat down for an hour. Oh, yeah. You would have made your job really easy. It's like, yeah. Perfect. Mm-hmm.

That's McGee. So was there a metric for success on that one? Because that's the word thing on Netflix things. My sense is that did, that was watched by a lot of people that like it didn't. Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Did they ever tell you anything or is it like they just say B plus, A minus you did good. I don't know how the numbers work with Netflix.

I think someone said to me that it was the most watched Netflix original at that time, but I don't know if that's true. or not. Sounds good. I wouldn't be able to figure it out. I have no way of knowing. But career-wise, you notice there's, that changes things a little bit? Yeah, more and more doors started opening, especially with that genre and getting

into more and more rooms and meeting with different casting directors. It definitely started rolling after that. And that's when I made the move to L.A. So you made the move then? Yeah. And my manager was like, I think, I think you can. You can make the jump. Yeah.

Come over. Get over here. How's LA treating you so far? I love it. Yeah? Yeah. It took like a year to feel like home, but again, back to my roots of moving around. It wasn't necessarily a huge shock.

But remember, the template that we've discovered for you is you need to move every two years. So welcome to New York in 2021. I loved it. When and how did three billboards happen? Small role, but like a really key, fun role. That was incredible. I really, and I have to thank you. my fiance for that because I

was such a fan of Martin McDonough's work but Jimmy who's a writer he you know but when I was learning the lines for the audition he brought up the notion that he's a playwright you've got to get every single line

right and that character was written so precisely so I had a lot of um butts uh likes right right and I made sure I got every one of those like idioms in the right place.

Yep. And at the rap party, Martin said, you know, you were the only person who auditioned that got the lines right. That's amazing. I was like, oh, thank God. Thank you, Jimmy. What is that experience on set like? You're working up at John Hawks, who's unbelievable Francis McDormand.

I mean, this is like the all-stars of the all-stars. I think there's a reason why Martin works for the same people all the time, because they were all beautiful people. You know, they weren't standoffish at all, even though I was just there for two weeks. They really, they'd take me out for dinner and come around to my house, you know, let's have a glass of wine. They was, it was really, they were so welcoming. I can't thank them enough.

Does that spoil you a little bit? Like being on a production like that, again, with that caliber of actor and that director and that script, like the whole, from stem to stern, that's like, as good as you're going to get. I mean, 100%. Right. Yeah, exactly. Tell team weaving, I want ten more of those.

Yeah, what you just did, let's do that again. do that again. Yeah, I think I called my team afterwards, and I said, I don't, I'll take, I'll play a wait-up for this man again. Like, I'll, anything. Right. Well, again, the lesson, like, yeah, two weeks, relatively small part, but like, good, great for the career, great for your life experience. Like, who cares? Like, in a way. Yeah. And has one of, it's, it's, it's ironically that I was looking online the other day when I knew that you were coming in. I'm like, I need to get, not for purposes of having it with you. No, but no, no, no, no, it wasn't that. I just want a t-shirt or hat that says Penelope said begets. I feel like that needs to be on some kind of merch. That would be amazing. I would love that shirt. We'll get it for you for next time. Anger begets, anger.

So let's talk a little bit. We talked a little bit at the beginning of Ready or Not, but I want to dive a little bit deeper into this one because this is such like a wonderful, kind of a surprise for a lot of people, I think. Of like, you know, we see a lot of, I mean, again, I was going to say horror, thriller, comedy. I don't know what really genre this is.

Just a genre mash. up. It is kind of a mashup. But it's, I think it's surprising people just like how expertly done it is, the sense of humor about it, the performances, the casting. It just feels like this is one where it kind of all clicked. It's really hard to pull that off.

It's really hard to do. So talk to me about, did you know from the start that this had the ingredients for something that was that was, excuse me, a little special? Definitely the script 100% thread that line really, really well. But I've learned that even if the script is

genius, it's the execution of it that really is what matters. So what's the challenge? Let's set this up a little bit. So you play Grace, who we're meeting her on her wedding day, being kind of welcome to a bit of an eccentric, odd family.

We can see the seeds are there from the start. This is not like... This is your average. Not your average family. And just as it progresses, we see how that shit crazy they are. Oh, I get so many. total, doesn't I?

So, I guess on the plus side, you have one outfit for the entire production. You would think it was 17. Movie magic. I think it was about 17. Yeah, yeah. As I understand, I mean, you're clearly front and center of the star of this one. You're on the production, I would imagine, every single day. Yeah, I think I had one day off.

Very physical role. Yeah, pretty physical. So does that come naturally, the physicality of a performance? Because that's so important to something like this. Yeah, I was pretty lucky. I'd just finished filming Guns Akimbo, and we did four or five weeks of stunt training for that. Yeah.

So with this, it was actually a lot easier because Guns Kimbo, there's a lot more of physicality. Well, we're going to get to Mr. Radcliffe in a second, don't worry. So there was a lot of stunts, but I wanted it to look messy, because in Guns Kimbo, I play a proper fighter. Yeah. So with this, it was,

fun because I could make it a little sloppier and messier and the desperation of her come out in that sense. I mean, I've heard the filmmakers talk about this a bit. I mean, I think one of the impressive things that you guys were able to achieve is modulating a performance like this, which is

like you need to see the progression of like it dawning on her of what the fuck is happening and sort of starting to absorb the situation she's in. And then by the end kind of what she has to kind of the occasion she has to rise to.

Again, a relatively short shoot. This isn't like a 100-day shoot. It's probably, what, 20 or 30 days? Yeah, it was like 26 days or something. So what, when you're in it, is it's, what's like the challenge once you're, like, in the throes of it? Is it sort of like figuring out where you're at in the story and kind of figuring out where Grace should be at that point or what?

Well, we, when I met with Radio Silence, I really wanted to prepare the, yeah, because she has a lot of discoveries throughout the film and I really wanted to work that up before we even got on set because I know a lot of times we were shooting really quickly and so we planned all of that

ahead of time and especially because we're shooting out of order no one shoots in order these days so I could go back to the script and figure out okay so she should grace level six here yeah so we figured out the arc of each scene so that it wouldn't get too repetitive

because I know a lot of horror films, you know, the protagonist can play or be shocked or scared over and over again. And I really wanted her to pivot each time and get angry and then determined and then just frustrated or just completely over it, you know. Yeah. Yeah, and starting with that shock and frightened. And instead of getting more and more afraid and just unraveling, I wanted her to get mean.

Yeah, go full on Ripley by the end. Oh, right, yeah, exactly. I mean, are there ten points for this? Like, are there films that are referenced by the filmmakers or to, is that helpful for you as an actor? Or is it sort of just going with your gut in terms of what's in the script? I think it's different for each job. Sometimes you really want those references to get a sense of what the filmmakers are thinking. but with this, it was really, I mean, the tone was already on the paper,

and then when we were on the location, it was so beautiful, and we really got a sense of how grand this, you know, and... The settings were perfect for it, yeah. Yeah, totally. And then just playing the truth of the scenes, even though they're so ridiculous, you know. It is an interesting negotiation that I feel like all the actors, and this sounds basic, but it often doesn't.

and happen are on the same page. Like, there is a reality, but there's also a bit of an archness to some of the performances that's just right. Like, I mean, I just, I love, I also love the way it's cast. Like, I don't know, like, the permutations they went, but, like, the fact that Henry Zerney's, the patriarch, like, not the biggest name, but he's such a great actor. Oh, he's fantastic. And he's just perfect for this.

He's so good. One of those actors that every time I see him, like, oh, I wish I saw more of him. Yeah, he really can play that, uh, he seems very, very, he seems very, grand and intimidating at first. He slowly unravels into this, like, desperate, sort of bumbling. Yeah, they're morons, this family. That's kind of the beauty of it. Yeah. Okay, so jumping around a bit, you mentioned Guns Akimbo. I think I might see you in Toronto for that. Oh, great, yeah, I'll be there. Great, I'll be there too. So, Mr. Daniel Radcliffe, I've spent a lot of time with that gentleman. He's the best. He's so sweet. I love him. He's the best. So I gather this is

a unique, I mean, his sensibilities I love. Oh, yeah. I didn't know how cool he was. I was hiding my Harry Potter tattoo for the first, like, three weeks of stunt training. And then I forgot to wear long socks, and he was like, is that? And I was like, okay, listen, it's J.K. Rowling. It's not about you. So what's the tattoo?

It's the Deathly Hallows on my ankle. So the books and or films were big for you growing up? Oh, yeah, because I was, I think I was a little bit younger, but I was pretty much the same age as Harry growing up. Of course they're ruined now because I've met him. So when you weren't that you were up for this opposite Dan

was that kind of surreal? I just loved his work and I loved his choices he's made after the franchise so and the character was so insane I was so intrigued at that challenge. Your character's pretty insane. I've seen, I saw I think you posted a photo.

Oh, I look insane. Yeah. It was a social experiment because I had like a black and silver mullet with no eyebrows and we did equity turnaround not sag turnaround and it took like three and a half hours to put all these tattoos on me so I would go home with all the tats on sometimes

and we were filming in New Zealand and Germany and people would cross the street to get away from me and I'd try and buy dinner and people wouldn't serve me they were terrified That's fantastic in a way It was fun for about two weeks then it got really sad Oh my guys I was like, guys, I promise them, I'm nice.

Sliding over with, like, blood-stained hands. So you're coming off of, okay, so that one I'm very excited to see. That sounds bad shit crazy in the best possible way. I would expect nothing less. Are you done on Bill and Ted? I'm done, yeah. Have they wrapped the whole thing? I think this is the last week.

Yeah, I feel like I'm seeing, like, different tweets from people there starting to wrap. So I couldn't be more excited. Like, I can't even express inhuman words. how I'm feeling about this one. A lot of people are. Yeah, yeah. I've been stalking Keanu and I know Alex a bit for years about this, and they've told me a little bits and pieces about what was planned,

so the fact that he actually made the movie is unbelievable to me. Did it have resonance to you? No, I had no idea what I was. I read out the audition. I was sat on my couch and reading out the email, like, oh, you have an audition for Bill and 10, and I was reading it out loud, and my fiancé just like leapt up and started doing this strange.

Southern California voice and I what's wrong with you dude like what he's like oh my God we have to watch it right now and I was okay um so he was really helpful again with that audition amazing so you play Bill's daughter yes yeah named after Ted right it's a close close relationship oh yeah does the apple fall fall far from the tree are you not at all it is a tree adjacent so basically you just have to study Alex's performance in the first debut of it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's amazing. Yeah, it was fun. Um, yeah, did it sense, there must have been a lot of good energy on that set. Oh, yeah. Because they've been trying to get this off the ground for years. I mean, it was just so much fun watching them do those characters again. Yeah. After 32 years, it was, I mean, a lot of people that

came back, it was just a surreal experience for them. Well, it's the writers are back to, too. It's like the same crew. Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah, it was just fun to watch them. Amazing. So you've now seen the originals. You're now well-versed. Okay. Because when you are on the press store for this one, and I'm talking to all of you, I just don't want to embarrass you in front of Alex and Keanu. No. I mean, they can't be embarrassed. So where do we go from here somewhere? This is a good moment. We have ready or not, which is about to take over the planet. I mean, I don't know. You went to like a maniacal cackle for a second. That's my nervous laughter. I'm sorry. That's okay. You're from now. We'll be

talking about Bill and Ted. What are, do you feel like you can steer your own ship right now in terms of like what you're looking for? Or again, is it sort of a thing of like what the world has for me? Yeah. If anyone wants to hire me. Stop it. Call my agents.

I'll be down. Well, I was excited to talk to you because like, again, not to like give you anxiety or whatever, but there, it feels like it's a moment for you where like people are seeing like you showcased in a very special way in a special movie. that will elicit some interesting opportunities. I hope so. Yes, I think we can mark this time. Okay, great.

Our 40 minutes here to get today in my sweaty, weird office. I love this office. I just am looking at this photo over here. Which one? Is it Jennifer Lawrence and... You got it. You got it.

Bradley Cooper? Yeah. I've been staring at that the whole time. That is hysterical. I was wondering what you're wandering I was doing. Yeah. What is... Oh, okay.

He's trying to figure it out the whole time. That feels right. It's a good face mash. Yeah, it's a little disturbing. I always say it's proof they should never procreate, right? I mean... They'd make a good baby. Well...

But just not that baby. Just not that thing. Just not that one. Congratulations and ready or not. Thank you. It's definitely check it out. It's a unique, fun piece of work, and I look forward to seeing guns at Kimbo and seeing you in Toronto, hopefully.

Thank you. Yeah, I'll see you in Toronto. Have you ever had putteen? Yes, delightful. I've never had it. Okay, well, let's go get some. Okay, perfect. That's a day.

Done. And so ends another edition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate 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 pressure to do this by Josh. Goodbye. Summer movies, Hello Fall. I'm Anthony Devaney. And I'm his twin brother, James. We host Raiders of the Lost Podcast, the ultimate movie podcast, and we are ecstatic to break down late summer and early fall releases.

We have Leonardo DiCaprio leading a revolution in one battle after another, Timothy Salome, playing power ping pong in Marty Supreme. Let's not forget Emma Stone and Jorgos' Borgonia. Dwayne Johnson, he's coming for that Oscar. In The Smashing Machine, Spike Lee and Denzel teaming up again, plus Daniel DeLuis's return from retirement. There will be plenty of blockbusters to chat about, too. Tron Aries looks exceptional, plus Mortal Kombat too, and Edgar writes the running man starring Glenn Powell. Search for Raiders of the Lost podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.