| BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD - 'The Help' Q&A. |
| Written by SUPPLIED | |||||
| Tuesday, 13 September 2011 17:52 | |||||
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD (Hilly) is one of Hollywood’s most versatile and dynamic talents both on screen and behind the camera. Her feature-film acting credits include “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” “Hereafter,” “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “Spider-Man 3,” “Lady in the Water,” “The Village,” and “Manderlay.” She recently completed a starring role in Jonathan Levine’s comedy “50/50,” opposite Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Howard also received a 2008 Golden Globe® Award nomination for her performance as Rosalind in HBO’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Expanding her creative reach beyond acting, Howard produced Gus Van Sant’s soon to be released “Restless.” She made her directorial debut with the short film “Orchids” and currently has a feature in development as a screenwriter. After leaving the Tisch School of the Arts program at New York University, Howard immediately began working on the New York stage, including playing the role of Marianne in the Roundabout’s Broadway production of “Tartuffe”; Rosalind in the Public Theatre’s “As You Like It”; Sally Platt in the Manhattan Theater Club’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s “House/Garden”; and Emily in the Bay Street Theater Festival’s production of “Our Town.” Howard currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Seth Gabel, and their son, Theo.
Q. Why was this movie so important to you? A. The movie represents what is possible. What starts with one individual and then ripples out to a community of individuals and what they can achieve, even if they don’t think that they have a voice, is such an important message. Q. Please tell us about your character, Hilly. A. Well, honestly at first she really tripped me up. I couldn’t wrap my mind around how a person could behave the way she does. And then, during the rehearsal process it dawned on me that Hilly is ignorant. It became obvious to me that she’s insecure and fearful. When I realized that she truly believes that what she is doing is right, all of a sudden I got the character. It was also simultaneously a terrifying notion that some people truly think that they’re right when they’re wrong. Q. Many actresses wanted the role of Hilly. How do you handle the competitiveness? A. I feel that I am in a community of actors, particularly women, who are supportive of each other. We’re always going up against each other for the same parts. I think we were all rooting for this story and knew that whoever got cast would be the right person for the role. I’m grateful for that because I don’t do well in competitive environments. I think I would be really fearful if I was in a room with a lot of competitive people.
Q. How important was it to shoot this movie in the South? A. I don’t think we could have done the film otherwise. Several times during the shoot I said, “Oh, my gosh, if we were doing this in Los Angeles we’d be in big trouble because we would be on a soundstage instead of shooting in actually houses.” It makes a huge difference. So filming in Greenwood, Mississippi, which is a really well-preserved town, gave us authenticity. Q. Were the residents of the town supportive of what you were doing? A. They were very supportive. I think the fact that the book is so embraced in Greenwood, and that we were embraced and supported, is an indication of change unto itself. Q. What would you say is unique about this movie? A. It was apparent while reading the script that there were so many complex, three-dimensional female characters, and that’s something that’s definitely not common in most movies. It is most definitely a story of empowerment.
ABOUT 'THE HELP'... "Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, “The Help” stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times. Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, “The Help” is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change." 'The Help' is released in New Zealand cinemas on September 15th! Click HERE to watch the trailer for 'The Help'.
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