You’ve tackled quite a few different genres so far in your career, so other than biopic is there any genre or type of role that you would be eager to tackle, or anything that jumps out as a dream role?
Well, my dream role would be dance. That was what was so cool about this movie because I got to dance a little bit which is always really exciting for me to do. What I really want to do is a movie that focuses on dancing, where it is part of the medium through which the story is told. Like with musicals but instead of singing everything is conveyed through action and dance. I’m also craving to do a really weird film. Maybe like a comedy, something like “The Favourite.” [Director Yorgos Lanthimos] does such strange and bizarre things and I want to do something like that, except maybe not so sad.
With this, “Five Feet Apart” and “Columbus” you’ve been working with some first-time feature filmmakers. Is that an active choice or were just drawn to the stories?
It’s definitely been a coincidence. I never made a conscious decision to only seek out and work with first-time directors. I think the things that have lined up that have actually worked out, rather than things that didn’t end up happening or I ended up not wanting to do, with directors like Justin (Baldoni)and Kogonada and whatever else I’ve been doing these last few whirlwind years.
When I’ve been done with things, I tend to over worry about them. When after you actually see the work and I’m off set, I just try to let things go. But I have worked with some directors recently who have a bit more of a repertoire, and every director I’ve worked with and has been different and interesting. Even with Justin and Kogonada, who are both first-time feature directors, approached things in absolutely different ways and have drastically different styles so I feel like if a first time director knows what they are doing and are passionate, have a good team around them and have a vision then that is not a trait. It may be a fact about them but while working you never feel it.
So what’s next, at least after some decompression after the emotional upheaval of all these heavy roles?
Well, I’ve taken the last 10 months since finishing “Five Feet Apart” off and haven’t worked on anything. It wasn’t really intentional, but I’ve been patient and wanting the things I do next to be something I care about. It is what you said, emotionally exhausting and a huge commitment to put your life and soul 100% into whatever you’re working on, so I want to make sure it’s something worth it that I care about. I am getting antsy and feeling the need to be acting, so I am looking for something to do next and have a couple of things that could happen but I’m not sure yet about them.
“The Chaperone” is in select theaters now.
