Greta Gerwig may have been in movies such as Hannah Take The Stairs and Baghead but it was her performance in Greenberg earlier this year that has caught everyone’s attention.
I caught up with her to talk about the movie, which also stars Ben Stiller and is directed by Noah Baumbach, and her current project Arthur.
- Greenberg is about to be released on DVD here in the UK so for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie yet can you tell me a bit about it?
Greenberg is a movie by Noah Baumbach and it was written by him and his wife Jennifer Jason Leigh. The movie is about Roger Greenberg, who is played by Ben Stiller, and it’s a love story and it’s a very human love story.
- You take on the role of Florence in the movie so what was it about the character and the script that drew you to the project?
Well I, even before I read the script, I was a big fan of Noah Baumbach as a writer and a filmmaker, and I was as equally as big a fan of his wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, and I was pretty certain that I would love.
So when I eventually did read the script I wasn’t remotely surprised that I did love it and I just felt that it was so full and rich on the page and every word was so perfect and I would have given anything to be part of it. And I feel so lucky and grateful that I could be.
- Can you talk about Florence she seems like a character with a very deep backstory - so how did you develop that?
A lot of it was through conversations with Noah. I had had time before the movie, I lived in LA for a bit; I think that people wear their city on their faces and their bodies and it was nice to get into the rhythm of what Los Angeles was and have some connection to it so it wasn’t just invented.
But also it was talking about her through her belongings and the way that she dresses, talking through these things that bit by bit built this life.
I was very lucky because Noah is not only a wonderful filmmaker but he also had a lot of time to do that with me, and with Ben, and I felt that I could make her as whole as she was on the page.
- And how did that development process differ from your own writing and directing projects with Joe Swanberg?
The process was different because there was a full script on the page coming into the project and I also had a lot of time to invest into it whereas the projects that I have worked on that have been my own, or the collaborations, have been much more seat of my pants.
So it was a much more thoughtful process and it was more about the vision, and I think that the benefit of someone who has made six films as well as a bigger budget and to have all these experienced people around you.
- And how did you find working alongside Ben and Noah?
They were incredible, and they are so great at what they do. Ben is a genius in so many areas; he is a writer and a director in addition to being an actor.
I felt very lucky to be part of this project because I felt that he just had to be an actor and he had to commit himself to his character and be his character, it was a very special moment for him and I felt very lucky that I got to be there for it.
He is a tremendous actor and so giving, we were both very protective of our characters and of each other and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Ben Stiller as Roger Greenberg.
- Greenberg is very much a breakthrough role for you so how has that impacted on your career - you’re working on Arthur at the moment so it must be a very exciting time for you?
It’s incredibly exciting! I think that Greenberg was definitely a breakthrough moment and it has allowed me to do what I always wanted to do, which is acting in films.
But what is so great about it, although I think I would have found a way, instead of hustling with my friends to put everything together to create opportunities for ourselves people are now coming to me and saying ‘you don’t have to raise the money just come and do it with us’ and that’s wonderful.
- And how is Arthur going, it’s a great cast?
Oh they are great, two of Britain’s finest in Helen Mirren and Russell Brand, it’s really wonderful project. Everyday I think ‘gosh, you know I’m doing ok’ (laughs) and I am a little bit tentative because you don’t want to get cock and lose it but it’s just so wonderful to work on this beautiful love story.
It is a comedy but it’s not a filled with gross out humour or sex humour, it’s very classic in that way; it feels likes a fairy tale movie and I have never done anything like that before.
It’s been so wonderful to see how Russell and Helen make so human, and funny, and real so participating with them is tremendous.
- As well as acting you have also directed and written, The Dish & The Spoon is your latest script, so what is it about being behind the camera that interests you?
I think I am not really at my best when I’m only doing one thing I thrive doing many things, I admire people who do one thing perfectly; so they are actors or directors, I have never done any of them well enough to just do that. But I would rather do mediocre at many than try to perfect one.
But I really love writing and directing and I think that it makes them all better so acting makes me a better writer and writing makes me a better director, they all kind of inform each other. I suppose I just can’t help it and I hope that I can continue to do them all.
- Well that sort of touches on my next question really is this a part of you career that you are going to continue or is acting now your primary focus?
I think for the moment I’m really enjoying having the acting first and foremost because it’s incredibly gratifying and fun. But I hope that all three aspects are what my career ends up being, so yes pursuing all three things massively (laughs).
- You have been tipped as the next big thing so how are you finding the attention that is coming your way?
Well it’s really great, but I do think that there’s a next big thing every month, but it’s incredibly flattering. But what is so nice about it is that I have been able to continue to work as an actress and everyday I wake up and think ‘ I have the best job in the world, I have no idea how this worked out’ so what ever label that has allowed me to do this then amen! (laughs)
-Finally what’s next for you?
After I wrap I’m doing a film called Damsels In Distress, which is a dark comedy about girls at university that run a suicide prevention centre, so I’m really looking forward to that.
Greenberg is out on DVD now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Greta Gerwig may have been in movies such as Hannah Take The Stairs and Baghead but it was her performance in Greenberg earlier this year that has caught everyone’s attention.
I caught up with her to talk about the movie, which also stars Ben Stiller and is directed by Noah Baumbach, and her current project Arthur.
- Greenberg is about to be released on DVD here in the UK so for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie yet can you tell me a bit about it?
Greenberg is a movie by Noah Baumbach and it was written by him and his wife Jennifer Jason Leigh. The movie is about Roger Greenberg, who is played by Ben Stiller, and it’s a love story and it’s a very human love story.
- You take on the role of Florence in the movie so what was it about the character and the script that drew you to the project?
Well I, even before I read the script, I was a big fan of Noah Baumbach as a writer and a filmmaker, and I was as equally as big a fan of his wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, and I was pretty certain that I would love.
So when I eventually did read the script I wasn’t remotely surprised that I did love it and I just felt that it was so full and rich on the page and every word was so perfect and I would have given anything to be part of it. And I feel so lucky and grateful that I could be.
- Can you talk about Florence she seems like a character with a very deep backstory - so how did you develop that?
A lot of it was through conversations with Noah. I had had time before the movie, I lived in LA for a bit; I think that people wear their city on their faces and their bodies and it was nice to get into the rhythm of what Los Angeles was and have some connection to it so it wasn’t just invented.
But also it was talking about her through her belongings and the way that she dresses, talking through these things that bit by bit built this life.
I was very lucky because Noah is not only a wonderful filmmaker but he also had a lot of time to do that with me, and with Ben, and I felt that I could make her as whole as she was on the page.
- And how did that development process differ from your own writing and directing projects with Joe Swanberg?
The process was different because there was a full script on the page coming into the project and I also had a lot of time to invest into it whereas the projects that I have worked on that have been my own, or the collaborations, have been much more seat of my pants.
So it was a much more thoughtful process and it was more about the vision, and I think that the benefit of someone who has made six films as well as a bigger budget and to have all these experienced people around you.
- And how did you find working alongside Ben and Noah?
They were incredible, and they are so great at what they do. Ben is a genius in so many areas; he is a writer and a director in addition to being an actor.
I felt very lucky to be part of this project because I felt that he just had to be an actor and he had to commit himself to his character and be his character, it was a very special moment for him and I felt very lucky that I got to be there for it.
He is a tremendous actor and so giving, we were both very protective of our characters and of each other and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Ben Stiller as Roger Greenberg.
- Greenberg is very much a breakthrough role for you so how has that impacted on your career - you’re working on Arthur at the moment so it must be a very exciting time for you?
It’s incredibly exciting! I think that Greenberg was definitely a breakthrough moment and it has allowed me to do what I always wanted to do, which is acting in films.
But what is so great about it, although I think I would have found a way, instead of hustling with my friends to put everything together to create opportunities for ourselves people are now coming to me and saying ‘you don’t have to raise the money just come and do it with us’ and that’s wonderful.
Tagged in Greta Gerwig