As a long-time admirer of Kate Hudson‘s captivating performances, I was thrilled to share the screen with her in the genre-bending masterpiece “Shell.” Playing the grounded character opposite Hudson’s flamboyant CEO was a challenging yet exhilarating experience. It was like navigating through the intricate dance of a comedy, horror, and drama all at once, much like the ’90s classics such as “Death Becomes Her” – a film that left an indelible mark on my cinematic heart.
Elizabeth Moss, who admires Kate Hudson’s acting skills greatly, found it delightful to act alongside her in the genre-blending film “Shell“, which premiered in Toronto and is directed by Max Minghella. She shared this enthusiasm with THR.
However, in contrast to traditional genre films dealing with themes like age and beauty standards, these female leads, one playing an unsuccessful actress (Moss) and another as the extravagant head of a health and cosmetics firm (Hudson), took on unique focuses and roles. They brought the narrative of these characters to fruition in this particular movie.
In our conversations, Max and I often discussed how my role in the film was to make it as realistic and down-to-earth as possible. This is what distinguishes my character from Kate’s. She portrays an extreme end of the spectrum, while my goal was to maintain a strong sense of reality throughout the movie, immersing viewers in the story and preventing the film itself from becoming too overwhelming compared to the groundedness of the themes we were exploring.
As a fan, I’d say this movie is uniquely crafted to offer both emotional depth and an exhilarating journey. It cleverly subverts typical film tropes, blending elements of suspenseful thrillers, chilling horror, and humor in a way that’s hard to put into words. As Elizabeth Moss explained to The Hollywood Reporter, “It possesses a distinctive tone that’s challenging to define. It’s a drama, yet it has moments that are painfully funny.” Moreover, it delves deeper into the thriller genre with a more substantial suspenseful element.
The ambiance evoked memories of timeless movies from the past for the actress, who noted, “There’s a certain charm reminiscent of ’90s films, such as ‘Death Becomes Her’, that specific brand of humor.” She further explained, “The atmosphere was something I haven’t had the opportunity to explore much. So, I jumped at the chance to delve into it.
In the movie “Shell“, there’s a hard-to-watch moment where Moss’ character attends an audition, following a stint in a waiting room filled with younger, attractive individuals. “I’ve been to countless auditions throughout my life,” Moss reminisces, humorously adding: “I’m terrible at math. I’m 42, which means I’ve been doing this for quite some time. I’ve sat in many waiting rooms and found myself thinking, ‘oh my goodness, I have no chance of getting this role.’ I’ve had that feeling repeatedly.
Fortunately for her admirers, Moss had the opportunity to showcase her abilities in popular shows like Mad Men and The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as numerous others. During an interview with THR, she recounted, “That was the year I auditioned for Mad Men. And I recall there was another series casting at the same time that everyone was buzzing about.” In New York, there were two productions in contention, and people couldn’t stop talking about them. I thought to myself, ‘I need to be a part of one of these!’ One of the shows, which we won’t mention, seemed particularly trendy. I walked into that audition room, and everyone was stunningly attractive. I was 23 at the time, still thinking, ‘There’s no way this is happening.’
When she tried out for the show “Mad Men”, she expressed that it felt like she already knew the character and her role, and that she was incredibly familiar with Peggy. She stated that during the audition, she felt great about herself, confident. Although she didn’t get the other show she had also auditioned for, she got “Mad Men” instead, and look at us now.
In her own words about working on the film “Shell”: “It’s a valuable lesson to understand that your journey might not always follow the predetermined or expected path. This insight was invaluable when approaching this project as I could draw upon personal experiences that resonate with many of us – the feeling of falling short of an idealized version of ourselves. Portraying such emotions for the audience was a rewarding and relatable experience, something I wholeheartedly welcomed after years of focusing on appearance and performance.
Moss additionally mentioned her fondness for various genres in a conversation with THR. “I’m a fan of horror, science fiction, and action,” she said. “These genres are certainly where I feel most comfortable.
When asked about the current trend of body horror films, such as “The Substance” with Demi Moore, the star commented: “It seems like this is the year when certain themes become popular, doesn’t it? It happens every now and then that people focus on similar topics during a specific year. For example, remember ‘Armageddon’ and ‘Deep Impact’ in 1998, or ‘Antz’ and ‘A Bug’s Life’? People tend to synchronize their interests at the same time. I think it’s fantastic! We haven’t had movies like these for a while, and they still feel fresh and original. It’s exciting to revive an old genre and present it in a new, contemporary way.
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2024-09-08 19:25