Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne And Carrie Coon Swap Stories From Their Time In The Theater, And I Seriously Could Listen To Them Talk For Hours

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Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne And Carrie Coon Swap Stories From Their Time In The Theater, And I Seriously Could Listen To Them Talk For Hours

As a gamer with years of immersion in the world of virtual theater, I can’t help but draw parallels between their stories and my own adventures in gaming. Elizabeth Olsen‘s tale of finding focus backstage reminds me of the moment when I finally mastered that elusive boss battle in Final Fantasy VII. The shift from self to character, the simple yet profound realization – it’s a feeling that transcends mediums.

I found myself utterly captivated by these women’s stories, and if given the chance, I could have listened to them for hours! The snippet of our chat is available to you now. I was enthralled by every word they shared about how their theater background has influenced their film and television roles throughout their careers. To kick things off, let me share Elizabeth Olsen’s thoughts on the subject:

During my teenage years, I participated in a three-night workshop for a play in New York City. As the event’s opening, I found myself backstage among professionals who were all in their thirties. My heart was pounding as I stood there, filled with anxiety about my schoolwork and memorizing lines. But then, I took a deep breath and reminded myself to walk through the door, letting go of everything else. This simple action allowed me to step out of myself and embody the character, which is why we perform. [Laughs]

Elizabeth Olsen primarily gained recognition for portraying Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a topic she’s recently discussed candidly. Prior to this, one of her initial roles was in a New York stage production, as she revealed during our interview. In those early days, she admitted feeling quite anxious and tense about live performances. However, once she figured out what she had to do, everything fell into place for her. Similarly, Natasha Lyonne, whom Olsen recently stated is “self-sufficient” in her upcoming MCU debut, also recounted a significant theatrical experience by saying:

In my early acting days as a child actor, improvising most of the time, it wasn’t until I delved into theater that I truly grasped the essence of living in the now. This might be because initially, I thought acting was all about getting it right, not mumbling, or making things funny. A specific incident stands out – performing alongside Ethan Hawke in a play titled “Blood From a Stone.” In this instance, I vividly recall eating a sandwich on stage and feeling disconnected from myself for a moment. Upon returning to the present, I realized with clarity that someone else had prepared the sandwich, as if through the eyes of the character.

Natasha Lyonne reminisced about starring in an off-Broadway play in 2010, which opened up a previously unknown facet of acting for her. It’s quite astonishing when you consider her acting career dates back to the ’80s as a child actor. Sharing the stage with Ethan Hawke remains a significant memory for her, one that she carries with her still. As she went on to say:

As I sat there, engrossed in our game where we portrayed siblings, Ethan’s eyes sparkled at me, filled with recognition. “Ah,” he said, “I see you’ve taken a bite of the sandwich.” You see, acting day after day in a play can make it feel like an oddly compact universe. He chuckled, “There it is, the first time the baby actually ate the sandwich!” We momentarily slipped back into our real selves, Ethan and Natasha, before falling back into character once more. That moment hooked me right then and there.

Furthermore, we have Carrie Coon, a performer who graced the screen in the latest “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” and has an extensive background in stage performances throughout her career. Let’s hear what she had to share:

At a young age, I was an exemplary girl and an excellent student with straight A’s. One day, another actor suggested I should relax more, to which I agreed, understanding his point. That night, I let go of my usual control in a way I hadn’t before, as it was the first time I truly surrendered to the unknown.

It’s a delight to observe these three actresses discussing the experiences that led them to reconsider acting and the unique ways they portrayed their characters on stage for the play “His Three Daughters.” The conversation fits perfectly for this production because the emotional drama mirrors the feel of a real-life play, as they each depict the struggle of caring for a father in hospice.

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2024-09-12 15:37