Interview: Chloe Grace Moretz Takes on Iconic Role of ‘Carrie’

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Chloe Grace Moretz is only 16 and already has 50 credits to her name, including “(500) Days of Summer,” “Kick-Ass,” and “Let Me In.” She filmed “The Amityville Horror” remake on the North side of the city when she was only 5 and returned this week to talk about starring in her first lead role, the title part in Kimberly Peirce’s remake of the Stephen King classic, “Carrie.” From how this part challenged her to her favorite actresses to her love for Hillary Duff, Moretz is as engaging, well-spoken, and fascinating as fans of her work would expect.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: I saw the piece in EW that mentioned that this was your first lead and I was startled because I felt like that had happened by now given how much you’ve acted. Do you feel more pressure playing lead for the first time as opposed to supporting? More nerves?

CHLOE GRACE MORETZ: It’s a bit more physical pressure because you’re on-set every single day, all day, but, at the same time, it’s nice because you know you’ve got this relationship with your director that’s symbiotic and you know your character better than you have before because you’re with her every single day. For me, it was really helpful to be lead because I was in her body every day.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: You mention a symbiotic relationship. What does Kimberly do differently from other directors you’ve worked with?

MORETZ: She’s very maternal. She creates the perfect kind of environment on set. You feel very safe, guarded, and able to go anywhere you need to be comfortably. You’re not scared to go to these dark places with her. Also, her style is very nuanced. It’s very exciting and challenging and she pushes you very hard and very far. It’s exciting.

Carrie
Carrie
Photo credit: Sony

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: How much did you guys look at other iterations of this character in print or the other movies?

MORETZ: The book was pretty much our only source of material. The book.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: You didn’t look at the other movies?

MORETZ: Nope. We didn’t even want to even subconsciously copy anything.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: Were you a horror fan before this?

MORETZ: Yeah. I think that horror is a fun, interesting genre. This film is more of a psychological horror, which I prefer because it’s got a lot of emotion and heart. Along with surprise and terror, it has a real storyline, which I think speaks to more.

Carrie
Carrie
Photo credit: Sony

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: What’s that storyline that attracted you? What about Carrie as a character spoke to you?

MORETZ: I think really that it was the way that she was naive, ostracized, vulnerable, and manipulated, but, at the same time, no matter what, she was like a puppy. No matter how many times you push them away, there’s a wonder, an enthrallment with the outside world that she gets from looking into other people’s lives. That was exciting for me to play because it was nuanced. It’s a character that no matter how many times they are hurt, they always find the silver lining in the darkness.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: How did you tap into that high school culture of today that you may not have a lot of experience with given your life as an actress?

MORETZ: I think it worked because Carrie doesn’t have any high school experience. My lack of high school experience actually helped me play this part. I don’t go to high school. I don’t go around many kids my age. I am shy and nervous around a lot of people who are my age. It worked definitely in my favor.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: When you get a project like this one, do you consider the script first or does who you’re working with really matter? Did you want to work with Kimberly and Julianne?

MORETZ: The script is key. It could be Meryl Streep…I’ve gone to projects and been like, “Oh my God, da-da-da is in it and da-da-da is in it! And that director!” And then I read the script and my character isn’t where it needed to be. Even if it’s an amazing script, you want to be challenged and excited by a project and not just be “The Kid,” “The Sister,” “The Love Interest of the Male Lead.” I want to play nuanced characters that are different from me that no one has seen me do before. I could go every day and work in very great big projects but in small roles that aren’t going to push me as an actor or do anything for me in that way. I want to be challenged and not just walking through…bored.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: Is there anyone you look at career-wise and go that’s the path I want to take?

MORETZ: There are hundreds of people. Julianne Moore, Juliette Binoche, Natalie Portman. There’s so many people I could talk about that I’m really interesting in and I think are brilliant with their career choices. Amy Adams! She has one of the best careers of any actress out there. She has chosen solid projects from comedy to drama to horror to thriller. She’s chosen really quality projects. No one recognizes that enough. I really look up to her.

Carrie
Carrie
Photo credit: Sony

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: She jumps genres, like you do. Is that important to you? To show you can do comedy, drama, horror, etc.?

MORETZ: Yeah, totally. You should try…I think a real actor will stretch their boundaries and try and different forms of acting. You have to use different elements of acting within each project. Even if it’s a comedy, you can’t be laughy-laughy all the time. “Bridesmaids” was hilarious but it had sweet moments too like Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy on the couch. You have to have range.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: 50 credits at age 16. A) Do you ever consider taking a break and B) Is it important to you to be constantly working? I think a lot of actors your age fall into the celebrity side of the profession and forget the work.

MORETZ: That’s what I find annoying. Now, it’s all about fashion. The new celebrity side of the job is clearing your schedule to go to every fashion week event, the Met Ball,…

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: Instead of working.

MORETZ: Exactly. I’m going, “That’s cute and all but I would rather be prepping for a project if I’m not working or on a project.” That’s my JOB. That’s what I love to do. Going to a catwalk is cute and all but it’s not what I love to do. I’m not a model nor am I a fashion blogger nor am I an editor.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: You mentioned Julianne Moore as someone you idolize or appreciate. Do you still get that awe feeling when you work with people like that?

MORETZ: I get it from random people, to be honest. The more that I am in LOVE with an actor, I hope they’re nice so it doesn’t ruin my idea of them. But I get shocked by meeting artists and stuff.

Carrie
Carrie
Photo credit: Sony

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: Like who?

MORETZ: Christina Aguilera walked in front of me and I was like, “Oooh. Hey. What’s up?” People that I’ve grown up with. If I met Hillary Duff, I would 100% geek out. If I met Mary-Kate and Ashley? Totally freak-out. It’s random people. I grew up with their movies. That’s my “Oh my Gosh.”

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: What did we learn from Julianne Moore as an actress?

MORETZ: It’s her intensity that she always brings and her range of emotion. Just look at “Savage Grace.” That’s one of the most amazing roles I’ve seen on-screen. She goes from being this horrible mother to making you feel bad for her. She can do no wrong in my eyes. In “Crazy Stupid Love,” you first think she’s just playing “The Mom.” No! She’s brilliant. She’s so good. I love her. In short, I LOVE Julianne Moore.

HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM: An actor once told me that he saw every movie as a learning experience. What was the learning experience on this one?

MORETZ: I learned so much. I really changed as a person. I went from being this young actress who hadn’t really done a role that I had been stretched in yet but this film really turned me into an adult actor. I went places I didn’t even think I could go. I tried things that I had never done before. For me, it sounds cliched, but the entire process was SO life-changing for me. I learned more than I have in my entire career on this one project.

See what she learned when “Carrie” opens in theaters this Friday, October 18, 2013, and come back tomorrow afternoon for our full review.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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