Evan Rachel Wood on lockdown: A small child evens the playing field a little bit
I can’t do justice to Evan Rachel Wood’s full quite in our title format, which needs to be shorter than you might think. She actually said “I’m privileged, however quarantining with a small child evens the playing field a little bit.” I’m specifying that in the opener to this story because I’ve had this job long enough to know that a lot of people don’t read the post before commenting. I know you don’t do that though. Her full quote is actually pretty balanced and she’s not complaining.
Anyway Rachel has a new movie out by director Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know) called Kajillionaire. She did an interview with Variety to promote it, which I found when I briefly considered going to a movie theater to see it. I’m not going to the movies until we get a vaccine, but I can fantasize! She plays a con artist raised by con artist parents, and it also stars Debra Winger, Richard Jenkins and Gina Rodriguez (another reason not to see it). She talked about her role, how she’s doing in quarantine (without complaining!) and her character in Kajillionaire’s queer romance, which is apparently presented very matter-of-fact and not like a curiosity. Rachel came out as bisexual almost ten years ago and it’s meaningful to her to play this character. She also talks about her advocacy for victims of domestic abuse, a cause which is personal to her.
On acting being therapeutic and helping her overcome awkwardness
I can be very socially awkward at times. But when there’s a script and the words are there, and you know where the conversation is going to go, it gives me such freedom to feel and to let my emotions out in a safe way. I can’t say the wrong thing. My whole life — I mean, God, I’ve been doing this since I was 5, Jesus — so my whole life it’s been this really therapeutic thing.
On advocating for domestic abuse victims
I do feel like if I’m going to be speaking and representing something, it’s best that I know what I’m talking about.
On quitting Twitter after getting headlines for her tweets
It would be, like, ‘Evan Rachel Wood goes on a rant!’ or ‘Evan Rachel Wood attacks this person!’
Honestly, I think it’s one of the best decisions I ever made! Really.
On her character’s queer storyline in Kajillionaire
I think gender is everything and nothing in this movie,” she says. “It’s never spoken about, and none of the characters are necessarily thinking about it.”
As for the romance itself, Wood continues, “It’s never talked about; it simply is. And that in itself meant so much to me as a queer woman.”
On how she’s doing in lockdown
I’m privileged, so I’m fine. However, quarantining with a small child evens the playing field a little bit.
It’s been a wonderful mixture of chaos and precious moments.
There are some spoilers for Westworld season three in that article so proceed with caution. I stopped watching after the season one finale left me baffled. SO many actors on that show have said that even they don’t understand it, so I feel justified in my decision to give it up. Of her Westworld character, Rachel said “I’ve been on such a journey with her. And it’s influenced my own life, and changed me as a person.” I think that’s a nice way of complimenting the show without admitting how hard it is to follow. If you watch it and love it I’m sorry! I know we all have different tastes and some of the acting is incredible (and the scenes between Rodrigo Santoro and Thandie Newton my God).
As for her thoughts on lockdown, I get it. Her son, Jack, is seven and it’s got to be a lot to have a little kid at this point in history, even if you’re not working a standard job. Her son’s father, Jamie Bell, lives in LA with his second wife, Kate Mara, and their one and a half-year-old daughter. I think EWR is quarantined in her home in North Carolina, so she must not be getting a lot of help. It’s got to be hard for Jamie to be apart from his son too, although I don’t know what kind of arrangements they have.
Oh and she may have quit Twitter, but she’s still posting somewhat controversial opinions on Instagram, she’s just turning off the comments. She just doesn’t want people yelling at her, which is understandable.
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