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Bel Powley is great atcoming of age.
What drew you toWildling?As soon as I read it, I found it incredibly intriguing.
Im always attracted to projects that subvert the norm.
And I love horror, but I felt likeWildlingflipped really traditional messages in horror films on their head.
Obviously the main character is a woman, not a man.
Thats kind of rare.
Also the woman is the beast, but theyre a sympathetic character.
Theyre not someone youre afraid of.
Theyre someone that youre rooting for.
All of those aspects just made it really different immediately off the page the first time I read it.
So, the material thats being made for women is being made for women because ithas to be.
Do you see what I mean?
So its kind of like a forced thing.
People will be like, We have to make a movie with a central female beast!
We have to make a movie thats a story about women!
Thats the situation were in now.
There still arent that many.
Like, Im doing a play right now on Broadway, a Kenneth Lonergan play.
Right.Lobby Hero.Yeah,Lobby Hero.
There are still a select few across the board, but it is getting better.
I dont want to sound too negative.
Your characters tend to connectwith older men, despite often being in their teens or very early 20s.
I dont think thats anything to do with the projects I choose.
Vulture did an investigation once of howleading men agebut their female co-stars pretty much dont.
Why [laughs]?!
Like you said, the perspective is embedded at this point.Yeah.
I think also they want to freeze women in time.
Men are so scared of women getting older, and thats part of whatWildlingis about as well.
Men and the patriarchy are just so afraid of teenage girls and women.
They dont know what to do with them [laughs].
Its just a blessing to be doing a play where theres only four of you.
It makes it so much easier.
Its just us four and the audience.
Its a beautiful thing.
Weve all got on since day one.
Weve been really good friends since day one.
Weve celebrated each others birthdays together.
We get drinks together.
Theyre all such great people, and theyre all such brilliant actors.
I enjoy being onstage with them so much.
I only have like one line with Brian, though, and I wish I had so much more.
Hes a phenomenal actor, but they all are.
Have you gotten started onThe Bell Jar?No!
And Kirsten Dunst is amazing, so I will hope that starts soon.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
