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Before I meet her, I expect Carey Mulligan to be ultraserious, maybe even a little gloomy.
Youve known Zoe and Paul for ten years.
So exactly ten years ago we met, and she was with Paul then.
And then Jake and I didBrothers which I was in for, like, less than 30 seconds.
Shes always writing, but I had no idea that they were writing this for a while there.
It just came up out of the blue.
Of course I read it, and 19 minutes later I called them back.
Its such a no-brainer on so many levels.
At a Q&A the other night, you said the role was terrifying.
It was the sort of lack of control, I think.
And theres so many little twists and turns that she makes through the film.
They were all there on the page, but it felt like a mind puzzle to figure out.
I didnt quite know how to get around it.
I was honestly scared because I was acting in front of my mates.
This is my job, this is ridiculous.
We did a week in Montana and went to Oklahoma.
We really did sort of barge in there with our trucks and take over.
Everythings bright and shiny and neon and very interesting to look at.
Can we talk about that great scene where Jeanette is super drunk?
Its just really hard and wonderful and you feel like a tit because youre speaking louder than everyone else.
So a lot of it was just trying to not feel like a complete tit all the time.
Im kind of a happy drunk.
Shes not a very happy drunk, so I had to cherry-pick from experiences of other people Ive met.
Also a lot of people can get away with being really drunk without seeming drunk at all.
But shes concentrating super hard on not seeming drunk.
It was about not overacting or putting too much its tricky.
Shes been, in her mind, reduced to the construct of marriage and of motherhood.
I found that really fascinating and heartbreaking, and completely relatable in a totally different sense.
Thank God, in my case, Im here and very lucky and blessed.
But you still are paralyzed with the idea that youll never be 23 again.
Shes experiencing that in such a real, terrifying way.
But you seem to have really carved out a very specific and unique space for yourself.
Someone had said to me [in a Q&A], Shes a terrible mother, no?
I was like, Shes not a terrible mother, no!
This was like a seven-day period, fucking hell, give her a break.
Its not ideal and definitely she behaves in a not-good way, but you cant be defined by that.
Did it seem that way to you?
Im curious about how you felt in that situation.Yeah.
Im always being asked shitty questions.
Like last night, I got asked by a woman whether I still eat red Twizzlers or whatever.
One of her three questions was talking about Twizzlers.
I was like, Really?
Were going to talk about Twizzlers?
Yeah, it did feel like that [at Cannes].
I cant remember to be honest, I was really knackered, but it did feel pretty …
I cant remember a single thing they asked.
and I was like, Do you ask that regularly to fathers?
But yeah, it was particularly noticeable in that moment how shitty the questions were.
But they arent generally good, so I wasnt shocked.
It wasnt a revelation to have shitty, boring questions.
Whats the worst question youve ever been asked?Your character inInside Llewyn Davishas an abortion.
Would you ever have an abortion?
What did you say?I think I literally went, Are you fucking kidding me?
And then moved on.
Was it a man?No comment [laughs].
But yeah, you just get used to it.
To change the subject slightly, I saw you inGirls and Boys,whichfucked me up.
I almost had to leave.
We had multiple people fainting, and on average, five times a week, someone would leave.
And in New York, I think two people left in the whole run and no one fainted.
You tend towards darker stories and darker roles.
Why?I dont know.
I come from an absolutely blessed blissful life, Im so lucky.
I never had any sort of terrible pain, thank God.
I think part of it is understanding things that you dont understand.
I found that really moving because of those connections.
But some things I couldnt believeSuffragettehad not been put onscreen.
Feels about right!It does, feels right.
Do you feel that way?
Is that something that you cultivate?Oh my God, I dont think so.
No, I dont know.
Im definitely not serious.
Maybe I am a little bit more relaxed now because Ive got two girls.
You just have to chill out.
Thats very nice, though.
Im glad shes intimidated by me.
Im coming for you, Sienna.
I still am to a degree, but not quite so frightened by the whole thing anymore.
What do you think shifted?Just being a bit older and placing less importance on things.
Like, if I fall over on the red carpet, no one really gives a shit.
Thats quite relaxing to know.
Have you fallen on the red carpet?No, Ive tripped.
Thats more Jennifer Lawrence territory.Yes.
But she can do whatever she likes.
Ive ended many red carpets in tears with anxiety, but I havent ever fallen over.
But thank God that phase is over.
Its more fun now.
