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Todays installment doesnt quite fit that bill, as were talking about a film thats only a year old.
Though critics weregenerally kind, the film opened to a disappointing $12 million, fizzling any festival buzz.
In a short phone conversation with Vulture recently, Erivo reflected on the entireWidowsexperience.
Widowswas the first movie role you ever shot.
But actually, sometimes thats not helpful.
Your vocal presence has to be a little bit bigger than I thought in my head.
And it took me some time to get used to seeing myself onscreen.
You need a break to see it with different eyes.
Its the scene where Belle comes in to meet the three ladies.
She meets Violas character, and she says, You have to watch how you talk to me.
Theres something about that moment, that I didnt realize was possible.
It played so much more fiery than I thought it would.
Nothing held back, because thats not who Belle is.
Shes been through enough to get to the point where she doesnt have to pretend.
He kept saying that shes probably more versed in the thing that theyre afraid to do.
Shes had to fend for herself for a while, and these ladies are just coming into it.
I was seeing different things all the time and having to use my energy in different ways.
Because when were moving, we cant help but to breathe in the right way.
Then, when stillness does occur, its super effective.
Are you comfortable talking about what your fitness regiment was?Oh, yeah.
These films tend to ask of me some physical fitness, so I wastrainingtraining.
I was going crazy.
I was doing a lot of body-weight work.
I lifted a little bit, not very much because I had to stay lean.
I was running a lot, so I could see to it that my speed stayed up.
I was doing everything from CrossFit to jump rope.
And when I couldnt get to the gym, I had Skype sessions with my trainer.
When I saw it I was like,Oh, it does show up.
Because sometimes you cant see it unless its shown to you.
Viola got really jacked, too!
And she was eating in a specific way.
I dont think she realizes how fit she looks.
In your final scene with her, neither of you says anything.Its just a look.
I was like,This is gonna be quite nice, but Im not sure whether itll read.
And when I saw it, I was like,Oh, that.
Im pleased about that.
What else do we do?
But take care of yourself.
What did you learn from Viola?To be a little more confident on set.
For my first film, you cant help yourself being nervous.
To be able to watch her work, she works with a real sureness.
If she doesnt know something, shes not afraid to say, I dont know something.
If she needs help with something, shes not afraid to ask for help.
If she doesnt like something, shes not afraid to say, Im not sure about this.
I loved seeing that.
I think its really helped me in the past couple of films.
You know what Im saying?
It might take a while to learn that, but I was lucky because I had her.
You dont sing inWidows, but you do inHarrietandBad Times at the El Royale.
Does getting a musical scene make you more comfortable taking a job?
Does it make me comfortable?
Ive never really thought of it making me comfortable.
I feel lucky that Im able to have something else to give.
It always excites me when more is requested of me.
It gives me more of a task to do, but I like that.
I like when theres work to do.
I dont think we needed it.
And I really appreciated that.
I also read that part of the backstory you and Steve came up with was that Belle was bi.
How did that come about?You just dont see that onscreen very often.
And I think that it meant that all her life wasnt based on a man.
I feel like it makes her complex.
The way she loves is different.
I dont know, I just like that about her.
It gives her something different, like an edge that no one would see coming.
It gives her that choice, almost.
But I think maybe its coming into its own.
Theres an expectation of a heist movie to be slick and tidy, and it just wasnt that.
I think that was its charm, but Im not sure that everyone quite understood that.
But maybe were getting to a place where people will.
