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Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bad bromance original, cliché-resistant, complex
Exploring the arcane mysteries of adult male relationships, this cringe comedy features cultie sketch comedian Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave) in his first lead movie role. Channelling Robinson's bizarro vibe, this feel-bad film is exquisitely uncomfortable and laugh-out-loud funny. More than anything, though, Friendship is genuinely unpredictable and that's a rare quality these days. Much of that unpredictability comes from Robinson's sublimely strange comic approach to the character of Craig, a sad-sack suburban guy who favours beigey-browny clothes and a lot of routines. Spencer Pazer / A24 Friendship is a vehicle for comedian Tim Robinson (left) who plays lonely Craig. Craig works at a tech company that specializes in luring people into addictive relationships with their devices. He loves his wife Tami (House of Cards' Kate Mara) but fears losing her, a feeling he desperately tamps down. He's unable to bond with his teenage son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer of Shazam!). But most crucially, at least for this story, Craig has no friends. Taking a misdelivered package next door to the new neighbours, Craig meets Austin (Paul Rudd), an effortlessly charismatic TV weatherman with a handlebar moustache. Soon, the freewheeling Austin gets Craig into impromptu mushroom hunting and illicit explorations of 19th-century aqueducts. Craig is now smoking herbal cigarettes and listening to punk. He's signing off on conversations by saying, 'Stay curious.' But the best, best, bestest thing for Craig is the casual Friday night hang with other guys in Austin's garage. Unfortunately, trying to be casual makes Craig even more inept and panicked and needy than usual. After a misfiring male-bonding exercise, Craig is banished from Austin's charmed circle. And then things get really, really uncomfortable. Director and scripter Andrew DeYoung, who has worked mostly in TV comedy (Our Flag Means Death, Shrill, High Fidelity), wrote this movie specifically for Robinson, and Robinson delivers for him. Robinson is one of those comedians who doesn't have to say or do funny things. He just is funny. Friendship could risk coming off as stretched-out sketch comedy, with its abrupt pacing and odd tonal shifts and underwritten minor characters, but somehow Robinson, with his endlessly malleable face, awkward body language and weirdo energy, holds it together. There are hilarious stray details — Craig's preferred beige clothing brand is 'Ocean View Dining.' There are terrific extended sequences, including a toad-licking drug trip that completely undermines the tropes of cinematic psychedelia. A24 Kate Mara and Tim Robinson play husband and wife in Friendship. DeYoung has a distinct stylistic approach, favouring a jumpy, jittery camera and odd effects that can be both beautiful and off-balance. Craig's frequent fantasy sequences have the hazy, overexposed look of '70s Polaroids. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. There are moments that call up movies like I Love You, Man (which also featured Rudd) and The Cable Guy, but Friendship manages to be its very own thing — original, cliché-resistant and even complex. Austin seems genial but Rudd conveys glints of smug self-satisfaction. Craig can be offputtingly awful, but there's something relatably human in his confused emotional flailing and his outside-looking-in unhappiness. And that's maybe the most uncomfortable thing about Friendship. This anarchistic comic take on bad bromance is also a startlingly effective comment on 21st-century loneliness. You'll laugh till you cry. Alison GillmorWriter Studying at the University of Winnipeg and later Toronto's York University, Alison Gillmor planned to become an art historian. She ended up catching the journalism bug when she started as visual arts reviewer at the Winnipeg Free Press in 1992. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Friendship' Moves To Top Ten Markets, Star Tim Robinson's Hometown Detroit; ‘Sister Midnight', ‘The Old Woman With The Knife'
After a stellar limited opening last weekend, A24's jumps from 6 to 60 screens in top ten markets plus Detroit, the hometown of star Tim Robinson. The comedy bromance with Robinson and Paul Rudd soared to $451k on screens in New York and LA, the top limited opening of 2025, with a per screen average of over $75k. Written and directed by Andrew DeYoung (Our Flag Means Death, PEN15). With Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer. Robinson, the former SNL performer and writer is the face of his popular Netflix sketch comedy I Think You Should Leave. Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing opens , the debut feature of London-based Indian artist and writer-director Karan Kandhari starring Radhika Apte, Ashok Pathak, Chhaya Kadam and Smita Tambe, at the Angelika Film Center in NYC. A rebellious small-town misfit Uma (acclaimed Indian actress Apte) arrives in Mumbai to find herself totally unsuited to life as a housewife. At odds with her prying neighbors and under the constant oppressive noise and heat of the city, she decides to break free from the shackles of domesticity and follow her own path. Featuring an eclectic soundtrack (Interpol frontman Paul Banks makes his debut as composer) and interesting visual aesthetic, the film world-premiered in Cannes' Directors Fortnight and won the award for Best Film in the Next Wave section at Fantastic Fest. More from Deadline 'Friendship' Skyrockets To Top Limited Opening Of 2025 For Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd Comedy - Specialty Box Office 'Friendship' Comedy Bromance With Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd Selling Tickets And Hats - Specialty Preview Paramount's Republic Pictures Takes International Rights To Tim Robinson & Paul Rudd Comedy 'Friendship' Adds LA (Landmark Nuart and Alamo Drafthouse DTLA) next week with additional cities to follow. At 96% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Fathom is beaming Strauss' for The Met: Live In HD on Saturday at 1 pm ET across 700 theaters. Encores on Wednesday at 1 pm and 6:30 pm local time. Soprano Elza van den Heever stars in the title role, alongside baritone Peter Mattei as Jochanaan in the company's first revisiting of the opera in more than 20 years. In his Met debut, director Claus Guth leads a Victorian-era production that explores societal tension and modern psychological themes. 'We were inspired by Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, which has this same kind of atmosphere — normal people behaving normally in the daytime, but you'd never expect the parallel life they lead at night,' says Guth. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the one-act tragedy for his first time at the Met. Mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung is Herodias, alongside tenor Gerhard Siegel as Herod and tenor Piotr Buszewski as Narraboth. The Met Live series has been a stalwart of the specialty box office this year. from Juno Films opens in limited release at 16 theaters including New York and LA. Directed by Academy Award and two-Time Golden Globe Winner Bille August, starring Esben Smed, Clara Rosager, Lars Mikkelsen, David Dencik and Rosalinde Mynster. The romantic historical drama set against the backdrop of 1913 Denmark at the start of World War I was adapted by August and Greg Latter based on Stefan Zweig's German classic novel Beware of Pity. It's has a nice festival run. Follows Anton Abildgaard, a noble cavalry officer hoping to complete his military training with distinction. After helping the local Baron Løvenskjold out of a tough situation, he is invited to join the family for dinner at their castle, where he meets the Baron's beautiful wheelchair bound daughter, Edith. As Edith slowly falls in love, Anton struggles to understand if his feelings for her are genuine or merely out of pity, while the ominous threat of the first World War looms over them. Korean action thriller from Well Go USA opens on 27 screens. Directed by Min Kyu-dong (All About My Wife), the film follows Hornclaw, a veteran assassin whose fading strength is tested when a younger killer with ties to a buried mission resurfaces, forcing her into a reckoning shaped by survival, memory, and long-suppressed consequences — all set within a grounded, stylized world that reframes the action thriller through a distinctly female perspective. Premiered in Berlin. Stars Lee Hye-young (In Front Of Your Face, The Novelist's Film) alongside Kim Sung-cheol (Our Beloved Summer), Yeon Woo-jin (Daily Dose Of Sunshine) and Kim Moo-yul (The Roundup: Punishment). Adapted from the novel by Gu Byeong-mo, author of Apartment Women. GVN Releasing is out with July 7: Who Killed the President?, a Haitian-set and produced political thriller from filmmaker Robenson Lauvince, in about 20 theaters, more theaters being adding with demand. The story of a curious college student who travels to Haiti to unravel the life of its President Renel Moïse for a memoir and gets a front-row seat to the chaos and intrigue of a bloody political firestorm when he is brutally assassinated. This unexpected turn of events introduces a terrifying twist to what she thought would be an ordinary story. As she chases the truth, she is forced to navigate a world of corruption, betrayal, and power where uncovering what really happened could cost her life. Seismic Films and Mena Films presents thriller , written, directed and self distributed by Stevan Mena (Bereavement, Malevolence) and starring Veronica Cartwright (Alien, The Witches ofEastwick), Michael Steger (90210), and Madelyn Dundon (Getting Grace) on 400+ screens including AMC and Regal theaters for a one week run. When the in-home caregiver assigned to an elderly patient mysteriously vanishes, Dale (Dundon) is quickly sent as the replacement nurse. She rushes to the remote seaside home, only to find herself in the middle of chaos — forced to deal with an unruly patient, mysterious neighbors and terrifying supernatural occurrences that seem to plague the home. As the walls close in, unsure whom she can trust, Dale fears for her life and that of her patient. Romcom , written and directed by Max Talisman and the first theatrical release from Andrew Felts and Ryan Bury's new distribution shingle MPX Releasing, opens on 300 screens. Follows two men named Zack — a struggling writer and a talent agent assistant, played by Max Talisman and Joey Pollari (Love, Simon) — as they navigate love, friendship, and identity in New York City. Ensemble cast by includes Charlie Tahan, Cara Buono, Jackie Cruz, Eric Roberts. MORE Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far Everything We Know About Paramount's 'Regretting You' Adaptation So Far 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
19 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About "Friendship," One Of The F-U-N-N-I-E-S-T Movies I've Seen In A Looooooong Time
In case it hasn't landed on your radar yet, Friendship is a new ~wild~ comedy film from A24 starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd. The quick pitch is: Suburban dad, Craig (Robinson) falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor (Paul Rudd), but Craig's attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives. And let's just say, if you're a fan of the show I Think You Should Leave, this will be 1000% up your alley because the film feels like an extra-long episode of that show. And it's great, 10/10 would recommend. Because I enjoy a good deep-dive into things I like, here are some interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the film I just learned: is writer-director Andrew DeYoung's debut feature film. His previous credits include directing for shows like Our Flag Means Death, Pen15, and Shrill. the writing and jokes seem ~very~ Tim Robinson, he was shockingly not a writer (or even co-writer) on it. DeYoung says that Tim did come to mind while writing his script. "Thankfully, he said 'yes' when I sent it [the script] to him," he told Entertainment Weekly. and Robinson are actually good friends IRL, which maybe explains why DeYoung was able to capture Tim Robinson's comedic voice so well in the film. might think there was a ton of improv in the film, but apparently, Robinson doesn't like improv. According to DeYoung, they did do it [improv], as Rudd is "exceptional" at it. But while a few things made it into the movie, for the most part what you see was written on the page. of DeYoung's inspiration was his own friendship "issues" IRL. He explained, "A few years ago, I had my own Friendship issues that I was trying to resolve, and I realized that I'd never seen a breakup story about two middle-aged men. It's something that's happening all the time. It's tragic but it's also deeply funny." interestingly, DeYoung wrote the script in 2020 during the pandemic. surprising inspiration for the film was actually Paul Thomas Anderson's film The Master — a dramatic story about a guru who becomes dangerously entangled with one of his acolytes. Robinson was immediately on board with that concept. DeYoung said, "When I finished the Friendship screenplay, I told Tim that I had written it for him and that I wanted to shoot the story like it was The Master. He got right back to me and just said, 'Great, let's do it.'" the supporting role of Austin was a smaller part, which DeYoung says "made attracting talent trickier than expected." the part of Austin was actually rewritten for Paul Rudd. DeYoung explained, "It [the script] got to Paul Rudd, and it was just clear how amazing that would be." fact, Paul Rudd's character was originally named Brian. But then Rudd pointed out that "Brian" was the name of his character in Anchorman, who is ALSO a news guy. it was Paul Rudd who pitched the name "Austin" instead of Brian. for the role of Tami, played by Kate Mara, DeYoung wanted Robinson to act against someone not traditionally known for comedy. fact, Mara was one of the first people pitched to DeYoung. He told Entertainment Weekly, "I met her and immediately was like, 'Yeah, you're perfect. Let's do this.'" 16."Spiritual emptiness" is a theme DeYoung wanted to really emphasize in the film saying that in today's society, "capital has replaced religion." He continued, "I wanted to point to that, and to the almost religious grasp that companies like Marvel have on our culture." that empty feeling, they actually filmed in ice-cold weather — upstate New York in January and February for 23 days. despite the film being a comedy, DeYoung didn't want the audience to feel "safe or settled." to emphasize that uneasy feeling, the filmmakers used as much natural lighting as possible. In fact, they took inspiration from the 2018 psychological thriller Burning. In particular, they looked to a scene where the characters in that film are sitting outside at sunset. "We were reaching for something similar and to bring it into a comedy, where everybody's guard is down," said DeYoung. Friendship opens in theaters on May 9. And if you wanna see more, you can check out the official trailer here: Unless otherwise noted, facts were sourced from the film's production notes.
Buzz Feed
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Friendship Comedy Movie Behind The Scenes Facts
In case it hasn't landed on your radar yet, Friendship is a new ~wild~ comedy film from A24 starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd. The quick pitch is: Suburban dad, Craig (Robinson) falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor (Paul Rudd), but Craig's attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives. And let's just say, if you're a fan of the show I Think You Should Leave, this will be 1000% up your alley because the film feels like an extra-long episode of that show. And it's great, 10/10 would recommend. Because I enjoy a good deep-dive into things I like, here are some interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the film I just learned: This is writer-director Andrew DeYoung's debut feature film. His previous credits include directing for shows like Our Flag Means Death, Pen15, and Shrill. Although the writing and jokes seem ~very~ Tim Robinson, he was shockingly not a writer (or even co-writer) on it. However, DeYoung says that Tim did come to mind while writing his script. "Thankfully, he said 'yes' when I sent it [the script] to him," he told Entertainment Weekly. DeYoung and Robinson are actually good friends IRL, which maybe explains why DeYoung was able to capture Tim Robinson's comedic voice so well in the film. You might think there was a ton of improv in the film, but apparently, Robinson doesn't like improv. According to DeYoung, they did do it [improv], as Rudd is "exceptional" at it. But while a few things made it into the movie, for the most part what you see was written on the page. Part of DeYoung's inspiration was his own friendship "issues" IRL. He explained, "A few years ago, I had my own Friendship issues that I was trying to resolve, and I realized that I'd never seen a breakup story about two middle-aged men. It's something that's happening all the time. It's tragic but it's also deeply funny." And interestingly, DeYoung wrote the script in 2020 during the pandemic. Another surprising inspiration for the film was actually Paul Thomas Anderson's film The Master — a dramatic story about a guru who becomes dangerously entangled with one of his acolytes. And Robinson was immediately on board with that concept. DeYoung said, "When I finished the Friendship screenplay, I told Tim that I had written it for him and that I wanted to shoot the story like it was The Master. He got right back to me and just said, 'Great, let's do it.'" Originally, the supporting role of Austin was a smaller part, which DeYoung says "made attracting talent trickier than expected." And the part of Austin was actually rewritten for Paul Rudd. DeYoung explained, "It [the script] got to Paul Rudd, and it was just clear how amazing that would be." In fact, Paul Rudd's character was originally named Brian. But then Rudd pointed out that "Brian" was the name of his character in Anchorman, who is ALSO a news guy. And it was Paul Rudd who pitched the name "Austin" instead of Brian. As for the role of Tami, played by Kate Mara, DeYoung wanted Robinson to act against someone not traditionally known for comedy. In fact, Mara was one of the first people pitched to DeYoung. He told Entertainment Weekly, "I met her and immediately was like, 'Yeah, you're perfect. Let's do this.'" "Spiritual emptiness" is a theme DeYoung wanted to really emphasize in the film saying that in today's society, "capital has replaced religion." He continued, "I wanted to point to that, and to the almost religious grasp that companies like Marvel have on our culture." Echoing that empty feeling, they actually filmed in ice-cold weather — upstate New York in January and February for 23 days. And, despite the film being a comedy, DeYoung didn't want the audience to feel "safe or settled." Finally, to emphasize that uneasy feeling, the filmmakers used as much natural lighting as possible. In fact, they took inspiration from the 2018 psychological thriller Burning. In particular, they looked to a scene where the characters in that film are sitting outside at sunset. "We were reaching for something similar and to bring it into a comedy, where everybody's guard is down," said DeYoung. Friendship opens in theaters on May 9. And if you wanna see more, you can check out the official trailer here:
Buzz Feed
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Simone Kessell Revealed If She Would Return To "Yellowjackets" For Season 4, And Her Answer Surprised Me
Warning: Massive Yellowjackets spoilers ahead! Born in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Simone Kessell is taking the US by storm. You probably recognize her from the hit show Yellowjackets, where she brought adult Lottie to life, but that's just one on a long list of credits, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Terra Nova, and Our Flag Means Death. She's also starring in the upcoming Apple TV+ thriller drama show, The Last Frontier, and has other projects on the horizon that I'm so excited about! For BuzzFeed's Voices of the Pacific series, I sat down with Simone to chat about all things Yellowjackets, her favorite aspect of Māori culture, and more. You portrayed adult Lottie Matthews in the hit show Yellowjackets, bringing so much charm and intrigue to the role. I was devastated when your character died in Season 3! She's such a fan favorite. What was your reaction when you first read the script? Simone Kessell: I'd already known. I'd spoken with the showrunners prior to filming that season. I was working on another show at the time, and they were calling, and they said, "Look, we've worked out the arc for Lottie this season." And unfortunately, this was going to happen. Of course, I was disappointed because I think when you create a character like Lottie, she's got so many layers, and I put so much time and love into her. I was really looking forward to seeing where that character could go. But I think it's the kind of show where lead characters die; another main character, Van, died. It's been a blessing to work on it, and it's been a blessing to get to play that character. So, it's only a privilege, and I'm incredibly grateful for that. BuzzFeed: Did you take anything from set after filming wrapped? I took a few things. I was very drawn to her jewelry. It was part of my mask and the character of Lottie. So, a wonderful costume designer gave me a few pieces. In Season 2, I was always surrounded by crystals when she was at her community, her compound, and I would often bring home a few crystals. Do you feel like you've said goodbye to Lottie, or would you be willing to return in Season 4 if they asked you to appear in flashbacks or dream sequences? To be honest, I feel that maybe my time with Lottie is done, which is heartbreaking but also invigorating because that's what we do as actors. We move on; we get to create more characters. She's definitely in my heart, and I know I can tap into that sensitivity, especially around mental health and status and things like that. No, she'll always be a part of me. I loved the scenes where Lottie stayed at Shauna's house. You and Melanie Lynskey had such great chemistry together, and she's another Kiwi actor! Do you have any favorite behind-the-scenes memories with her? I knew Melanie going into the season, and she was actually, I think, the reason why I got to play in the world of Yellowjackets because Melanie told the showrunners about me. I'm eternally grateful for that, and through the last couple of years, we've just become incredibly close. There have been many electric moments between us on set in character as Shauna and Lottie, which plays back so nicely into the past storyline as well. I just love her very, very much, and I've got to say, it was a highlight getting to work with her, watching her craft. I think her work this season is sublime. She's so nuanced and honest and heartbreaking, and Melanie is so vastly different from that character. Seeing and knowing Melanie, and then seeing the work that she does as Shauna — it's very, very special to be around. Often after work, she'd be like, [whispering] "Should we go for a Chardonnay?" And I'd go, "Let's go for a Chardonnay, babe." [Laughs] We already had Courtney Eaton as young Lottie in Season 1, and she's Māori, so it was absolutely perfect when they cast you as the adult version in Season 2. Can you share how that came about? Did they intentionally honor Courtney's heritage? They did. She was raised in Australia and wasn't raised in Aotearoa. So, she was a bit distant from that, from her culture back home. But in 2025 especially, you have to really acknowledge people's ethnicities and diversity and background, and they really did. The casting on Yellowjackets is perfect because all of the younger and older characters are sort of beautifully crafted together. Courtney, my goodness, she's stunning on and off screen. She is one of those women you're just drawn to. She's so humble and unique in who she is. When I first met her, I was a bit concerned if I could pull that off, because she has such a stillness in her, especially in her work as young Lottie. But I think we got there, and she does this lovely thing with her eyes, so I tried to incorporate that into adult Lottie and a bit in the physicality. But yes, it was very important for them to make sure they cast in ethnicities, and they did that really well. What was it like building off a character Courtney created? Did you two work together to create Lottie in Seasons 2 and 3? We did, and we didn't. She's actually left-handed. We were like, "Okay, let's make Lottie right-handed." And a couple of times, she forgot [laughs] but we did. She's about this much taller than me, so I made sure all my shoes would always have a sort of platform in them. I'm 5'8, she's easily 5'10, 5'11, so I always wanted that height, especially with the other women. But then when you think about 25 years later — I don't know what you were like 25 years ago or 30 years ago, but I know I was vastly different. And so, we get to play in that world a little bit. There were big boots to fill, I have to say, playing her older version because she crafted that character so beautifully. Have you ever faced challenges in your career as a Pacific Islander? If so, how did you overcome them? Growing up in New Zealand, it was always the supporting or the smaller roles for Māori and Pacific Island characters. They were often also characters that were the single mother, the poor demographic. For so long, you are typecast in that, and still, I don't understand why — especially back in New Zealand — if they're a lawyer or a doctor or a wealthy family woman, that they can't be Māori or Pacific Island. That needs to change. The number of times I've passed on roles because she's the single mom in a housing community and a housing commission flat; it's got to change. It shouldn't be: "Oh, well, no, she's Māori, so she can't play that role." It should be: "She's a woman in that age group; let's see what she brings to the table." That's what I'm really proactive about bringing because it's a melting pot right now, and it's 2025, and I want to see more of that. So, I encourage that, I support that, and I don't take those roles that are typecast anymore. I don't do that anymore, and that's my way of standing up for that. I don't know if you remember this, but you actually tweeted a screenshot from a BuzzFeed post I wrote in 2023 celebrating the casting. You said, 'More Māori and Pacific Islander wahine on our screens please.' What changes would you like to see in the industry to make this happen? More stories and writing for especially Māori, Pacific Island women. Rather than being the supporting role, I would like to see more lead female characters. I am so encouraged and so inspired when I see beautiful, beautiful work coming from our Māori and Pacific Island wahine [women] in particular, because I know firsthand how hard it is to get in front of those people. I know firsthand how hard it is to go into an audition room and blow people out of the water and then get cast. I know how hard it is being a Māori woman to be seen and heard, and I would like to see more of that, because we have an abundance of talent and beauty. Even looking at you. You're so beautiful. BuzzFeed: [smiling] You really are, and we need to see that and to celebrate it, just to be exposed to it. Also, I was wanting to set up something of giving back to Māori Pacific Island communities. Australia does it really well. They have the Heath Ledger scholarship, where they support Australian actors, and they send in their reels, and it narrows them down, and they get $10,000 and a flight to Los Angeles and introduced to all the top agents in Hollywood. I want to incorporate that for our Māori, Pacific Island actors, artists, creatives, and so maybe we can do this together. Unfortunately, I don't live in New Zealand right now. I'm in Sydney, Australia, but that is my dream to do. Because there's such an abundance of talent, from Rachel House through to Cliff Curtis to obviously Taika [Waititi] and all our beautiful Māori, Pacific Islander actors and Temuera [Morrison] and Luciane [Buchanan] and everybody. So with us mob, we can embrace it and create something to hone the next generation, to support, and to give. That way, we will see more wahine, more beautiful Pacific Island and Māori actresses on our screens. You portrayed Queen Breha in the Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. What was it like stepping into the Star Wars universe? Stepping into the Star Wars universe was so exciting. It was on the heels of COVID, and I got to fly to Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, where we filmed it. It was so wonderful. I think of myself as a character actress. Again, there we are, breaking the mold, right? It didn't matter that I was Māori. They saw me for my work, and I had five auditions, so when I was finally given the role, it was such a celebration. I was like, "Oh, how am I going to do it?" And then, it was one of the highlights of my long career so far because stepping into that world, I wasn't a big Star Wars fan. I didn't know. I had to do my homework, and the experience was one of the best. Ewan McGregor was such a generous, wonderful actor to everybody on set. I just had such an amazing time. That was such a treat as an actress. And she's so beautiful. This character, Queen Breha Organa. She was so regal and effortless. I channeled a bit of Michelle Obama. I brought in all these beautiful women that I look up to, and I got to play in that world that was very special. BuzzFeed: I love that Michelle was your inspo. I can totally see the vision. She is all class, and that's what I wanted to play without judgment. Just class and fun. She's got a bit of a spunk to her, so I love that. For Pacific Islanders, there are so many aspects of our cultures that we hold close to our hearts, from our foods to our dances to our tattoos. What's your favorite part of your culture? I'll cry if I think about it. See, I'm getting teary. When you're honored with the haka, and when it's the ultimate respect to honor somebody or something with a waiata [song] and a haka, from welcoming them onto your marae [communal meeting grounds], from sports to somebody's hongi at their funeral, or wedding, celebration. In the Māori culture [visibly tears up] see, look, I cry every time I think about the haka. It's so incredible, and it's so powerful, and it's so uplifting. So, I guess it is waiata, song, cultural dance. BuzzFeed: Sometimes, the right video will come up, a funeral or a wedding, whatever the situation is, and there's just so much emotion in the haka. I'm Samoan, but I feel like for all Pacific Islander people, you can feel the mana [power]. Exactly, yes. It is the mana, the respect, the coming together as one regardless. And it's incredibly powerful. Do you have a favorite Māori food? Well [laughs] when I go home, my whanau or my family say that I'm hopeless because I don't eat meat. So, a boil up, which is probably incredibly good for you because it is all the bones and the meat and the watercress, but it's not a food I eat. I do like fry bread, though. With lots of butter, fantastic. For your next role, you're starring in an Apple TV+ show called The Last Frontier. While very different than Yellowjackets, a plane clash is also central to this story as it frees dozens of prisoners, creating issues for the local US marshall and his wife, Sarah, who you portray. What can you tell us about your character and storyline? We filmed it in Montreal, which doubles for Alaska. It's a lot of snow, a lot of cold, a lot of jackets. It was freezing, minus 10 or 15. I play a nurse and a mother, a wife in this community, when the plane goes down. Think John Grisham, think a big action thriller. My husband, played by Jason Clark. He plays the local marshall, and he has to deal with the fallout from this plane going down in the middle of nowhere, which is filled with the worst convicts, the worst bad guys you can imagine. After Yellowjackets, it's yet another role so vastly different. And it's action, and it's thriller, and it's drama. I'm really looking forward to that. The team behind it are so good, and I'm really excited to be a part of the Apple network as well. I think the show is going to be one that just comes at you. It's very different for me, the character I'm playing as well. I can't wait to share it with everybody. If you could work with any Pacific Islander, who would it be? I've been very fortunate to work with a lot of Māori and Pacific Islander actors for Aotearoa. Right now, I'm working with Rachel House on something. Rachel and I and a couple of others are trying to develop a miniseries with women, think Bad Sisters. So, that's exciting. Some fans might not know this, but you won gold in the women's singles and silver in the women's doubles at the Australian Pickleball Championships! What do you love most about the sport? This weekend, I just played another PPA tournament, and I'm the captain of a major pickleball league team as well. It's just happened in the last year. I love exercise sports. I was a very good tennis player, so playing pickleball came quite easily, and I sort of got very good very quickly. I dedicate a lot of time to it. I think the reason it speaks to me is because I can turn off from this industry. I can turn off Lottie. Playing Lottie really took an emotional toll on me because I gave so much to her, and she was so broken to me. I needed something other than just exercise, like going to the gym. So, pickleball came up, and I started playing, and now I play most days. In fact, after our interview, I'm going to play pickleball! But it's a sport where you're on a court. You can be playing for four or five hours, and you're just thinking of strategies, stroke, where I'm playing, who I'm playing. It's a wonderful way to switch between acting and having a sport that I can get better at as I get older, too. I want to not just work out; I want to learn. The level I play at is very fast, and it's highly strategic. These competitors are incredible athletes, so I'm really pushing myself, and then I get to be an actress. My life is full and wonderful. It's so great. It's such a pleasure playing. BuzzFeed: I love your attitude about continually learning. If we don't, we become stagnant. For me, I travel so much, and I work so much that I have to do something that fills my cup. But also, I'm learning [something] that I can get better at. And let's be honest, I'm very competitive. You can't win at yoga. What advice do you have for young Pacific Islander creatives? If you get nervous — I see a lot of that in young creatives — know that everybody gets nervous. Everyone gets anxious and holds back. It's really, really hard, but when you rise to it and you get there, the payoff is everything. It's not about working as an actress in our industry for the fame. We have to take that out. We have to do it because it fills us up, and it's all we think about, and it's all we want to do. And if that's what speaks to you, then keep going. I am the perfect example. I have been acting for such a long time, and it's only in the last maybe five years that I've continuously worked back-to-back. That's just being tenacious; that's just believing and loving what I do. I always say to myself, "As soon as you stop loving it, as soon as you start not feeling good in it, then give it up." And I don't ever want to give it up. It still makes me so happy. They're the big questions you have to ask yourself. The answer is that it still fills my cup. It still gives me absolute pleasure in life. Then go for it. Your turn is coming. The more you put it out, the more you get back. Just keep on going. You miss one audition. It's not personal. Go for the next, go for the next, go for the next. One year, I think I auditioned 33 times. I didn't get one job, and here we are! You just have to be tenacious and believe in yourself and do the work. And finally, what does being Pacific Islander mean to you? Being Pacific Islander means I have a uniqueness that I'm immensely proud of. Being Pacific Islander means that I come from a community of love and celebration. Being Pacific Islander means that I have whānau [family] all around me, and my ancestors walk beside me.
