Public Radio sat down with Mary a couple of weeks ago and due to Smashed‘s release, asked her to name some other films that deal with heavy situations that are her favorites. You can listen to her interview below:
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Category: Interviews
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The Academy Awards Interviews Mary and the Cast of Smashed
Last night in Los Angeles, Mary and Octavia Spencer along with writer/director James Ponsoldt and co-writer Susan Burke did a Q&A at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater to discuss Smashed. You can see the video below:
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The Boston Globe Interviews Mary About Smashed
Smashed will be opening in Boston this upcoming Friday and The Boston Globe did an interview with Mary (and director James Ponsoldt) about the film. Here’s what Mary had to say:
“I grew up in a dry county in Utah,” Winstead (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) says. “And my family was pretty strict, Southern Baptist. So I never experienced alcoholism firsthand. I mean, I drink now. My friends drink. But I’ve never been close to anyone who drank to excess. So preparing for this role and understanding Kate’s frame of mind and her struggle meant talking to people who have struggled with substance abuse and simply exercising my craft and thinking hard about how I work through my own issues, compared to Kate.”
She also talks about the types of roles she’s looking forward to:
“I don’t have a dream role or a dream type of role,” she says, joking for a moment that “Smashed” is the third consecutive film in which her character is named Kate. “That’s as close as I want to come to typecasting. But I acknowledge this role will probably open doors for me. And really what I want most from that is the ability to keep working with directors like James, and the ability to pick roles just because I love the character and the script and not because I need the role to raise my profile or for a paycheck.”
She does, however, vow to keep seeking roles that help her “better understand myself and how I relate to the people in my life.”
Also, head to the gallery (or click on the thumbnail) to see a new photo of Mary and James from the interview.
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The ScoreCard Review Interviews Mary; New Smashed Review
The DC Examiner reviewed Smashed and gave it a pretty great review. Here’s part of the review:
Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a compelling, Oscar-worthy performance as Kate, a fun-loving wild child who is rarely sober, and rarely needs to be with her equally sloshed music journalist husband Charlie(Aaron Paul) enabling her at every turn. Fairly early on we see these two are a toxic pair, with Charlie allowing his wife to drive off in a drunken stupor, the evening devolving into a random crack smoking binge, and ending with Kate waking up in the middle of nowhere on a street corner.
Due for a role she could really sink her teeth into, Winstead is a revelation as Kate, and will remind some of Gena Rowland’s award-nominated turn in A Woman Under the Influence. She’s more than just the typical caricature of a drunk, but plays someone whose learned alcoholic behavior filled her with a false glow. Without it, she’s all jitters and social anxiety, incapable of dealing with the full force of life crashing down around her. You won’t find a better female performance this season. Paul is solid, but he shrinks a little bit opposite Winstead. This is clearly her show, and she more than runs away with it.
Scorecard Review also interviewed Mary and James about the film. As always, click on the link to read it in full:
Did working with this story make you re-examine how you view alcohol and those who abuse it?
Winstead: It made me look at a lot of the people I know in Los Angeles. I drink, I’ve never been compelled to drink a lot, or felt good when I drink a lot. And certainly I have been drunk many times, but it’s just not something I really enjoy. I love getting just a little bit tipsy, or having a couple drinks. But my whole life, for whatever reason, I usually cut myself off after that. I have other problems, but I looked at the friendships and relationships that I have, and the people who I have never seen sober, or talked to them when they’re sober. When you’re young enough, you think, “Ah, there’s that crazy kid that I used to talk those times,” but the film definitely makes you think about these people, and at what point do you start worrying about them. And in Los Angeles, and this industry, that line is continually more and more blurred. The older I get, the older my friends get, I don’t really know where it is, and I think the line is different for everyone.
And ShockTillYouDrop also had a brief interview with Mary:
As someone who feels more comfortable with films like Scott Pilgrim and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, how was your comfort zone on this?
It was scary for me to take it on, because I had never done anything like this before. I was always wondering ‘when am I going to get one of these parts?’, and then when you actually get the part you’re like ‘how do I do this!?’. But the response has been good and it’s really helped my confidence so I’m looking forward to hopefully doing more roles like this. I definitely feel more confident doing leading dramatic roles.
Is there anything you can relate to in regards to your character?
Oh yeah. I mean, when I first read it, I was probably in too much denial of my own problems to relate to her. And then when I really started looking at the things in my life, and looking at myself, it was sort of like the flood gates opened and the whole movie was kind of a breeze. I kind of figured it out and it unlocked everything.
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You and Me This Morning Interviews Mary About Smashed
You & Me This Morning in Chicago interviewed Mary and director James Ponsoldt about Smashed last week. You can see the interview video below:
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Ain’t It Cool News Interviews Mary About Smashed
Ain’t It Cool News sat down with Mary and director James Ponsoldt where they talked about Smashed. Mary also talked a little bit about her upcoming film A.C.O.D., DH5 and The Spectacular Now. Be sure to click the above to read the interview in full:
Capone: You and Aaron do have that. How did you get level of intimacy in such a short time span? It really easy to believe that you have been together for a long time.
MEW: I would love to say that we did tons of rehearsals, but it was kind of a thing that happened really easily, and I think it was actually one of more surreal experiences that I had working with another actor. Just after a couple of days of being in that house and working those scenes together, we both felt like it was absolutely really happening, that we were absolutely a real couple and we lived in that house and that that was our lives.
So when we shot the last scene, we were both really sad. That whole day we really felt like we were going through some really sad breakup, but we’d both stop and just look at each other like, “Why does this feel so real? This is so weird.” So yeah, we did have a couple of meetings beforehand. We had a lunch together and then we had a night where we went out drinking together, and that kind of brought us a little closer, a little faster than if we had jumped into it cold. It was one of those magical things that we both thought was going to be a lot harder to make that connection, and it turned out to be not that hard.
Capone: With the tight schedule of the film, couple with the emotional highs and lows of the story, was that just exhausting physically and mentally for you? It doesn’t seem like you had time to take a break and step out.
MEW: It was definitely exhausting, but it was also very cathartic. It wasn’t super dark. I felt very tired every night and going to bed; I slept good. [Laughs] I can remember James constantly telling me I needed to go get a massage every time we would have a day off. We were working six day weeks, so we had a few days off. I never did. But yeah, we were all tired. But there wasn’t much time to think about how tired you were. You’re just in it and making it work.
Capone: Can you tell me about a couple of things you’ve got coming up? I know the A.C.O.D. is the one I’m the most excited about seeing. What’s the story there?
MEW: Well it’s this big family where Adam Scott is at the center of it, and his little brother played by Clark Duke is getting married. So it’s all about Adam Scott’s character has to plan the wedding as the best man, but he doesn’t want his parents in the same room ever, because it just brings up too much.
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New Smashed Interviews, Photos and Captures!
A couple of new interviews with Mary discussing Smashed have shown up online and you can now check them out below. First in her interview with Red Eye Chicago, Mary talked about her night out with Aaron before filming, Megan Mullaly, and more. I’ve also added a photo of her from the interview and Melanie made some caps. It’s a really great interview, so be sure to see it!
Interview with Red Eye Chicago
Interview captures
Second, here’s an excerpt of an interview Mary did with James Ponsoldt for Hollywood Chicago. Click on the link above to read it in full where Mary also talks about Scott Pilgrim and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter:
HollywoodChicago.com: James, given that this production was a nineteen day shoot, what was the most important element in the pre-production that contributed the most in making that shoot successful?
Ponsoldt: Probably the most valuable thing was casting great actors, the bulk of your work is done once you get great actors with great imaginations, and allow them the autonomy to be collaborators, and the script on the page is a blueprint with beats, that they could say and do whatever they wanted. Mary was one of my biggest collaborators, because she is the center focus for 98% of the movie. We spent a long time developing the character.
Winstead: James and I spent several hours a day talking about her back story. Even though in some films you feel pretentious doing a back story, but with this I needed the details to flesh her out, because it was a complex role. Everything was going to be useful to me as an actor. Also it was valuable to talk about my own life and history, and to compare how Kate felt when something similar happened to me in my life. It was marrying all those small details, so by the time I was on set I felt I was Kate, or understood he enough to feel I could be her.
Finally, below is another new interview video Mary did with VelvetRed TV talking about Smashed
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More New Smashed Interviews, Smashed Q&A Interview from Film Independent Event Online
Here’s to everyone that’s checking out SMASHED this weekend! More great new interviews with Mary has been released where she talks about drinking, Twitter and more in each of the interviews. First, here’s part of her Q&A with Moviefone:
How have you enjoyed the reaction the movie’s been getting so far?
It’s been amazing. I mean, I don’t think I’ve really heard a negative reaction yet, which I know I will. I’m ready, you know? [Laughs] Because somebody’s going to hate it. But it’s been so lovely, everybody’s been so warm and kind. And there’s been a lot of people coming with their own personal stories of recovery. It’s been just amazing to hear their stories, and to hear everybody’s reactions to it.How much does a role like this stay with you afterwards? Did it change your drinking habits at all?
It definitely stayed with me, the message of it stayed with me. But alcohol’s not something that … I mean, I can barely have more than two drinks. It’s just never been something that’s been a vice for me at all. So it didn’t really make me think about that so much. It more made me think about other things in my life that I do have issues with, and it does make you think about what you’re not accepting, what you’re covering up, or trying not to accept in yourself.
Yahoo! Movies is next:
TA: Why is “Smashed” such a passion project?
MW: I searched for a part that was going to stretch me as an actor and force me to become better. I was becoming a little stuck. I thought I was going to have to work my way up to something like this, I was going to have to do a couple of smaller roles, in a couple of smaller indies, and prove myself in that world. After I auditioned for this part, I thought, “Well, at least I’ve auditioned for these people now. I’ve made an impression. Maybe when they make another movie they will look at me.” The fact that I got the part was above and beyond.
Thelma Adams: In the course of this movie, your character, Kate, discovers she’s more than a party girl; she’s an alcoholic. Do you have any addictions?
Mary Elizabeth Winstead: The Internet and television and social media. I’m always on my cell phone. At home, my husband and I both have our computers out, and we have the TV on, and our cell phones, and we’re constantly using all three at the same time.
TA: How do your fans feel about “Smashed”?
MW: They’re excited. I have a couple of fan sites and they follow my every move; every single photo that comes out ends up on their websites. There’s nothing stalkerish about it. They know this is a passion project, so they’re all really excited about that for me.
More interviews plus the Film Independent video under the cut:
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New Smashed Interviews
Some great new interviews with Mary have come online where she talks about SMASHED which is out in theaters in New York and L.A. starting today. If you live in L.A., they’ll be a Q&A session with the cast. More info about it here. The film will also slowly be rolling out in several other cities. Click here to view when it’ll be released in your area. If the film does well at the box office this weekend, the film could expand nationwide.
Time.com has named Mary an Oscar contender. Click on the link to read the full interview:
You play a very convincing drunk. How did you train?
I didn’t grow up around anyone who was an alcoholic, and I’ve never had any issues with alcohol. So I went to a lot of AA meetings. I found out how much I related to alcoholics’ struggles—to look into the mirror and recognize your faults, to try to love yourself.
There’s also a great interview with Mary & director James Ponsoldt on Examiner. Mary was asked what drew her to the script:
“Everything about it. Mainly just the way the characters were drawn so well. They were all so fully flushed out, so real, so complex. They were all just so human. That was the main thing to me that was exciting.”
And finally, here’s some of her interview with Indiewire:
Did you feel like you had to prove something in taking “Smashed” on?
I felt like I had to prove something to myself, because I think like a lot of actors I sat around for years and years going, “Man! If I could just get that role that showcases what I could do, then everything would change.” But I was so complacent about it. I wasn’t really doing anything to make sure that happened. So by the time this time in my career rolled around, I was ready to just go out there and do it for myself. It wasn’t really about showcasing something for other people anymore. It was just to the point where I wasn’t feeling good about what I was doing. Not that I wasn’t happy to have the jobs that I had, and the work that I had — I was very grateful and happy to do it — but I wasn’t feeling like I was stretching as an actor, or growing as a person, so I felt like I needed to do something just for myself. Just to prove that I could stretch beyond my perceived limitations.
Since “Smashed” played at Sundance, you’ve been courting this amazing wealth of buzz. Has it had an effect on your career? Do casting directors see you differently?
I think it’s slowing shifting. People are slowly seeing the movie, but not everyone has seen it yet. I mean my hope is that a lot of young filmmakers will see it and be inspired to make more films like this and, you know, will want to work with me, because that’s really who I want to work with — kind of new interesting people who are forging their own vision and want to sort of go on their own road in this industry. That was why I took this film to begin with, was to try and get in that world.I feel like the industry is sort of changing and there’s got to be a sort of revolution happening, and I want to be a part of that. I’d like to do a lot more small, performance focused films.
Time.com also named Mary an Oscar contender. Click on the link to read the full interview:
You play a very convincing drunk. How did you train?
I didn’t grow up around anyone who was an alcoholic, and I’ve never had any issues with alcohol. So I went to a lot of AA meetings. I found out how much I related to alcoholics’ struggles—to look into the mirror and recognize your faults, to try to love yourself.
And finally, there’s a great interview with Mary & director James Ponsoldt on Examiner. Mary was asked what drew her to the script:
“Everything about it. Mainly just the way the characters were drawn so well. They were all so fully flushed out, so real, so complex. They were all just so human. That was the main thing to me that was exciting.”
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New Video Interviews with Mary Talking About Smashed, Upcoming Album, and RS Reviews Smashed
Ah! Such good interviews and reviews to post! First, in an interview with Celebuzz, Mary revealed that her upcoming ’60s French pop album that she’s working on with Dan the Automator will hopefully be done by the end of the year and that there’s no pressure for her: “It’s mainly for fun,” Winstead tells Celebuzz. “I don’t consider myself a singer, so that takes the pressure off.”
There’s also a new video interview with Mary done by Made in Hollywood which you can see here.
And Rolling Stone gave Mary an amazing review for her performance in Smashed:
Addiction dramas are as common as reality shows and often just as rank. The standard bearers for movies about alcoholics range from The Lost Weekend and Days of Wine and Roses to Leaving Las Vegas with Nicolas Cage at his staggering, Oscar-winning best. Smashed joins the ranks of the winners, mostly because of an unmissable and unforgettable performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Her character, Kate Hannah, is married to Charlie (Breaking Bad’s exemplary Aaron Paul) a wannabe composer who likes to get wasted as much as his wife. Charlie, who basically hangs out with his buds all day, believes he can handle his drinking. Kate, who teaches first grade at an L.A. school, is soon disabused of that notion. After projectile vomiting in front of her class, she tries to get off the hook by lying to the principal (a very fine Megan Mullally) and claiming she’s pregnant. It’s only when the school’s vice principal, a recovering alcoholic played with deeply affecting restraint by Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman, gets Kate to an AA meeting that she sees the need for a change. Kate gets help from a sponsor (The Help Oscar winner Octavia Spencer in a lovely turn), but finds herself increasingly estranged from Charlie. She needs to do this on her own. Smashed covers a lot of familiar ground, but writer-director James Ponsoldt deftly dodges gooey sentiment. Winstead and Paul are dynamite, artfully walking the tightrope between pain and denial. And Winstead, too often relegated to the action-horror game in The Thing, Death Proof, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, is a revelation. With resonant intelligence and healing humor, she reveals Kate right down to her nerve endings. Don’t forget Winstead when making a list of the year’s Best Actress contenders. Yes, she’s that good.