On Wednesday night during the Smashed Q&A at the Cinémas Palme D’Or event, Mary and Aaron were asked questions about their roles in the film and how they felt upon reading the script. Below is some of the questions. If you want to see some of the videos from the event, click here:
TDS: When you first read this script, what did you think? Did you know this was something you wanted to do?
PAUL: To be honest when it was sent to me I was very hesitant to even approach something that dealt with another substance abuse. But I started reading it and it was such an honest story of just a young couple dealing with their own struggles. It’s just raw and honest and then I heard (Winstead) was attached and I was just so excited about seeing her take on this role because I knew she was going to kill it.
WINSTEAD: I’ve had never ever had that opportunity before to play a character so complex and layered and real and flawed and all those things. It was extremely exciting but extremely scary. Once I actually got the part I was like, “Oh no… I have to actually do this and go for it.”
Mary, Did you go to AA meetings to prepare for the role?
WINSTEAD: I went to many, many AA meeting. It was great. Los Angeles is a great place to do it because it’s such a varied city. Every different type of person can have this issue. I grew to relate a lot to their struggles.
What was it like working with the director James Ponsoldt?
WINSTEAD: He’s just so amazing that any film he does I will take any part. He’s really good with actors. He knows the right thing to say. I feel very spoiled. I just wish I could work with him on everything.