Meet Anna Boyd Watson played byMission: Impossible Rogue Nationstar Rebecca Ferguson.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you get attached to the film initially?
It was this really sad story of these three women and what they were battling.
Credit: Barry Wetcher/DreamWorks Pictures
It felt human, and it felt important.
After two seconds, I was sold.
And I thought, Oh guys, if you only knew!
Im gonna f it up for you.
She worked with Meryl Streep, I worked with Meryl Streep!
Thats so funny!What was it about Anna that fascinated you?
Its so far from me, so I wanted to go into that, and explore it.
So Annas version of motherhood is different from yours?
Oh, hell yeah!
Anna would be knitting a pair of…
I dont know, leg straps for him.
But how far do you let that go until you stop?
How far are you willing to take a relationship for her?
Its all about protecting her child and protecting the image.
You know that kind of thing, where someone goes, Hey, look at yourself.
Did you do anything to prepare, to get into her mindset?
So the research is, read the book and read the script, andlook at this people.
Can you find someone in your own life to portray?
Then I basically work my ass off getting an American accent.
Whats was the most challenging part of the whole process for you?
Ive never done an American accent before, and Im working very hard, and doing my best.
And it sometimes takes away from the acting, actually.
Anna lives in Ardsley, Westchester County.
Shes moved from Long Island.
The location is definitely the biggest change from the book.
And you cling to that!
We always think [we know] what other people are like, but theres glass between us.
We judge and we get nervous and we protect and we feel insecure, without having our facts straight.
And we have different reasons why.
Anna is an interesting character, because you kind of want to be on Rachels side and hate her… she has the baby, she has the house… her life is pink!
But she doesnt know why… she doesnt know the half of it.
But it becomes Annas reality, and shes doing anything to protect herself and protect her daughter.
Well it doesnt show in the film, but maybe she goes to lots of psychiatrists!
[Laughs] She has one for Monday, one for Tuesday… Oh, Anna.
I kind of want to embrace her.
I just want to hold her and go, Youre great.
Its gonna be okay.
Emily said that cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen would shoot with the camera extremely close to her face.
Was it the same for you?
Oh no, it was literallyin her face.But thats sort of Charlottes way.
I think her way of shooting brings us as close in as possible to those fragile moments.
What was it like working with Justin Theroux?
No he doesnt, Im just joking.
He balanced that beautifully, which is very important.
Looks great without a shirt on.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
