Juliette Lewis Talks Working With Peter Dinklage in ‘The Thicket’ and Explains Her Surprise Exit From ‘Yellowjackets’: ‘I’m Good for a Series for Two Seasons’

I can totally relate to the feeling of being captivated by an actor who embodies their role so profoundly, as described in the quote. It brings to mind my own experiences working with some truly exceptional talents, and it’s always a testament to the power of art when such depth is achieved on screen.


In the latest thriller, “The Thicket,” Juliette Lewis demonstrates exceptional horseback riding abilities that leave quite an impression. The actress provides a compelling explanation for this skillfulness

“Lewis shares on this week’s episode of ‘Just for EbMaster’, ‘I’m not just a third-place ribbon winner in barrel racing, but I was an equestrian before the age of 12. So, during filming in Calgary [where the movie was filmed amidst winter], we were immediately put on a horse to test our skills. I received a favorable assessment for my horse riding abilities.”

In the film directed by Elliott Lester, set for release on September 6th, it follows Joe R. Lansdale’s novel with the same title. Lewis is portraying Cut Throat Bill, a ruthless outlaw from the early 20th century who abducts a young girl (Esmé Creed-Miles). Her brother (Levon Hawke) employs a bounty hunter (Peter Dinklage) to save her

In the original novel, the character named Cut Throat Bill is portrayed as a ruthless individual, according to Lewis. He’s described as being devoid of empathy, a quality where one cannot feel another person’s suffering and instead finds pleasure in it. This aspect, Lewis admits, is something he doesn’t identify with

But she adds, “I can imagine how someone could get there.”

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Cut Throat Bill is such a great name. I’m glad they didn’t try to change it to Cut Throat Mary.

The statement could be rephrased as: “She was referred to as ‘Bill’, originally her name was Wilhelmina. It’s unclear to me how Wilhelmina becomes Bill, yet it does.”

Why would you even have to justify it?

We don’t. She doesn’t. That’s what I love. I was basically given all these ingredients and then, “How do I make this real, a real person?,” from the mangled voice because she survived a near decapitation and then you hear her legend before you meet her. She’s her savagery and everyone thinks she’s a man.

How did you find that voice?

In my kitchen, I found myself experimenting with a line from the script about a gravelly voice, and I gave it a go. I’ve discovered that in various roles, I can either deepen my tone or raise my pitch, making it softer. It was surprising to find out that I could speak so low, as I hadn’t realized it before attempting it. Speaking loudly in that range proved challenging. Yet, the experience of pushing myself to create something authentic and profound is incredibly rewarding

Do you go off set and go to Starbucks and use that voice to order a cappuccino?

No, I did not [laughs]. And ironically, if people quote lines from movies I’ve been in or, “Hey, talk like your character,” they’re gone. I’m like, “What?” I don’t even know how to do it. It’s funny.

Which of those characters is the one that everyone always says, “Give me that line?”

It spans quite a range, encompassing “Christmas Vacation,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” and the character Mallory from “Yellowjackets.” Whenever they recall my words, it’s always flattering

The weather is its own character in “The Thicket.”

During the entire shoot, it was incredibly cold and uncomfortable, but it turned out to be beneficial for my role. You see, the character isn’t supposed to be comfortable. Unlike some films where they add CGI effects like breath or a horse’s breathing, we didn’t need any of that here. We discovered a thick face cream we had to use to prevent our skin from freezing and turning into chapped leather. They told us not to worry, as we’d get accustomed to it. The temperature was 20 degrees below zero, which I hadn’t encountered before. I’m a fan of “The Revenant,” but the idea of shooting in snow didn’t initially appeal to me since I’m from California. However, it turned out to be quite a challenge

You shot in only 22 days so you couldn’t waste any time. It doesn’t matter how cold or painful it gets, you got to shoot.

What you’ve said can be rephrased as follows: “Indeed, we used to complete productions in just four months back in the ’90s, as shown by movies like ‘Cape Fear’ and ‘Natural Born Killers’. These days, eight weeks is a luxury. However, this just underscores the exceptional talent and dedication within every department. The director of this film, Elliott Lester, embodies this passion, staying enthusiastic and fostering team spirit from morning till night.”

Juliette Lewis Talks Working With Peter Dinklage in ‘The Thicket’ and Explains Her Surprise Exit From ‘Yellowjackets’: ‘I’m Good for a Series for Two Seasons’

Were you a “Game of Thrones” person before working with Peter?

I have not seen a single episode. I don’t think he knows that. Sorry.

I love your honesty.

I’m not convinced it will matter much to him, as I was simply an admirer of Peter Dinklage’s work. When I watch his performances, there’s a sense of awe, like “Wow, this one really takes me somewhere.” The depth and authenticity he brings to every role are truly remarkable, reminding me of my experience working alongside Robert De Niro in “Cape Fear.” There’s a kind of spiritual connection that occurs when these characters interact, even though there might not be much dialogue. It’s as if you’re tapping into something profound and real between them. This experience with Peter Dinklage stands out as one of the most meaningful moments in my career

Now that you’ve loved working with Peter so much, are you going to watch “Game of Thrones?”

Instead of writing it as a direct quote, you could rephrase it like this: “I’m thinking about watching ‘Game of Thrones.’ Peter seems quite interesting.” This way, the conversation flows more naturally and avoids using quotation marks for casual speech

It’s a particular genre.

I have a specific taste in media, which might seem unusual. But I do enjoy music and documentaries. Yes, I fit that description. Yet, I’ve found myself drawn to certain TV series as well. I became captivated by “Baby Reindeer”, but it ended up touching my heart too deeply. It was truly emotional

I do have to talk to you about “Yellowjackets.” People were very upset that you weren’t coming back. Did you know you were going to be killed off?

Here’s a possible paraphrasing:

When you signed up for “Yellowjackets,” do you say to them, “Hey, two seasons, that’s enough for me. I can’t do more than two?”

Here’s one way to rephrase that:

Is there a role back in the day you really wanted and it got away from you?

What I’ve always dreamed about is emulating a jazz vocalist, and here’s who I had in mind: Anita O’Day. She wasn’t the most traditionally attractive singer in the jazz world, but her talent was undeniable. Specializing in bebop, she often incorporated scat singing into her performances. Just like many singers of that era, she led a vibrant, lively life. However, acquiring the rights to perform her songs is challenging, making it unlikely for me to realize this dream

Did you try to get the rights?

I had an idea for a while. This involved remaking one of my favorite Fellini films, “Nights of Cabiria,” starring Giulietta Masina. Her performance is reminiscent of Chaplin’s. It’s both moving and comical, with a touch of whimsy. I adore this movie. I’m unsure about acquiring the rights to it, but that was a dream of mine for a short while

This Q&A was edited and condensed. You can listen to the full interview above or find “Just for EbMaster” wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

Juliette Lewis Talks Working With Peter Dinklage in ‘The Thicket’ and Explains Her Surprise Exit From ‘Yellowjackets’: ‘I’m Good for a Series for Two Seasons’

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2024-09-05 01:47