'Twilight's Stephenie Meyer has done it again - this time with another supernatural world in 'The Host.' Saoirse Ronan stars as both a human named Melanie and an alien named Wanda in the flick adaptation of 'The Host' (in theaters now!). J-14 chatted with Saoirse about how she balanced two characters, a possible real-life host, and what's next (hint: it includes Ryan Gosling!).
J-14: How were you able to play both characters at the same time?
Saoirse Ronan: It was something that we were trying to figure out during rehearsals. For a while, we weren't sure. We knew that the lines needed to be played on the day, but we weren't sure whether they needed to be read by the script supervisor or whether we'd get an actor in to get the beats right and have that actor instinct, or whether we would just record my dialogue in advance or have nothing. There were a few different options, and it made sense for us to just go into the sound studio a couple of weeks before we started shooting and while it was still the rough audio it was still enough for me to react to. We recorded that in a little earpiece for me while I was on set. That was enough for me. It wasn't difficult for me to get used to, it was quite a natural thing for me to react to your own voice because I talk to myself a lot anyway. Honestly I think that's why, because I really do talk to myself a lot. A bit weird! But because of that I found it quite natural to do that. And also as well when you know what the line reading is going to be, and you know it's going to be exactly the same each time, what Melanie's going to be saying. It frees you up to try different things and really play around with the scene.
J-14: What's so alluring about the supernatural?
Saoirse: For me it's that cerebral quality and the escapism. I love playing characters who are very human and are part of our world because I do think that's just as interesting to watch. But at the same time to have, to compare it to a world that we're not a part of and to see it onscreen can be so beautiful and can really take you out of your surroundings for a couple of hours. I think if anyone's able to do that through film or music or art or whatever or books it's a very special thing. To be a part of something like that, also with your acting, being allowed to maybe bring something to the screen that's not so human is a great opportunity.
J-14: What were the kissing scenes like? Awkward?
Saoirse: It was my first time kissing this much! It's never been really uncomfortable, but I think the first time I did a kissing scene when I was 11 was really uncomfortable. In a way, it did make it easier that we did it so often that it really was like another scene. It's one of things as actors that you just have to get over it since you do it so often. It was fine! I'm comfortable with both of them so that made it so much easier, we can have a laugh.
J-14: If you were a real life soul, who would you want to be your host body?
Saoirse: I'm going to say Beyonce because she's got a great bod! When did she have that baby? And already she looks amazing! I know it's just the shell...you get the voice. And the shell is married to Jay-Z! That's the main thing for me, I think.
J-14: What's next for you?
Saoirse: I'm just about to do a film with Ryan Gosling. It's his directorial debut. It's called How to Catch a Monster. It's very exciting! I was talking to him the other day about it and he's very excited.
Have you read 'The Host' and do you think Saoirse Ronan fits the characters?