New York — You may be more familiar with her famous last name than her actual body of work, but playing one-half of a powerful set of twins is about to set Elizabeth Olsen free from the shadows of her notorious twin sisters.
Sure, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have spent an inordinate amount of time being famous, having achieved television stardom as infants in Full House and having the distinction of becoming America’s youngest self-made millionaires at the age of 10. But Elizabeth will be starring as the Scarlet Witch, twin sister of Quicksilver, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, in next year’s The Avengers: Age Of Ultron. And being the mutant daughter of Magneto trumps being the baby on a sitcom starring the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos.
For now, however, Elizabeth’s co-star is a giant mutant lizard you may have heard of: Godzilla. Legendary Pictures’ US$160million (S$200million) reboot of Japan’s most celebrated monster is by far the biggest film she has been part of, having spent most of the first three years of her fledgling career doing steady work in small, independent films such as Martha Marcy May Marlene, Kill Your Darlings and Liberal Arts. This shift in gears was not accidental. Like her mogul sisters, Elizabeth is one smart cookie — and she has her eye on Jennifer Lawrence’s career.
“I really wanted to be part of something larger. I really wanted to be included in a group of young actresses that I look up to, whom I think are phenomenal,” said the 25-year-old actress. “Obviously, Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley are phenomenal. Mia Wasikowska and Imogen Poots and Rooney Mara and Kate Mara … It’s a great group.”
“I was kind of just cruising on the ride for a little bit and not really making choices that might be strategic. And you kinda have to (in order to have longevity in the business). I wasn’t working and not because I didn’t like anything,” she explained. “I told someone I wanted to be considered for parts in larger films and she said, ‘Well, they don’t know that. How would they know that? All you’re doing are independent films. You’re not telling anyone.’ So I was, like, ‘Great, I’m gonna go to studios and I’m gonna tell them’.”
Simple enough advice, but it certainly seems to have worked. With two likely blockbuster franchises on her hands, one of the biggest challenges the young actress will have to contend with is juggling her relationship with co-star Taylor-Johnson — who goes from playing her husband in Godzilla to her twin brother in Avengers 2 … and quite possibly back again to sharing a matrimonial mattress should a Godzilla sequel happen.
“You can’t not have a laugh. It’s quite funny!” said Taylor-Johnson, best known for his role in the Kick-Ass movies, of their evolving relationship. “But I can’t think of anyone better to be working with again, you know? She’s really cool and I think she’s a really, really great actress.”
“Yeah, it’s been fun,” agreed Elizabeth. “I think what’s even more enjoyable is the fact that Captain America: The Winter Soldier just came out and we were in a little teaser — you get to see our (Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver) characters in that. “And then, a month later, you get to see us in Godzilla as completely, totally different-looking and -acting people.”
“It’s fun to be an actor,” she said with a smile.
Hear that, Mary-Kate and Ashley? You can keep your multi-millions. And your Bob Saget credits.
Godzilla is in cinemas now.
Q: How familiar were you with the original Godzilla film?
A: Not familiar. I think I’m from a generation or a household where Godzilla wasn’t really the movie we watched. The only thing Godzilla was, was finding humour out of poorly dubbed films. That was probably it.
Q: Did you end up watching the films when you got the gig?
A: Gareth (Edwards, the film’s director) told me not to. He was like, “If you want to see one, see the original. But you really don’t need to unless it’s for your own enjoyment.” It’s interesting, because it’s not like we’re doing a remake, you know? It’s Godzilla, and it’s today, and it’s not characters that have been written before — it’s our own version of it.
Q: What do you think is the enduring appeal of monster movies?
A: I think there’s something about watching a disaster happen. The reason we all stop traffic when there’s a car crash. I think the reason why they’re good is because they actually represent something that’s far more entertaining to see through metaphor than representing exactly as what it is. To see Godzilla represent ignorance of humanity towards nature, or the obsession of controlling nature, is far more interesting than to watch a film just about us not being green. (Laughs)
Q: How do you deal with monsters in real life?
A: I saw a monster the other day in my bathroom. It was a spider. And I screamed instead of doing something about it.
Q: Have you left the independent world for blockbusters?
A: I have not left. (Laughs) Yeah, it’s been fun. I really wanted it. I wanted a change. With independent films — well, all films — you just never know what you’re gonna get. Everything can sound good on paper, and it’ll be fine on set, and then you’re looking at (the finished film) going, “That’s so not what we shot. That wasn’t even like the original order that was in the script.” And it’s a little irritating … So at a certain point, you just have to suck it up and be brave.
Q: Has the transition from indie to big studio films been scary?
A: It’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be. Like, I met with Legendary and about six months later, Godzilla was calling me up. The best thing that one of the producers at Legendary said when we met was, “Yeah, you know, we just incubate film-makers — we don’t choose actors. So, really, you should be speaking to the directors we’re working with.” (Laughs) It was, like, so intimidating and scary but it was great advice! It was the same thing with Marvel. I got to meet with them, kinda nerd out for a bit, and they thought of me when the time came (to assemble a cast for Avengers: Age of Ultron). That was really cool.
Q: What do you enjoy most about playing Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, in Avengers?
A: The thing that I find interesting about Wanda is that she’s so incredibly passionate and absorbed in her reality that it gets the best of her sometimes. I find that fascinating. I find that kind of obsession so interesting. The cool thing about doing a film like Avengers is that you get to see, in a comic book, the beginning, middle and potential end of a character. And you get to start from the end and work your way back. Ultimately, she kinda goes nuts in the comic books. I have no idea if they ever want to use that but it’s cool to know.