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Julia Roberts' Clever Ploy to Boost Co-Star's Emotional Scene
14 Oct
Summary
- Carrie Preston recalls Julia Roberts' pre-scene warning to "be mean" to her
- Roberts' tactic helped Preston deliver a powerful emotional performance
- The actresses had built a good rapport from their previous film together
In a recent interview, actress Carrie Preston recounts her experience working with Julia Roberts on the 2009 film Duplicity, a decade after they first shared the screen in My Best Friend's Wedding. The two actresses, both hailing from Georgia, had built up a good working rapport over the years.
However, when it came time to film an intense scene where Roberts' character was staring at Preston's character with disdain, Roberts decided to employ a clever tactic to help her co-star deliver a powerful emotional performance. Prior to the scene, Roberts warned Preston, "I'm gonna be mean to you for the rest of the day. I'm just not gonna talk to you for the rest of the day."
Preston explains that this pre-scene warning from Roberts was exactly what she needed, as you don't want to be "chumming it up and then have to go and cry." The high-pressure scene required Preston to cry on cue, which she admits was a challenge, especially since she didn't know the crew well. But Roberts' calculated cold shoulder approach allowed Preston to tap into the necessary emotions for the scene.
Reflecting on the experience, Preston realized that Roberts' gesture was "graciously" made more for her benefit than Roberts' own. The veteran actress understood the importance of creating the right on-set dynamic to elicit the desired performance from her co-star.
Though Preston and Roberts have not shared the screen since Duplicity, their previous collaboration showcased the power of an actor's intuition and the lengths they will go to elevate a scene.
