Mia Goth: “‘Pearl’ was the most challenging experience of my life”

In the nearly 105 minutes of pearl, Mia Goth draws on stage a wide spectrum of acting. From comedy moments, through obvious horror to a surprising dramatic ending, the 29-year-old actress is a ubiquitous anchor in the film. Ti West that delves into the past of the title character, introduced as an elderly assassin (also played by Goth) in the predecessor X – The Mark of Deathfrom 2022.

Premiere of the week in Brazilian cinemas, pearl was, until the time of its recording, the most challenging of Mia Goth’s career: “we had a limited budget and a tight schedule – we had only four weeks to film everything, so it was 16 hours of recording, six days a week”, he said. the actress to Rolling Stone Brazil.

Second part of an already confirmed West trilogy, pearl back to the youth of the octagenarian of X. Isolated with her family on a farm in Texas during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, Mia’s young character enters a spiral of madness when her idealization of a life of cinema, fame and glamor is confronted with the austere reality. with a controlling mother (Tandi Wright) and a weakened father (Matthew Sunderland).

If Goth’s performance is responsible for the growing tones of despair, captured in close shots by Ti West, the actress was also fundamental to the character’s development in another respect: here, she debuts as a co-writer of the feature, at West’s invitation.

“He wanted to write with me, because the story was based on a young Pearl, and since I was playing the old Pearl in X – The Mark of DeathI was supposed to have a part in creating that role.”

Goth’s entry as co-writer of pearlperhaps it served to deepen even more some of the themes that, since X – The Mark of Deathdifferentiate Ti West’s trilogy from the current horror panorama – in particular the look at a determinism about women and about the female body.

Themes, by the way, that should be taken up and expanded in the third part of the trilogy, MaxXxinewhich follows the protagonist of X – The Mark of Death, an adult film actress, into the 1980s, during the explosion of the VHS era. Without saying so much about the next film, Mia says:

“She [Maxine] comes out as the sole survivor of X – The Mark of Death, takes that car and drives towards the sunrise. So when we meet her again in the movie MaxXxine, she has a lot to protect and the stakes are very high. She joins a big world, she’s a fighter and will defend herself at all costs.”

“My heart is all from Brazil”

In conversation with Rolling Stone Brazil, Mia Goth says that Pearl’s debut in the country “feels like an achievement” for her, who has lived in the country for years. actress granddaughter Maria Gladys – her biggest reference, he guarantees -, she tells how the reception of her films in Brazil is celebrated, by her and by fans, in a different way:

“And the fans of these films are so kind, so nice, you know? Especially the Brazilian fans who love these films. It’s a very special moment, because my heart is all in Brazil. I grew up there, I spent the first years of my life there and it feels like a huge achievement, you know? To have this response from Brazil. I get very emotional, I love it so much, it’s incredible!”

About Maria Gladys, the grandmother-actress, owner of a filmography that spans six decades between TV and cinema, she just declares herself moved – and in two languages:

“She is by far the most amazing actress. And I’ve learned so much from her and, for me, there’s nothing above her in terms of inspiration. [Fala em português] She is my heart!

Read the full interview with Mia Goth below:

Rolling Stone Brasil: Em pearl you act not only as an actress, but also as a co-author, yes? How did it come to this?

Mia Goth: Yes, it was fantastic! Up until that point it had been the most satisfying creative experience of my life, in fact. And it happened out of nowhere, really. I was in New York, getting ready to X – The Mark of Death, doing my thing, and he texted me the idea for a prequel. And he wanted to write with me, because the story was based on a young Pearl, and since I was playing the old Pearl in X, I was supposed to have a part in creating that role. And it really took me by surprise, I was so excited and excited. So we went from there. And we knew it was quite a gamble, it was a lot to ask of the production company. but credits to A24they were open to it and gave it a go-ahead.

Rolling Stone Brasil: You recently commented to Variety what pearl it was his most challenging work. What makes you think that?

Mia Goth: It was the first time I shot a movie where my character is in every scene. So just the logistics of that are incredibly intense and challenging. You have no rest. That added to the fact that we had a limited budget and a tight schedule – we only had four weeks to shoot everything, so it was 16 hours of shooting, six days a week… pearl the most challenging experience of my life. But at the same time it was also the most rewarding for me. I was ready for it and had been looking for it for a while, I felt prepared. I already believed in myself as a performer, I believed I could do something like this, so when the opportunity arose, I jumped at it.

Rolling Stone Brazil: We know that MaxXxine coming up, and we know you can’t say much about it, but how do you intend to reflect these stories of pearl it’s from X – The Mark of Death in the new movie?

Mia Goth: I can’t really say much, but what I can say is that Maxine goes through some pretty crazy situations in X and ultimately she is a survivor. She leaves as the sole survivor of the situation, takes that car and drives towards the sunrise. So when we meet her again in the movie MaxXxine, she has a lot to protect and the stakes are very high. She joins a big world, she’s a fighter and will defend herself at all costs.

Rolling Stone Brazil: Between the Trilogy X and your next film, infinity pool, you have become one of the most recognizable faces of the new generation of horror. How do you feel about it?

Mia Goth: I love! I love! It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. I always knew these projects were special when I joined each one of them, but it’s another thing to release them to the world and have the public identify, just like you did back in the beginning. And it’s amazing to witness it. And the fans of these movies are so kind, so nice, you know? Especially Brazilian fans who love these movies. It is a very special moment, because my heart is all from Brazil. I grew up there, I spent the first few years of my life there and it feels like a huge achievement, you know? Get this answer from Brazil. I get very emotional, I love it so much, it’s amazing!

Rolling Stone Brasil: I was going to ask exactly about the Brazilian fans, how is your relationship with us?

Mia Goth: I receive so much affection from you! My family lives in Rio, so whenever I land, even at the airport, I feel at home. And the fact that Brazilians watch these films and like them seems like an achievement for me, you know? Brazilians are so warm, they have a huge heart and they are vibrant and that’s how they receive these films. It feels like a hug.

Rolling Stone Brasil: Still talking about Brazil, what are your art references around here?

Mia Goth: One of my biggest sources of inspiration is my grandmother, who is a Brazilian actress, Maria Gladys. She is by far the most amazing actress. And I’ve learned so much from her, and for me, there’s nothing above her in terms of inspiration. [Fala em português] She is my heart!

pearl opens in Brazilian theaters this Thursday, February 9.