(air whooshing)
- [Scott] Well congratulations on BAFTA
and everything.
What was your reaction when you found out
that all this was going on?
- [Lauren] Ah, I was thrilled.
I felt like everything just happened so fast.
You know, I just started working in this industry
for a few years, well, three years really and, wow.
I'm so grateful that I received the support
that, you know, that I asked for.
It's, you know, I look forward to meeting the mentor.
I don't know, when I first found out
that I was one of the recipients,
and I was like, it was a really good week,
It was great to be back on set working
and it's great to get this news.
- [Scott] Yeah absolutely,
it is a huge deal. it is a huge deal.
And I can imagine,
I mean, has it changed much of your,
don't know if I say your life or your career
or anything else,
but has it changed you in any way just yet,
or are you still kind of reeling from the shock of it all?
- [Lauren] Well, I think,
I feel like this is becoming more and more real
and more information that I'm getting about the program,
who the other award winners, the recipients are.
I look at all that, I'm just feel so proud and surprised,
pleasantly surprised about the diversity of this cohort.
Really, I'm just so used to being the only one, so to speak,
with a disability who's deaf,
but that's not the case this year.
I mean, it's amazing to see.
There's a lot of people of color,
people who are differently abled, women,
all are a part of this consideration for this program
and I think that is thrilling to see.
- [Scott] Yeah, and also I was going to mention
about the, you know,
there seems to be a change,
but a change with a purpose this time
rather than people just talking about it.
There seems to be a proper change happening in an industry.
That must be great to be part of that
and know that it seems as if it hopefully will be
it will be permanent and that we won't have to talk about it
because it will be part of the norm, as it should be.
- [Lauren] That's exactly true.
And in a way I think that the pandemic
really had a lot to do with that.
I think that we had to stay inside.
It took a lot more time for us to actually be introspective
and really, you know, unpack things that we've been doing.
And also many of us have watched so much TV and film
right now 'cause what else are we supposed to do
during the, you know, during the lockdown, you know,
binging so many different stories
and, you know, people just naturally want to feel that need
of connecting with other people
and I think now we've found that connection
in different unexpected ways, which is more valued now.
- [Scott] Absolutely.
I want to ask you about (indistinct)
oh sorry.
- [Lauren] Now that the industry is starting to realize
that people really are becoming very seasoned
and participating in the whole story, you know,
within the whole storytelling
watching so many different TV shows, series, films
that I think that the viewers nowadays
are expecting a lot more
and they want to see more of themselves
when they're actually watching TV.
So I think that, you know, the industry recognizes that now,
and there's a need for more realism really
and more representation.
- [Scott] Absolutely--
- [Lauren] TV should look more like the real world,
basically.
- [Scott] Yes indeed.
Absolutely.
So I remember seeing you in "Wonderstruck"
and that was a film that was a fantastic story
but also had Millicent and yourself part of it,
and it was a great story and the celebration of,
as you said before, people of all walks of life,
you know, and everything else.
So I just wonder what that experience was like,
being on a film, not just being on a film set,
but being part of that particular story
because it meant a lot to the people involved
and also to the people that have watched it.
- [Lauren] Well I have a lot to actually say
about that film, "Wonderstruck."
And it just shows that,
you know, representation, well,
I'm trying to figure out how to even say that everything
it's not just about black and white,
there's a lot of gray in terms of support,
collaboration and allyship.
You know, I don't know if you were aware,
but "Wonderstruck" was a big deal,
and the reason being is because they cast, you know,
a deaf actor to be the lead,
and that was a breakthrough role for her, really,
and with Millie, Millicent Simmonds.
And I think at the same time also they cast a hearing actor
to play a deaf person, a deaf role,
which was Julianne Moore.
And at that time, that actually caused a lot of upheaval,
and I think Julianne,
you know, I had a conversation about that,
and I felt like when we actually met
well, let me explain a little bit more.
She actually came to my house in Brooklyn to visit
and just to meet a deaf family,
really wanted to get that insight of what it feels like
to interact with a completely deaf family
who just lives their lives just fine.
And you can see from her questions and her thought process
she really put a lot of thought into the role,
and it wasn't something she was just taking lightly.
I mean, look at her previous roles.
She plays very complicated, challenging roles,
just like, you know, Alice, the woman with Alzheimer's,
you know, amazing.
So I feel like people like Julianne
who really respect the craft of acting,
who really look at acting as a way
to actually become someone else, walk in their footsteps,
you know, to really actually understand
and respect their lives, their perspectives.
So I warned Julianne, I was like this,
you know, you will experience some backlash
from the deaf community by doing this role
because basically, you know,
it's equivalent of blackface basically.
So
but then again, I've actually learned
that within the industry, it's also complicated.
You know, oftentimes you have to bring in people's attention
you actually have to do it with bigger named stars
who actually have that star power,
and that person in this case was Julianne Moore.
And she has star power.
Obviously people know who she is, she brings in an audience.
So I felt like she, when she played this deaf character,
she did it with a lot of respect and caution,
and moving forward,
I felt like she actually had become a true ally
for the deaf community.
So I feel like that in a way, you know,
we've lost a potential other deaf actor to be in that role,
but we also gained a life living ally.
So sometimes things are gray,
they're just not black or white,
and, you know, just to show support for marginalized people.
- [Scott] Is that also true?
Would you say that's also true of Riz in,
obviously you've done "Sound of Metal" with him,
which is a performance that a lot of people
are talking about.
I'm really excited to see him and do that
'cause he's one of those actors
that really likes to challenge himself.
So I just wondered whether you would say that was the same
of him because he is someone that really throws himself
into a role regardless of what the performance entails.
He wants to tackle it head on
and do the best job he possibly can.
- [Lauren] Yeah, I think Riz Ahmed
is another great example of that.
You know, of an actor who really understands
and respects the craft of storytelling.
And he himself, you know,
comes from a marginalized community.
So I think he has that sensibility and understanding,
and he's also very aware of the power of his role
and what he's doing.
And I just felt like Riz, you know, was amazing,
and I feel like this movie really was a passion project
by Darius Marder, I just really applaud him,
I have to say because there are some areas
where they could have had
thought a little bit more about
how to support the deaf community.
But right now I just feel like "The Sound of Metal"
is one of the most authentic looks at the spectrum
that you would see in the deaf community.
You see a person with hearing loss who's grieving
about that loss of losing something
all the way to the other end
when you meet other characters in the story
who have always been deaf,
and it's just a part of who they are.
There's nothing that they felt like they needed to overcome,
so to speak, and I think that was lovely to see.
- [Scott] Yeah, I look forward to seeing him
in that role and that film 'cause there's a lot of people
talking about it, which is very exciting,
and you're a part of, so that's even more exciting.
You're also part of one of those big movies
that you can't talk about,
but I'm going to ask you about it anyway
because people are so excited.
We've had a year of no Marvel movies
and for many people that's, you know,
they're having, they want their itch
have itch that,
you know, scratch that itch as it were
because they've waited so long.
What was your experience like on the
on your first day when you went to the set of "Eternals"
and was it overwhelming, or did you feel you were part of a,
of a family from the beginning?
- [Lauren] Hmm,
well, I'm still processing the whole thing, I have to say,
that whole Marvel experience, we're still not done with it.
So, you know, I'm dying to believe that, you know,
I have to wait a whole other year before it comes out.
It's torture, I have to say.
But I have to wait a whole year
from the very first time I heard that there were rumors,
maybe interests of me playing one of their superheroes.
And I was like, is this for real?
I had to wait a whole year before it was actually confirmed.
Then now we look at a whole other year
before it actually is released.
The wait.
But one thing that I am very grateful for
is that the director, Chloé [Zhao], she actually, she had the cast,
you know 'cause not everybody was selected at that time
but as many of the cast members come together
just to have a brief, you know, table read or interact
and get that sense of who we were and how we interacted.
And so the first time we actually met was at Comic-Con,
really, when we were in San Diego Comic-Con
and that was so overwhelming.
As I am looking at all these people who are part of the MCU,
who I watched growing up,
and now all of a sudden we're in the same room,
I was taken back.
But I actually am more thrilled than overwhelmed
about being given the opportunity
to represent the deaf community.
I'm very thrilled about that, just to,
you know, bring in that storyline within the MCU.
I think, you know, there's plenty of room
for more stories like that.
- [Scott] Yeah, and you talk about the family.
I mean, this is a very, very big family,
the cast is exceptional, and you have at the top of it,
obviously with yourself, someone like Angelina Jolie,
who isn't just a movie star, she is an ambassador
and she is someone that wants to help
to try to make a change.
I mean, what was it like meeting her
and kind of discussing things with her
'cause that must've been a great thrill
because of all the other stuff that she does
as well as just being a movie star.
- [Lauren] Well, Angie, I have to say.
she is, you know, both such, she's gentle and strong.
I was so grateful and appreciative to have her there with us
because I feel like she really is very aware
of, you know, what our needs might be.
She always you know, thinking of,
she's always thinking about the cast.
She would ask questions that a lot of us were wondering
and she's the one who would step forward
and ask those questions.
So,
you know, Angie was so much help
and so warm,
so warm.
I mean we've had wonderful conversations
and I will tell you one short story
where I was struggling with trying to figure out a cue
for a specific scene,
and I just couldn't see the director giving me the cue.
So it was a little awkward,
and through conversations with Angie,
she helped figure out the best way
that we could make that scene work.
And I mean, Angie, just, you know, she has such a big heart
because she's willing to share her experiences with us.
I really, I really like her.
- [Scott] Most people say that, I've never,
I did interview her last year, actually,
at a premiere, which was very nerve wracking
but also very thrilling at the same time
so we share that, I guess.
- [Lauren] Right, that's exactly it.
And also her son actually learned American Sign Language.
So I thought that was great.
- [Scott] Oh, fantastic.
Fantastic.
So for you, obviously you've now done a big movie.
What's kind of your aspirations going forward?
Are you looking to help have get more awareness,
get more representation in movies and in television
and also for yourself as an actor?
Is there some aspirations that you have going forward?
- [Lauren] Yeah, to be honest, you know,
as I said before,
I feel like everything is happening so fast.
You know, it's just been three years and here I am,
and it's not like I've had an
I haven't had an opportunity to really delve
in any specific mediums from,
you know, whether it's Broadway, TV, film,
I've just jumped and it's been so rapid.
It's been a blessing, don't get me wrong,
but I'm still processing it
and I'm still trying to find what my footing is here
in this industry, and how can I help?
Of course I do want to make a difference
and I know that I'm already, you know,
representing different people, multi-racial communities,
different cultures, the deaf community.
Of course I'm aware of that, but I want to do more.
So now I'm just starting to really see
that there is a lack of authenticity in stories
about deaf lives,
and I want to see more of that.
I want to see different,
in different genres, whether it's a comedy,
a romantic comedy, drama.
And I just feel like, you know, moving forward,
I'm going to be really interested in developing more
of those stories.
Yeah. - [Scott] Absolutely.
and I hope you get the opportunity to do so.
Thank you so so much for your time.
Congratulations on BAFTA and everything
and fingers crossed, this time next year
when "Eternals" comes out,
you guys might be able to actually come to London
to promote the film and we will hopefully meet again.
- [Lauren] Fingers crossed, here's hoping.
- [Scott] Here's hoping.
- [Lauren] It was (indistinct) such a pleasure
chatting with you.
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