- Hey, guys, I'm Joey King,
and you are watching In Studio with The Hollywood Reporter.
(lively hiphop beat)
- Thank you so much for stopping by.
It's premiere day.
I have to ask, what has been the reaction
you've been getting for the show so far?
- Oh my God, it's been really,
it's been really exciting.
So far, we have 100% on Rotten Tomatoes,
which is ridiculous,
and everyone who's seen it has said such nice things.
I'm so excited and nervous and grateful,
and I'm like freaking out.
- Yeah, like, how excited are you for people to see it now?
- I am so, so excited,
and I'm so nervous.
Like in a good way, though.
Like, the excitement weighs out the nerves.
I'm just feeling very giddy inside, I'm think.
I'm restless about it.
- That's so great, well, congratulations.
I want to know when did you first know about the story?
Were you familiar with it before joining the project?
- So, I was familiar kind of with the story
a little bit before I got the audition,
and then, I had heard about it,
and I was like, Jeez, that's messed up.
Then I got the audition, and I did a lot of research online
and I read up about it quite a bit,
and I was like, holy mother of...
- I was screaming watching it. - Jeez.
I am like, this is so disturbing and crazy.
Of course then I watched the documentary,
and then when I realized that, of course,
that that's the story we're telling,
I was like, I really,
I want to be part of this project so badly.
It was really intense going down
the rabbit hole of the research for this role.
Any videos that I could really get my hands on,
anything like that.
Oh, I was also, we were so lucky we had Michelle Dean
who wrote the famous article on Buzzfeed.
She was one of our producers on the show,
who had a personal and intimate relationship
with Gypsy and her family.
She'd spoken to her many times,
so whenever I had a question
or needed more answers from her,
I would be able to go to her, which was great.
But what I think was super important to me,
not just researching the story,
was getting Gypsy's voice correct and her movements correct.
So, you now, when she would just look around, even,
or talk to her mom.
Anything I could do to make it authentic,
as authentic as possible.
I just watched all these videos that I could find
and how childlike her movements were,
and how they changed as she got older.
- Now, I know you weren't able to speak to Gypsy,
but was that something you really wanted to do?
- I mean, of course.
Of course, I think it'd be any actor
who portrays someone real,
it'd be nice to be able to speak to them,
but unfortunately I wasn't able to.
- [Brian] As an actor playing a real story,
what are the different pressures you kind of face?
- Just knowing that someone's real and is out there.
She's in prison as we sit here and speak right now.
It's really a crazy feeling.
I think that the pressure of...
This story is so complex.
There's times when you'll be watching it
where you'll hate Dee Dee, Gypsy's mother,
and you'll feel sympathy for Gypsy,
and there'll be times when you feel sorry for Dee Dee, even,
and then you'll be thinking
that Gypsy's a little bit villainous.
So, just getting it right was really important to me.
Doing the story justice,
making sure that if you are not a sympathizer with Gypsy
that by the time you finish the show,
you feel how much of a victim she actually was.
- How did your opinions of both of them
kind of change throughout filming?
Did you have a different mindset
of who these two were before going in?
Kind of how it changed.
- Because I did so much research prior,
I feel like my mindset on them didn't change too much,
but I think that what did change
was the way I viewed like the way Patricia brought,
really, a lot of heart to a performance,
to a character that really otherwise, to me,
was just straight-line monstrous in my opinion.
I think Dee Dee's a monster,
but she is a real person at the end of the day
who, in a very sick way, loved her daughter so much,
but obviously in a very, very unhealthy way,
and so I think the way that Patricia portrayed that
and gave Dee Dee a lot of heart
was amazing and super brilliant.
- It was such a painful story.
What were the biggest challenges
in conveying this story for you?
- I think the biggest challenges...
The transformation was a challenge,
but it was a great one,
but I think a lot of the scenes tapping into somebody,
a character that you don't have anything in common with,
it's something that I'm not used to,
which I was really, really excited about.
Because a lot of the time when I do interviews like this,
the people are like, oh,
what kind of similarities do you have with your character?
- I'm not going to ask that.
- Yeah, but you know, a lot of the time,
that's what people say,
and this time I can say
that I don't have a lot of similarities with Gypsy.
So, being able to relate to certain scenarios
and find a common ground,
and just putting myself
in that mental space was really dark,
but it was really fulfilling as an actor.
- There were a few moments throughout the series
where I'm just like screaming at the screen,
because of like-- (Joey laughs)
How much you feel bad for Gypsy
and kind of how the struggle is when she gets the cavity,
you're just like, oh my gosh,
now Dee Dee is going to freak out.
Can you talk about those moments?
What stood out for you?
- Yeah, just those darker scenes with Patricia, really,
took a lot out of us.
I think that's why her and I
have such a lovely relationship now is
because we went to such dark places together mentally,
and so now we're just super supportive of each other
and I just love her with all my heart.
But, just those horrible scenes
where she gets her teeth taken out,
and then she has a fight with her mom later on
in episode four, I think it was that you said you watched.
It's all so tragic and dark,
and each episode gets more disturbing than the last.
I think the way that our filmmakers and our cinematographer,
our producers, our directors, everyone,
the way it is shot and edited is so genius,
and it makes you still want to watch it
even though what you're seeing is so hard to watch.
- Speaking of Patricia,
working so closely with her,
what did you learn from her as an actress?
- So much.
I feel like that's a great question for this specific show,
because I feel like whenever I work on things,
I get asked that about the people I work with.
A lot of the time, I'm like,
oh, you know, I just kind of worked with them
and it was great,
but this time, I can say with confidence
and so much love in my heart
that I learned so much from her,
not just as an actor, but as a person, too.
But, as an actor, she's just so generous and so smart,
and also she just really took care of me on set.
Like, I had a lot of firsts on this job.
I had my first time doing a scene without clothes on,
my first time doing a lot of scenes like that,
and I remember the first time I had to do that.
I kind of didn't even know how to approach the situation,
like how to even start the day.
I was like, okay, I guess today everyone knows
I'm going to be naked.
But Patricia really took charge and was like,
okay everyone, so this is how the scene is going to be.
This is where the monitors are going to be set up.
This is what we're going to have.
We're going to have a towel covering this.
This person's going to be in the room, that person's not.
I was like, wow, she really cares about me.
It was so sweet, and she just wanted to protect me,
which I was so grateful for. - It's like
a flip dynamic of her being maternal, too, on set,
although the Dee Dee and Gypsy relationship
was very-- - Yeah, it's really funny
because she became like a second mom to me,
but in a really healthy way. (laughs)
She was so caring, not just with me,
but she just wanted to take care of everyone.
She's just such a giving person.
- On Instagram recently,
you posted this sweet message about your family.
I'm really curious, after playing the role of Gypsy,
did it make you appreciate your life more and in what ways?
- Yeah, I mean, you realize how crazy
other people's lives are and how fortunate you are
to have the life that you do have.
I love my family.
I've always so appreciated them,
and so getting to share the moment of going to the premiere
with my mom and my grandma was so special,
and I think that playing a role like this
was something that I've never gotten to do before
and so I just think that knowing
that they were super proud of me was really so...
I mean, I was sitting next to both of them,
my mom and grandma, when we were watching it,
and they were both clutching my hands and like crying,
and I was like yes!
- Is that the best, when you have that support,
and like you were in this together?
- I'm really lucky.
I have a great family.
- Patricia starred in Escape at Dannemora.
Did you see that? - Oh, so good.
- What was your take on that?
- She's the best actress in the world.
I'm so excited that I got to work with her,
but I mean, that show alone is incredible.
Ben Stiller's an amazing director.
The whole show I was blown away.
- Speaking of kind of true crime,
is this a genre that excites you and in what ways?
- You know, it is.
I think in a weird way,
I think people try to figure out
why we all like true crime so much,
and I think tapping into the mind of a criminal
is just so interesting to a lot of people,
and I have a attraction to true crime
as does most of the world,
but this story, researching for it,
it was really stimulating for me.
It wasn't hard as far as getting into it.
It wasn't like, oh, I'm so bored.
It was really interesting.
- The moment when we realized she obviously can walk,
for those who weren't familiar with the crime,
so that's going to be kind of a shocking moment.
Can you kind of describe filming that
and the reveal of it, I guess?
- Yeah, filming the reveal
was almost as dramatic as watching it.
- [Brian] She cracks her feet.
- Well, that was all me.
(Brian laughs)
I remember that was our first take.
I like cracked my ankles and my neck,
and everyone's like, that was so disgusting.
We're totally going to use it.
I was like, yeah!
- It really hits you.
- Because, I mean, she's confined in a wheelchair
not by choice, all the time,
and so that moment when we see her as an audience,
because I think when we first meet Gypsy and Dee Dee,
we're meeting the public persona of them.
And then in the first episode,
that moment when she just is alone at night
is the first moment we really get to the glimpse
as to how the entire series is going to be
and how personal we're going to get with these characters.
- And you guys do.
- And we do.
And it gets real personal.
- What has, speaking of the kind of personal connection
to the characters,
what has stuck with you since filming the most about Gypsy?
- Becoming Gypsy was, as an actor, it was incredible,
but there were times when I did take it home with me.
I had to just watch HGTV or something
and just let it go.
- It was a completely different role for you.
- Yeah, it was really draining, but in a great way.
But I feel like the thing that I have carried with me now
is just I think I'm sad
because I know that she's in a facility,
in a correctional facility that provides no therapy.
- [Brian] Oh my gosh.
- And I think that she went through trauma.
She's a victim at the end of the day,
and I think she needs to talk about it with somebody,
and she's not getting that opportunity.
- I didn't know that part.
That's so sad, because she never had anyone
to kind of help her grow up.
- No, I know.
It's terrible. - It was the only world
she knew. - But I think
what's mind-blowing to me is how
when I watch videos of her now,
I mean, I was watching Nick's trial and everything,
and how well-spoken she is
and how seemingly well-adjusted she is.
She had all these horrible things happen to her.
For years and years and years, she was a prisoner,
and I'm in awe of how she carries herself now.
It confuses me, really.
- With the material being so dark and painful,
how did you guys kind of keep
the mood on set a little bit lighter?
- Don't let this show fool you.
We had a lot of fun.
It was very serious and we were very focused,
but I met some of my best friends on that set.
Like, Patricia and I.
I think Patricia and I had so many heavy,
dark scenes together that sometimes,
the only thing to do after they said cut was laugh.
I mean, every time we would have like
a really heavy scene together,
we would just start laughing afterwards
because we were like, oh my God.
That was crazy.
But she's so amazing,
and then Calum and I, Calum Worthy who plays Nick Godejohn,
he's so talented.
Him and I, I would save all the memes that I would find
that I knew he'd love when he wasn't on set,
and then when he'd come on set,
I would just show him all these memes,
and we would be rolling.
I've never related to ROFL in my life except for
I was literally rolling on the floor laughing.
It was so funny.
And then I became really close with AnnaSophia Robb.
We did find ways to keep it light, which was really nice.
- Gypsy has this love for Disney
and kind of this perfect world of being a princess.
I have to ask you, what was your favorite Disney movie?
- Brother Bear.
- Okay.
- That's my favorite Disney movie of all time.
- Why's that?
- I have two older sisters--
- So do I.
- Really? Oh my God.
It just made me feel...
It made me appreciate a siblings relationship so much,
and growing up,
me and my sisters loved that movie so much together,
and I have a tattoo because of that movie.
- Oh, that's so awesome.
- (mumbles playfully) Yeah, it's a great movie.
- There are a few Disney live-action movies coming out.
There's Aladdin, Lion King, Dumbo.
Do you have one that you're most excited for?
- The Lion King.
I'm not going to lie, I have not seen a lot of Disney classics.
I haven't seen Dumbo before.
I also haven't seen, like, the original Cinderella.
Ever.
Never seen it.
So, I need to do that.
- Or maybe not, I don't know.
- Or maybe not.
It's like, honestly,
way past the time I should have seen it.
I already got made fun of it when I was younger in school,
so there's no point now.
Who cares?
- I want to ask you about The Kissing Booth 2.
When do you guys go back into production?
- Very, very soon.
In about the next month, I think.
- [Brian] What do you want to see,
and where do you want to see the story go?
- There's going to be
some little love triangle drama happening.
I think everyone should expect some decisions for Elle
and also just some things with Lee
just trying to figure out
what their friendship means to him
now that he has a girlfriend and all that stuff, so.
And there's going to be lots more Dance Dance Revolution.
I'm going to be so sore
and I hope it's worth it to everybody watching
because I'm very excited to do all those dance moves.
- When you first were in the first film,
did you think that it would kind of be
the massive success that it was?
- No, I had no idea.
It was so crazy.
When I got the script, I read it,
and I was like this is super special.
I love it, I want to do it.
I told my team, and they were like,
yeah, I mean, like, sure, if you really want to,
we'll find some time for you.
And I was like, no, I think it's going to be amazing.
And they're like, okay.
Like, whatever,
and I was like, you guys don't understand.
And then I did it and it was so much fun to film,
and when it came out, I was hoping that people would see it
and they would like it,
and we didn't have a big press thing.
I don't think I did any interviews prior to it coming out.
No one really knew about it.
And then it kind of just got put on Netflix.
I remember the trailer came out,
and then all of a sudden, it had like 14 million views,
40 million views.
I was like, what's going on here?
And then it came out and it just went crazy.
I was so excited.
It was nuts, I had no idea it was going to do that.
- It kind of started this rebirth of rom-coms
and these love stories for Netflix.
- Yeah, because I love,
I mean, who doesn't love a good lighthearted rom-com.
There's amazing television and movies out there right now
that are super serious and amazing and also like--
- Like The Act on Hulu. - The Act,
and Netflix has some great dramas,
and Hulu has great dramas and all these amazing things,
but I think people at the time were craving
something that was just fun to watch.
- Did you see To All the Boys I've Loved Before?
- Yes, it was so good. - What was your reaction
to that? - I loved it.
Oh my God, I love it, and Lana Condor is my queen.
I love her.
Yeah, it was so good.
I loved it.
- Speaking of rom-coms,
Never Been Kissed celebrates
its 20th anniversary next month.
- No way.
Really?
- Yeah, it does.
- Oh my God, I love that movie.
I have it on DVD.
- What's your favorite rom-com of all time.
- Of all time?
The one that pops in my mind,
I don't know if my favorite of all time,
but it's one of my favorites.
It makes me laugh all the time.
It's She's The Man.
- [Brian] Okay.
- I feel like,
Kissing Booth to me is like if She's The Man
and Mean Girls had like a little baby.
- I think there was a kissing booth aspect in She's The Man.
I forget.
At the fair or something.
- Oh my God, there is.
There is.
Wow, that's right.
That one's such a funny movie.
It makes me laugh so hard.
It's one of my favorites.
- What would you say
has been the greatest love story
of all-time told on screen?
- I don't know.
That's a really hard question.
I mean, like, should I go typical and say Titanic
or should I go funny and say Dumb and Dumber?
- Oh, Dumb and Dumber.
I think that is
the best love story. - That's the greatest
love story of all time, Dumb and Dumber.
Yeah, I think so.
- Thank you so much for being here.
- Thank you for having me.
- Make sure to watch The Act on Hulu now.
- Yes!
(resonant pounding)