BEL
California
Christina Hendricks has admitted she does find herself drawn to playing troubled characters - but she’d happily take some lighter parts. The Mad Men actress plays grieving mother Jeannie in her new film God’s Pocket, co-starring the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, the latest in a string of tortured roles.
Christina laughed: ‘It seems like I’m drawn to troubled characters, especially over the last few years.’ She added: ‘I think the reason you become an actor in the first place is because you’re interested in human behaviour and you’re interested in exploring other peoples lives and seeing it through other people’s eyes.
‘Obviously these heavier experiences, you really get to dive into that - but I’m happy to sing and dance and laugh too. God’s Pocket is set in a tight-knit, working-class neighbourhood, and follows the reactions of the community after Christina’s character’s son is killed. She admitted; ‘This was an intense film. This character is grieving through the entire movie and I had to experience those emotions each and every day, 15 hour days, each and every day of the week. It was a bit draining. But also exciting to explore someone going through this experience.’
God’s Pocket was directed by Christina’s Mad Men co-star John Slattery, who also co-adapted the screenplay. The actress - who starred in Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River - said she thought being directed by a fellow actor was easier.
She said: ‘I think actors, especially one that knows me so well like John does, there’s definitely a shorthand and a way of communicating, where you know you know how to get what you need possibly quicker, than someone who isn’t an actor.’ Christina recently finished filming a mystery film, Dark Places, directed by French director Gilles Paquet-Brenner and co-starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicholas Hoult and Charlize Theron.
She said: ‘It was an amazing experience. I went in to play one role and they turned around and offererd me a different role, which was a surprise and a challenge. I loved working with the director, Gilles. She joked: ‘And another very troubled, troubled character - it was a rough summer! But I’m excited about the film, I think it’s really good.’