That was my favorite takeaway when I recently spoke with the Academy Award winner for her new film A Talent for Murder, which she stars in alongside Alden Ehrenreich (Weapons, Solo: A Star Wars Story). Directed by Anton Corbijn, the film is an adaptation of the 2014 Joanna Murray-Smith play Switzerland, which focuses on a fictional story about real-life author Patricia Highsmith. Highsmith, who died in 1995, is best remembered for creating the con-man serial killer character Tom Ripley, the main character in The Talented Mr.
Ripley and four additional novels by Highsmith. In real life, Highsmith was regarded as a mysterious and controversial figure, and while Mirren’s performance is based on the real Highsmith, the film portrays a fictionalized version of the author who meets a young man named Edward Ridgeway (Ehrenreich) from a New York publishing house trying to get her to write her sixth Ripley book. Ehrenreich also plays Tom Ripley himself as the film chronicles the dual narrative of Highsmith and the publisher, as well as the Ripley story they are crafting.
Highsmith is portrayed as rather eccentric in the film (as she was in real life), which includes the author having a love for knives and guns. Ridgeway even gifts her a knife early in the story, which Highsmith uses at various times throughout the film. So, when Mirren and Ehrenreich joined Polygon for an interview, my first question was how comfortable she was with wielding the knife.
We actors, we love our props.” Ehrenreich then chimed in and asked Mirren “Don’t you have knives? Don’t you also collect them?” “I do love knives. I don't exactly collect them,” answered Mirren.
Opposite the bus stop, there was this knife shop — you know, those shops that have knives and scissors and things. I used to just love standing there, looking at all these beautiful knives. I do find knives very beautiful — the handle, the balance, the steel — I am fascinated with knives.” The opportunity to use a knife was not what convinced her to portray Highsmith in A Talent for Murder.
As for how she prepared for the part, Mirren said she did watch some interviews with the reclusive Highsmith, but “there's very little, unfortunately.” “Thank God for YouTube. YouTube is an amazing resource for actors preparing almost anything. There were little tiny bits of a protracted interview that she did for British television, but she was on her best behavior.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
