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FILM INTERVIEW: KATE MARA

Rooting for ‘127 Hours’ & ‘Social Network’ Before Release of ‘happythankyoumoreplease'

February 26, 2011

Kate Mara in 'Shooter' on buzzine.com The 83rd Oscars are just around the corner, but actress Kate Mara will not be seen anywhere in town. While she has two films at stake in the latest edition of the Academy Awards (127 Hours and Social Network), Mara’s escalating film career has her traveling to some secretive location to shoot an unannounced film. Still, as the actress prepares for her meaty role as Mississippi in Josh Radnor’s directorial debut of happythankyoumoreplease, Mara told Buzzine that she rooting for both Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours, in which she stars opposite Oscar show co-host James Franco, and Social Network, which stars her younger sister, Rooney Mara.

It is quite the rare occurrence for two siblings to have competing films in any given Oscar presentation, especially when it comes to the Best Film category, but Mara insists she will be either way, should 127 Hours or Social Network claim one of the event’s greatest honors.

“I am going to be out of town working, so I’ll be watching in my hotel room,” Mara, who starred in productions such as Iron Man 2, Entourage, Shooter, We Are Marshall, and Brokeback Mountain, said of this weekend’s Oscar presentation. “The thing is: you never know. Everyone talks about what’s the shoe-in. Luckily for me, my sister is in Social Network, and a bunch of my friends are (as well), so I have two films I can root for. I would truly, genuinely be thrilled out of my mind if either of them won.”

Indeed, sisters have competed against each other in previous Oscar presentations, including two instances when sisters were nominated for Best Actress in the same year; but unlike 1941 and 1966, the Mara sisters are associated with films up for Best Picture instead of competing against each other for top leading lady, so the elder Kate can get away with being happy, irrespective of either film winning.

(Winner Joan Fontaine for Suspicion and nominee sister Olivia de Havilland for Hold Back the Dawn in 1941, and nominees Lynn Redgrave for Georgy Girl and sister Vanessa Redgrave for Morgan! in 1966 were the two instances sisters competed against each other for Best Actress in the same year).

Interestingly enough, Mara was merely happy to have any role in 127 Hours, as it afforded her the opportunity to work with Boyle. So happy she was, Mara now wants keep the ball rolling and do more of the same.

“I went into that meeting (with Danny Boyle) … they had three girl roles, and I said, ‘I don’t care, I’ll play any of them,’” she told Buzzine. “I’d love to be in more than ten minutes of a Danny Boyle movie.”

Sure, Mara had limited screentime in 127 Hours, which (rightfully so) was heavily focused on James Franco’s rendition of mountain climber Aron Ralston and his struggle to survive after becoming trapped under a boulder in Utah.

Still, Mara was content, just the same, to be associated with an Oscar-nominated film helmed by an experienced director, as well as with happythankyoumoreplease directed by a complete rookie.

Kate Mara with James Franco in '127 Hours' on buzzine.com

“I was equally passionate about both projects. In this movie (happythankyoumoreplease), I just had a lot more say and a lot more screentime. For 127 Hours, I was just as excited to be in the movie for ten minutes,” she candidly told Buzzine.

The young actress from New York, who debuted in Sydney Pollack’s Random Hearts (starring Harrison Ford) in 1999, may have enjoyed working with Boyle, and equally fancied the significant screentime in happythankyoumoreplease, but Mara took note of how well Radnor took the helm of the small-budget production.

While Radnor was no Boyle, Mara was impressed by the former’s ability to put a film together as its writer, director, and lead actor.

“It’s rare that everything falls into place so nicely, and to see somebody, who’s never directed a film before, write it, direct it, star in it and, for it to happen in an organic, special way is really inspiring,” Mara keenly and affectionately observed. “When you work with a first-time director, there is that fear of, ‘Oh God! Is this guy going to pull this off?’ That never crossed my mind with him because of his confidence in himself.”

Radnor’s confidence in himself translated into Mara feeling good about her role as Mississippi in happythankyoumoreplease, particularly because of her climactic scene toward film’s end, where she has to sing.

To be sure, Mara was on pins and needles in performing her musical solo in the film.

“I used to sing as a kid; I did a lot of musicals, and Broadway was my dream--that was my goal. I never did Broadway, but I trained a lot in musical theater. As soon as I got the part, I was equally horrified and excited to be able to sing at the end. I was nervous about that scene, for sure,” Mara told Buzzine, assuring she would not have been able to do it if it were not for Radnor’s self-assurance and confidence.

Fittingly, the experience opened the floodgates to considering even more on-screen singing roles. Just don't expect her to sign a record deal anytime soon.

“I would love to be able to do movie musicals. I am not interested in being a recording artist in any way. I also don’t have that type of voice, but I would love to do any sort of animation singing,” she said.

She seems to have found her happy place in combining singing and film, which makes perfect sense that such a discovery would take place in happythankyoumoreplease, what with “happy places” an integral message of the film itself.

For Mara, though, it is not enough to merely sing and act; she values her family time above all else, as, without family, she does not feel whole.

“Honestly, I can be anywhere, but if I’m with my family, I’m pretty much okay,” Mara heartwarmingly told Buzzine. “I shot this film in Lithuania once, and I was feeling really depressed and lonely and cold. My mom came to visit, and I had the best time ever. Surrounding yourself with happiness and people you love, you can’t help but feel love and give love.”

Mara’s fans can join in sharing some love and happiness with her by either by rooting on 127 Hours and Social Network at the 83rd Oscars, or by trekking to movie theaters five days later to watch happythankyoumoreplease, a vignette comedy-drama which opens on March 4th and stars Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Michael Algieri (America), Pablo Schreiber (The Wire, Vicky Christina Barcelona), Tony Hale (Arrested Development), and Zoe Kazan (I Hate Valentine’s Day).