Actor and singer Zoe Isabella Kravitz feels the need to dedicate more time to focus on her music
Actor Zoe Isabella Kravitz, is known for her character, Christina in The Divergent Series and Toast the Knowing in George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Zoe’s love for acting developed from classes she began taking while in school. She started working on two films during her senior year in high school; No Reservations in which she worked alongside Catherine Zeta Jones. And The Greatest (2009) alongside Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan.
Zoe as Bonnie Carlson will be a part of the thriller series, Big little lies. along with Hollywood’s biggest stars including Oscar winning actors Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman and The Fault in Our Stars lead actress Shailene Woodleyoe. It is directed by Oscar nominated director Jean-Marc Vallee.
The series reveals the conflicts, secrets and betrayals of suburban mothers in a seemingly picture perfect town. The series has also won a whopping 16 awards at the 69th Prime time Emmy awards this year.
How did you get involved with Big little liesIJ
Everything happened all of a sudden. I got a phone call from my agent who asked if I wanted to meet Vallee. And a week later after I met him, I had an offer.
Surprisingly, I didn’t have to audition or anything. Vallee is such an organic filmmaker and the only thing he told me during our meeting was, “you feel very Bonnie.” I think that’s all he needed — he didn’t have to go through a whole process and see what I looked like with this or that.
Were you familiar with the storyIJ
Initially I read two scripts that were available. later when I met Vallee and was offered the role, I completed the book and jumped right in.
Was the fact that it’s such a heavily female-driven plot and cast, one of the big draws for youIJ
It is always an honour to work with the big shots. And the fact that Reese and Nicole who were producing it and had a say in me being a part of it, meant a lot to me. The fact that they even thought I was good enough to work with them and be a part of something they had control over is a huge compliment.
In the first few episodes, Bonnie seems something of an enigma. But she’s definitely more of a free spirit than some of the other mothers. Is that fairIJ
All the characters have different shades. That’s what is so interesting about the script — the moment you define a character, you are sure to get slapped on the wrist. These characters can’t be judged by the way they look, dress and talk because there’s so much more to them. The characters evolve and do the most unexpected things, when least expected.
You think Bonnie is annoyingly nice, kind and relaxed but when I started reading the script, I realised why Madeline cannot stand her. And as her character evolves, one will witness her genuine feelings and end up having compassion for her.
She’s really struggling to keep the peace, doesn’t like confrontation and least of all to have a problem with her mother. She is struggling hard to try and have a connection as well as fluidity in terms of relationship in the family.
Bonnie and Madeline have a complicated family set-up and are working hard to make their blended family work. Is that something you could draw on personal experience ofIJ
My family is a complete blend of different cultures. But it has been pretty smooth for all of us. My parents worked through their problems and were able to live their own independent live, especially by the time my mom got remarried.
I’ve definitely been in situations where maybe my father was dating someone when I was a kid and maybe I was hard on them. Working on this project, I had so much compassion for Bonnie who is a young kid going through the same situation that I went through. I guess the hardest part is that people misjudge her when she is not able to help herself.
But the best part is Bonnie’s relationship with her husband — she’s the one that wants him to do the right thing for Madeline. It’s important that he talks to her, respects her and that they have a good relationship. She is evolved in the way that she’s not possessive rather she is comfortable in her relationship and really wants everyone to feel respected too.
What did you enjoy most about working with ValleeIJ
He was always able to capture amazing moments that weren’t even written in the script. We were shooting a birthday party and we were aware of the introductory part alone. Slowly, everyone became so involved and started to enjoy themselves — some were hanging out, others drinking. And Vallee captured them all and it became a perfect fit.
How are you managing to juggle both acting and musicIJ
To be honest, it’s getting harder to manage both. Music is an essential part of me and I want to try and keep it going. But with so many things on my to-do list, I think I am losing track of it.
I’ve been trying to work on some recordings but I don’t have enough time.
I don’t want to be up all night recording and then not be able to perform the next day on the set. I’m really trying to find a way to balance and keep the quality.
What are your forthcoming projectsIJ
I just finished a film called Kin with Jack Reynor, James Franco and Dennis Quaid – that will come out some time next year. I have also finished working for a film called Rock That Body with Scarlett Johansson, Ilana Glazer, Jillian Bell and Kate McKinnon. It’s another amazing female cast and it’s a comedy, which I’ve been dying to do for a long time.
Then I have Fantastic Beasts lined up this summer. I might try and squeeze something in between right now, but we’ll see what happens.
(Unravel the dark truths and secrets of a seaside California town with Big little lies, only on Star World and Star World HD on September 25, Monday - Friday at 10 PM.)
