Hollywood actress Emma Watson reveals why she signed up for 'The Circle'
Emma Watson
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What drew you to do this movie?
It really stuck with me. The story and the questions that it raised, sort of I found myself weeks later still kind of pondering on different aspects of it and I think that's a good sign for a story or for something I might potentially work on. It's kind of, it does not leave you quickly.
What do you think makes your character Mae become involved in the Circle?
I think Mae finds herself having some hard big dreams and big ambitions And she is like I am 26, living with my parents, I, they do not have enough money to pay for health insurance. I am working in a job that does not challenge me. That means you know is this my life, is this everything there is to my life and when Annie her friend offers her the chance to have a job interview at The Circle. This is like, this is her ticket, this is her escape, this is her chance to be able to take care of her family, to feel less like and I think she has a sense of powerlessness in her life. Somehow the Circle gives her a sense of autonomy and control and also kind of like hope for her future. So it's a very powerful promise that the Circle kind of gives her.
Who are the characters who make up the "Three Wise Men" of The Circle
The Three Wise Men are the triumvirate of the head of the Circle. So there's Ty Lafitte who's the creator. So he's sort of invented what has become the circle. There's Tom Stenton who is the COO, makes the trains run on time, he is the money man and then there is Bailey. He is very charismatic sort of CEO or the public face of the company.
What is really the relationship between Mae and the Tom Hanks character Bailey?
Mae and Bailey, well its sort of, it starts out as employer employee and it becomes I would say one of those very complicated, patriarchal relationships where Bailey takes on the kind of Father figure sort of role with her but of course is her employer at the end of the day. So it becomes a very complex relationship.
How are employees of The Circle expected to share all details about their lives? How are they exploited?
The expectations of the employees at The Circle is that everything about their life will be shared and there kind of "extra circular activities "or you know the socializing which you would do in your normal life has to happen at the circle and within The Circle because The circle has really found a way to commodify or commercialize every aspect of peoples personal lives. All of the data, all of that kind of spending money, all of that sharing and content sharing and information sharing they want it to happen on their network, Within there on in there vicinity . So it becomes a very claustrophobic environment very quickly.
How was it working with Karen Gillan
She's such a great actress and she's so funny and I respect enormously that she has been making her own films and directing her own films and you know it's amazing that's she's been doing that.
Horrible way to live. How was working with "Star Wars" John Boyega as Ty?
He's again like incredibly charismatic. Just I think perfect for Ty, I think he would portray kind of interesting slightly off centre characterization to Ty , which I think was really cool.
How was working with James Ponsoldt.
James Ponsoldt, a wonderful director, incredibly sensitive intelligent man, really passionate about this story and you know just very collaborative. And lovely working with him.
And, of course acting with Tom Hanks…how was that?
EMA- Getting to act with Tom Hanks in any scene is a bit of dream. So like anything where it was the three of us, it was kind of fun to have that dynamic.
What is the real theme of this film? What would you say it is about?
Well I think it's about today's society. This is not until a dystopian future that's long way off. This is a story that you know that could be happening now. So I think it's incredibly topical and you know it speaks to this moment now.
On relating to her character "Mae's" experience in the film
As someone who has been in the public eye quite a bit and obviously since I was very young I did always fill the boundaries between personal and private work. I always thought they were important but I think even more so playing this role and exploring this world. I think it made me think about it even more than I was before.
Since The Circle is about crossing personal boundaries; outside entities knowing too much about a person. I assume, as a popular actress, you can relate to that?
What's so interesting about our film is that it doesn't preach or it doesn't give a particular perspective on it but it just forces the audience member to ask themselves questions and think that's the key .What's difficult about the situation that we're in now is that we give our information away so freely without much thought anymore and people will think well about these questions more having, having seen it.
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