美国国家公共电台 NPR Chloë Grace Moretz Wants To 'Fear The Next Step'

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Frances and Greta find each other in an honored, old-movie way. Frances sees a woman's handbag in a seat in the New York subway. This nice, young woman who has just come to New York does a nice thing. She opens the bag, finds a wallet, ignores the money and returns the bag to its owner. She turns out to be an elegant older woman with conspicuous¹ kindness and courtesy. They seem happy to find each other.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GRETA")

ISABELLE HUPPERT: (As Greta Hideg) I don't get many visitors here. I've been so lonely since my daughter left.

CHLOE GRACE MORETZ: (As Frances McCullen) I could help you. My mom actually used to say I'm like chewing gum.

SIMON: Watch out. What starts as poignant² turns toxic³. "Greta" is a new horror thriller⁴ by Neil Jordan. Greta is played by Isabelle Huppert, the acclaimed⁵ French actress. And the fresh-faced young woman, Frances, is portrayed⁶ by Chloe Grace Moretz, who's been a working actor and star since she was about 6 years old. Chloe Grace Moretz joins us now from New York. Thanks so much for being with us.

MORETZ: Thank you for having me.

SIMON: Boy, this film can be frightening to watch. What was it like to make?

MORETZ: You know, I think it's always an interesting experience filming a thriller or a horror movie because you're dealing⁷ in emotions that are very heightened. And especially with this film, Isabelle and I found it really important to grow that friendship in the beginning so when it does turn, and you find out who Greta really is, it comes as a sucker punch and almost, you know, more so a heartbreak than just the fear that you feel in that moment.

SIMON: Frances, your character, tells her much more cynical⁸ roomie at some point that she's going to return the bag because, where I come from that's what we do. How do you see that character of Frances?

MORETZ: Well, I find Frances an interesting character for me to take on. You know, I've played a lot of characters in - you know, since I was a young girl that were very steadfast⁹ and very loud and boisterous¹⁰ in a lot of ways. And this character is one that is much more of a sober character. You know, she lost her mother about seven months prior to when we meet her. So she carries a lot of weight on her. And, you know, she comes from a small town in Massachusetts. And she's living in the big city for the first time. And, you know, I wanted to kind of keep that sentiment about her where she isn't cynical. You know, she isn't worn down by it yet.

SIMON: Was it at all intimidating¹¹ to have to play scenes jaw¹² to jaw with Isabelle Huppert?

MORETZ: Most definitely. You know, she is someone that, you know, I have looked up to for my entire career. But she is a French cinema icon¹³. You know, she's someone that everyone knows - the formidable Isabelle Huppert. But to be able to carry this movie, you know, in a two-hander with her, to go 50/50 with her was such an honor. And we had so much fun playing these characters.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GRETA")

HUPPERT: (As Greta Hideg) I'm lonely.

MORETZ: (As Frances McCullen) Greta, everybody's lonely. That does not mean that you get to follow people around and terrorize them.

HUPPERT: (As Greta Hideg) Everybody needs a friend. You said you always stick around like chewing gum.

SIMON: I have to ask - what was remotely fun about it? (Laughter).

MORETZ: So much, actually. I think when you're dealing with such dark circumstances, you do try to break the silence a little bit. And she and I - well, not to give too much away. But there's a moment in this story where Isabelle's character loses an appendage¹⁴. And, of course, with that said moment...

SIMON: Oh, yeah. That doesn't give too much away. But go ahead, yes.

MORETZ: (Laughter). In that type movie, we have prosthetics. And it was this funny thing that we kept having popping up in different coffee cups and meals on set.

SIMON: Oh.

MORETZ: Yes.

SIMON: Oh.

MORETZ: Where this bloody¹⁵ appendage would just float around set. So the little things were always there, most definitely.

SIMON: All right. That's funny.

MORETZ: Yeah.

SIMON: All right. I got to ask you a question about being a child actress.

MORETZ: Yes, go ahead.

SIMON: With respect for you and your parents...

MORETZ: Mmm hmm.

SIMON: ...Do you think becoming a child star took you away from childhood?

MORETZ: You know, I've had so many years to really think about it. And being 22 now, for me, I think - of course, I wasn't in your typical school system. I was home-schooled since I was 9 years old. But I had this ability to travel around the world and to be surrounded by people like Martin Scorsese at 13 years old and Tim Burton at 14 years old and Sir Ben Kingsley and Julianne Moore in...

SIMON: Excuse me.

MORETZ: ...Another sense.

SIMON: This is on the edge of rubbing it in. But go ahead.

MORETZ: (Laughter) No problem. But for me, it was one of the most special experiences to be able to be a kid and to be surrounded by people of so much inspiration and to get inside their minds. I wouldn't give anything in the world to change my childhood.

SIMON: Where do you see your career going now?

MORETZ: So a few years ago now, I took a year and a half off to reconfigure where I was and really start this next iteration of my career as, you know, the adult that I now am on the right foot. And, you know, for me, this, you know, hopefully next 20, 30, 40 years, I want to try to continue to question myself and to find anonymity¹⁶ in the characters that I take on and have myself fear the next step I'm going to take because I think through fear is how you blaze a new trail within your own heart and within your own mind. So I'd like to continue to try and keep guessing, you know, and not just become complacent¹⁷.

SIMON: Find anonymity.

MORETZ: Yes. You know, anonymity to me is something that - growing up with my face in movies for so many years, even if I was doing, you know, a comedy or a horror or a romance or, you know, whatever else, I felt that there was a preconceived notion of what I would be like on screen. And I think we have these emotional tropes in our lives where we have a certain cry. We have a certain laugh. We have a certain smile. We have a certain way of saying I love you. And I wanted to 180 from that and to go the complete opposite direction.

SIMON: So in a sense finally get your instinctive¹⁸ reactions and...

MORETZ: Precisely¹⁹. Yeah.

SIMON: Boy, that's got to be rough.

MORETZ: It is daunting²⁰. I mean, it is something where - you know, it's like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time. It's - the easiest thing you can do as an actor is to know you're good at certain areas of what you do and to continue to do them. But to call yourself out and to, you know, slam yourself against a wall a little bit and be like, stop it and try this is very terrifying, honestly. And you end up really questioning yourself. But in the end, it's really empowering.

SIMON: I hope you don't hurt yourself against the wall.

MORETZ: (Laughter) I'll try. I'll wear a helmet.

SIMON: Chloe Grace Moretz, who stars in Neil Jordan's film "Greta," thanks so much for being with us.

MORETZ: Thank you very much. This was a wonderful conversation.

1 conspicuous   

adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的

参考例句：

• It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。
• Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。

2 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

3 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

4 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。

5 acclaimed   

adj.受人欢迎的

参考例句：

• They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
• Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。

6 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 cynical   

adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的

参考例句：

• The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大，他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
• He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。

9 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

10 boisterous   

adj.喧闹的，欢闹的

参考例句：

• I don't condescend to boisterous displays of it.我并不屈就于它热热闹闹的外表。
• The children tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play.孩子们经常是先静静地聚集在一起，不一会就开始吵吵嚷嚷戏耍开了。

11 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

12 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

13 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

14 appendage   

n.附加物

参考例句：

• After their work,the calculus was no longer an appendage and extension of Greek geometry.经过他们的工作，微积分不再是古希腊几何的附庸和延展。
• Macmillan must have loathed being judged as a mere appendage to domestic politics.麦克米伦肯定极不喜欢只被当成国内政治的附属品。

15 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

16 anonymity   

n.the condition of being anonymous

参考例句：

• Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密，书中的人用的都是化名。
• Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。

17 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。

18 instinctive   

adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的

参考例句：

• He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。
• Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。

19 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

20 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。