Emma Watson Talks "Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Watson
Posted by: Mel
October 10, 2011, 10:29 PM
In a new article, Emma Watson discusses the challenges that went into acting in "Perks of Being a Wallflower," particularly nailing the Americanisms in the film:
"I was very nervous before we started shooting. I was very nervous
about the American accent," she told a handful of reporters outside
Peters Township High School. It doubles as Mill Grove High School in the
story set largely in 1991-92.
Some of her cast mates, after all, had life experiences much like
their movie characters -- dances, football games, pep rallies and even
graduation in white gowns (for the girls) and black gowns (for the boys)
and matching mortarboards.
"They went to an American high school, they know what prom looks
like, all these little details that I had no idea about. So I was a
little neurotic.
"My script was covered in notes about all these American words,
American slang. I was quizzing my friends about high school and prom and
everything, and then Steve [Chbosky] was just like, 'Emma, this is great and
everything, but you just really need to let all of that go' because he
said he saw me as Sam, and it was kind of as simple as that."
In the article Stephen Chbosky, the writer and director of the movie, talks about why he felt Watson was so perfect for the role of Sam:
"She's luminous but she's also incredibly approachable, she's very down
to earth, she's very fragile but in this very beautiful way. For me,
that's all the qualities I always saw in Sam. Plus, she can dance. The
girl can dance."
The article also discusses Watson's relationship with her co-stars, as well as a stunt she opted to do in the movie. You can read more
here.
22 Comments
10471 Points
Looking forward to see Emma outside of Harry Potter, although I would extremely miss her in them! D: And I’m excited to hear her American accent!
9342 Points
Well, I’m an American and I’m baffled by the growing use of references to “prom” without a “the” or “a” in front of it. Is this a regional thing? I grew up in New York, and if my high school had had a senior prom (which it didn’t because we were too busy protesting the Vietnam War at the time: 1971), we never would have said that we were “going to prom.” It sounds very weird to my ears. When did this truncated usage start happening?
194 Points
going to the prom. going to prom. hmm. I must say I have never heard “the prom”.
18719 Points
I never before thought that Emma would have an American accent in the movie, probably should have though. Cant wait to hear her! And see her doing all the ‘normal’ teenage stuff.
Hmm, I dont think anyone says ‘the prom’ anymore because people dont just have one these days. Freshmans go to prom which is something somewhat new I believe. I think its just one of those things thats changed over the years as the idea of prom in general has changed. I was home schooled so I never did the whole prom thing, but my niece is a senior in high school so I hear a lot about dances and proms from her.
4133 Points
Hope the movie goes well :)
871 Points
Emma sounds just like Hermione, being anxious to have every last crumb of knowledge before applying herself to the task in hand, lol.
Im reading the book now and cant wait to see emma as sam.
3149 Points
I like what he saw in Emma. and I love how he mentioned that she can dance. It’s like she can do basically anything.
139 Points
I can’t wait to see Emma dance!!! Also, I excited to see the stunt with the pickup truck!!! :p
79302 Points
Aaaah, prom night… I remember it vividly… It was lovely while it lasted… Looked like a scene from Carrie about 1 hour in! looooool o.0
6352 Points
LOVED THE BOOK! I had not been a big fan of coming-of-age books, but Charlie was so real to me. Emma’s character Sam is also very special. I think her first choice after HP was a really smart one and I’m excited to see her performance.
558 Points
Hahahhh Her American accent. xD
It’s been my experience as a movie-goer that many British actors manage to do very convincing American accents (although to be honest, the American “accent” ranges quite a bit, from the more East Coast, Bostonian accent to different types of Southern accents – for instance, people from Georgia and people from Texas do not sound the same, although they’re both southern states, to the Midwestern accent, which is prevalent where I’m from, and so on).
1466 Points
I’m really looking forward to this! Emma with an american accent! I wonder why British actorsfind it easier to immitate an amercian accent and american actors can’t seem to pull of very good british accents (I find that this is the case in most movies or television series that I have seen)
4452 Points
Aw she’s so sweet!
Looking forward to see Emma outside of Harry Potter, although I would extremely miss her in them! D: And I’m excited to hear her American accent!