Opening in theaters on September 4th is ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day‘, which is based on the book of the same name and was directed by Tina Gharavi (‘I Am Nasrine‘).
Written by Justine Waddell (‘Killing Bono‘), the film stars Haley Bennett (‘The Magnificent Seven‘), Jack Whitehall (‘Jungle Cruise‘), Lily Allen (‘How to Build a Girl‘), Timothy Spall (‘The King’s Speech‘), and Jennifer Saunders (‘Death on the Nile‘).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Haley Bennett and Jack Whitehall about their work on ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day’, their first reactions to the screenplay, their characters, working with each other and the rest of the cast, and the film’s costumes and production design.
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Moviefone: To begin with, Haley, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of this character that you were excited to explore on screen?
Haley Bennett: Well, it was Virginia Woolf, but a rom-com. This is set in the Edwardian era, but Tina and I talked about it being a John Hughes-esque coming of age story. A lovely, tender film about finding your purpose and imagining a life beyond your reach.
MF: Jack, you character in the film is very funny. Was that humor in the script or were those moments that you found on set?
Jack Whitehall: I mean, I hope a little bit of both. Justine’s script was great and had lots of humor in it. But to Haley’s point, Tina wanted to have this modern and radical approach to the material, and wanted to make sure that there was enough room in there to be playful and to improvise and to have a looseness with the script, which I think really helps with finding more comedy within it. Also, we had a very strong cast of comedic actors and Haley, who’s always alive within the scene and is playful with it as well. So, I think it was definitely an opportunity to put our own print on it and to find and mine the comedy in the scenes where it was allowed.
MF: Haley, can you talk about Katharine’s ambition, why she won’t conform to society’s expectations, and how that story still resonates today?
HB: I think it still resonates today because there is still the struggle between ambition and love and curiosity, and people wanting to conform or create a life of expectations. I think one of the things when I first read the script that I was so interested in was the fact that I looked at my own life and thought about how much of that had revolved around men. Whether that be dads, parental figures, producers, or directors. I was also just very excited to work with a female-led team on a Virginia Woolf adaptation, because I think that female perspective was really exciting and really important in telling this story about a woman trying to create a life of her own that doesn’t look like all of the other women’s lives around her. It’s really about ambition, identity and listening to your own voice. For Katharine, this was knowledge. So, I think it’s just about defying convention and overcoming these big obstacles, which is really fun to play as an actor, and then with a fantastic cast. Really, it’s a very playful, lighthearted film, and I think a really enjoyable watch.
MF: Jack, can you talk about Katherine and William’s relationship and what it was like creating that with Haley?
JW: I think it was great working with Haley because we were able to build a natural chemistry, even though they’re not meant to have necessarily a romantic chemistry. You’re meant to feel like they’re friends. There is a lot of love between them. It’s just not a romantic love. I think he genuinely wants what’s best for her and thinks his proposal is one that will be beneficial to both of them. I like that he gets to have his happy ending and that it’s definitely with Katherine’d blessing as well. But we like to think of them as siblings. Nothing is more of a buzzkill romantically than being told that someone sees you as being like a sibling. It’s a very good way to maneuver someone into the friend zone.
MF: Jack, what was it like for you to work with veteran actors like Timothy Spall and Jennifer Sunders on this project?
JW: Again, they’re very playful and have a nice mischievousness to them as well, and that’s always really fun. Again, you can do costume dramas and end up with people that take themselves very seriously. That was certainly not the case on this. There was not a bad egg amongst them. It certainly made going to set and working on this a very enjoyable experience because there were no egos, even with the more established actors. They just have a really wonderful attitude and approach to the work.
MF: Finally, Haley, when you are in a period piece like this movie, how much does the costumes, hair and makeup, and production design help inform your performance?
HB: Well, it makes me feel a lot more proper than I really am. But I mean, especially with speaking with a British accent, you want for an American actor to simulate to that. I really wanted Katharine to feel very loose and free, and undone and spontaneous, and have a feeling of a very forward momentum. I think that that’s not something that you necessarily will contribute to a period piece. But I think that it was important just to be spontaneous and stay alive and in the moment. It was wonderful working with Jack. Like he said, there was this great sense of play, especially with Jack, he’ll throw something at you and suddenly the scene is somewhere completely new. It was a pleasure just to be in the presence of these incredibly gifted and lovely, loving, supportive actors. Tim has a little glint in his eye and as does Jennifer. So, to play their daughter was brilliant. You always know something unexpected is coming, so I hope that that translates in the film for audiences.
What is the plot of ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day’?
In 1910 London, independent-minded Katharine Hilbery (Haley Bennett) defies her family’s expectations of marriage to pursue a career in astronomy. But when her father (Timothy Spall) pressures her into an unwanted engagement, her resolve is tested. Through new friendships—including a bold suffragette and a thoughtful editor—Katharine begins to question the limits placed on her by society, love, and tradition, ultimately searching for a path that is truly her own.
Who is in the cast of ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day’?
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