‘She Said’ Interview: Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan

Opening in theaters on November 18 is the new biographical drama ‘She Said,’ which tells the true story of the New York Times journalist who broke the story of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment allegations.

Directed by Maria Schrader (‘I’m Your Man’), the film stars Carey Mulligan (‘Promising Young Woman’) and Zoe Kazan (‘The Big Sick’) as New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor.

In addition to Mulligan and Kazan, the cast also includes Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, and Ashley Judd as herself.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking to Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan about their work on ‘She Said,’ the true story it’s based on, the journalists who report on the story, and the brave women who stepped out to tell the truth.

Moviefone: First of all, Carey, can you talk about playing Megan Twohey and what did you learn about her that surprised you?

Carey Mulligan: I mean there are so many reasons why I would want to be a part of the story in general, I would say. The significance of what these women accomplished is something we will learn about in the history books in years to come because of the bravery of the survivors who showed up. So, I think it’s appropriate to make a film about that, and about the women speaking up.

But with Megan in particular, I think I was really interested in just the psychological makeup of someone who could do the job, an investigative journalist. Who can call someone in the middle of the day, asking maybe the hardest thing that has ever happened to that person, and try and strike up a relationship with that person to share that information with the world, with the sole belief that it’s for the right reasons.

I think that’s a really amazing skill. I think we both felt very much in awe of them as women from the start. They really are amazing. They’re so impressive, and we just want to do that justice, and try to portray them honestly.

MF: Finally, Zoe, there’s a pivotal scene in the film where Jody gets a call from Ashley Judd saying she’s willing to be shot. Can you talk about shooting that scene and how Judd’s bravery really opened the story wide open?

Zoë Kazan: I think Carey and I both feel this enormous debt of gratitude to all the women who spoke to Jody and Megan, both on and off the record. Carey has said, many times, and I think it’s true, it takes so much guts and guts to even speak privately about something traumatic that has happened to you, let alone with a reporter who would use that story to tell it. World.

I think knowing that Ashley is so brave and that she’s recording has really made such a huge difference in our industry and in the world, I think those emotions are very easy for me to access.

It also means a lot to me to have Carey there. We’ve been friends for 14 years and I think to look him in the eye and say, “He’s going to record,” and having that kind of connection between us, it really brings our partnership into the room at the same time. it honors the partnership of Megan and Jody and this sisterhood of all women.