Xuenou > Movies > Kiernan Shipka Shared Her Favorite Scene From “Wildflower,” Her Friendship With Tony Hale, And The “Mad Men” Prop She Took Home With Her
Kiernan Shipka Shared Her Favorite Scene From “Wildflower,” Her Friendship With Tony Hale, And The “Mad Men” Prop She Took Home With Her
Kiernan Shipka Shared Her Favorite Scene From "Wildflower," Her Friendship With Tony Hale, And The "Mad Men" Prop She Took Home With Her,Kiernan Shipka revealed that years ago she actually auditioned to play Primrose Everdeen in <i>The Hunger Games</i> movies.

Kiernan Shipka Shared Her Favorite Scene From “Wildflower,” Her Friendship With Tony Hale, And The “Mad Men” Prop She Took Home With Her

Tiffany Roohani / Photo courtesy of Momentum Pictures

2. Wildflower is based on an actual family. What was it like taking on this role of a real person vs. playing someone totally fictional?

I think the whole reason why I love this movie so much is that it kind of feels so real. Like even when we were filming it, we didn’t have too much time to actually film it. It immediately kind of locked us into this feeling like a family. It’s hard to really even describe, but there was this sense of reality just sort of woven through because it was such a grounded story. You know, I’m used to a lot of witchcraft things. And this was like, “Oh, we’re talking about real family stuff here.” It’s not better, or worse [than a bigger production], it’s just this different sort of feeling.

Momentum Pictures

3. Did you get the chance to meet the real-life “Bea” or her parents while making the film?

No, Matt wanted to keep it separate. We had chats about it and we had to figure out what we were going to do there. The end call was that we were gonna keep [the movie and the family] separate, just because it’s such a fictionalized version. I think he wanted my version of Bea to be pretty different.

Tiffany Roohani / Photo courtesy of Momentum Pictures

4. What’s a role people would be surprised to hear you auditioned for?

Oh my gosh. Primrose Everdeen [from The Hunger Games movies].

BuzzFeed: No way! That could’ve been such a totally different franchise if you were cast. 

I also auditioned for Cory in the House. And that’s probably the biggest blow to this day. It was a masterpiece and I really wanted to be a part of it.

Tiffany Roohani

8. Over the course of the film, there are so many poignant moments with Bea as she struggles with the decision to stay home and take care of her parents or leave for college and follow her own dreams. Is there a scene you’re most proud of?

I think the scene where Bea kind of loses it at her parents was a really painful scene. Performance-wise, as an actor, I felt like it was a really intense experience and a really truthful one. It was really challenging and it was also really rewarding. There was a sense of going for it and then reaching a level of truth and deepness. Ever since then, I want to do it again. I know I can go there. I think that it’s always important to prove to yourself that you can do certain things. But that sort of level of, like, pain and emotion in that scene was really, it’s hard to describe. Like, it’s hard to say it was fun, but it also wasn’t miserable. It was this sense of catharsis and real emotion that I felt was pumping through me.

Samantha [Hyde] and Dash [Mihok] are just so beautiful as humans and as actors. They were so kind and supportive. I think about that scene a lot. 

Momentum Pictures

9. Disability representation activist, Elaine Hall, consulted on the script, too, did you get a chance to meet or work with her at all?

I never got a chance to meet her, but I know that Matt worked really closely with her and Morning Moon. I really feel like this movie is so thoughtful. And the fact that there’s authentic casting and really beautiful representation in this movie makes me really proud to be a part of it.

Momentum Pictures

10. What’s the most starstruck you’ve ever been?

Tony Hale. I met him for the first time in 2014 at the Emmys. But he’s a buddy now. He came to my Christmas party. He was the first person to show up. Like, you know, when you’re waiting for the first person to show up and you don’t know who it’s going to be? And then it’s Tony? It’s crazy. It was wild. It made my life. He’s lovely. He’s the best. But the first time I saw him, it was Arrested Development and Veep, both overtaking most of the space in my brain. And I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t even speak anymore.

BuzzFeed: That’s very on-brand for him to be the first one at the party. 

And he didn’t leave first! He just showed up first. Love it.

Saeed Adyani / ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

11. The film’s supporting cast is also really impressive with Jean Smart, Jacki Weaver, and Brad Garrett. What was it like meeting them for the first time and finding out they’d be your on-screen family?

Literally every time someone brings it up, I’m still not convinced this is real. I’m still processing a year and a half later the fact that they’re in this movie. But it was amazing. They’re as pro as it gets. And every little bit that I got to work with them was amazing. Being in a coma [as Bea] and watching them work was also extremely thrilling. I definitely didn’t keep my eyes closed for all of that. 

They’re all just lovely, wonderful people and it was just a joy. I think it speaks to the movie and how powerful and lovely the whole thing is, because all these people wanted to do it.

Photo courtesy of Momentum Pictures

12. Have you ever taken anything from set after filming wrapped?

I took Sally Draper’s necklace. The one with her initials on it.

Amc / ©AMC/courtesy Everett Collection

13. Name a celebrity on your bucket list to work with in a project

Adam Driver. Oh, and my other one is Jack Black. Those are my two. I just love their work.

Mondadori Portfolio / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images, Kevin Winter / Getty Images

14. What’s been your favorite red carpet look so far?

Ooh, that’s a really good question. I am blanking on every red carpet I’ve ever been on in my life before but that’s fine. [Laughs] We’re gonna find something. 

Oh, I wore a Dior to the Emmys in 2015. It was kind of like a top with a peplum and a pant. Almost like a dress and pants. It’s probably still one of the more memorable looks, to this day. I think about how [at the time] it was risky in a way that I liked but it was also still my style in a way that I really dug. I also wear a Delpozo dress to the Emmys in 2013 that I loved it. It had flowers on it, and it made me feel really, really fun.

Steve Granitz / WireImage, Jason Laveris / FilmMagic

15. And finally, what do you hope viewers will take away from Wildflower?

It’s really a movie about family. And it’s a movie about love and joy and finding, like, your own kind of voice. There’s so many overarching messages in the movie that are really positive and beautiful about just being who you are and loving who you are.

Photo courtesy of Momentum Pictures

And be sure to check out Kiernan in Wildflower which is currently playing in theaters, On Demand, and VOD.