Maisy Stella on My Old Ass, Justin Bieber dancing and acting return
My Old Ass, starring Maisy Stella, immediately shot to the top of my films of the year list when I saw it at Sundance London back in June and it hasn’t been knocked off the top spot yet.
Megan Park‘s coming-of-age comedy-drama follows Elliott, a teenager who can’t wait to leave her family, friends and hometown and move to Toronto for university. She realises she’s been taking her life for granted when she meets her older self (played by Aubrey Plaza) while tripping on mushrooms.
Maisy is so charming and effortless in this delightful film, which made me laugh and cry in equal measure. You can read my review here.
My Old Ass marks her return to acting after taking time away following the end of the TV show Nashville. Here’s what she had to say about the movie during a post-screening Q&A at Sundance London:
On how she first read about the film and what excited her about Elliott
I read the script for (Park’s debut) The Fallout. I was like obsessed with the script for that and I auditioned for it. I did a call with Megan in like 2020 for that and literally fell in love with her. So when I got this script, I read it in seconds, it was so different from Fallout but she just like, goes for it. Her concepts and her way of writing is exciting and especially to read it early stages, to read it in script from, is just beyond.
I loved Elliott. One thing that I really loved about Elliott was… when I was growing up and I would watch movies, I’d feel like the lead character was always very like brooding and I was always change my personality to be more like them and then be rude to everyone in my life. I thought that the lead character being written so bright and lovable (and) friendly and open.
On Megan Park listening to her actors’ feedback
That’s one of Megan’s biggest strengths as a writer and director, she has no ego, like none. She just wants it to be good. The reason she’s so good (at) writing for this generation is because she actually listens. She’s not defensive and she will change it if it’s bumping. If something is coming out and we’re like, ‘Oooh, that’s not feeling right,’ it’s gone. I feel like a lot of people aren’t like that so she’s very, very special in that (way).
On performing the Justin Bieber dream sequence
I didn’t bring my musical talents into it, I want to get that really clear. I was not trying. I had Bieber in one ear and I was singing at the exact same time and trying to sound like 12-year-old Bieber but that was the actual most fun day ever. Something happened to me that day. The rest of the shoot, my vibe really switched… Maddie (Ziegler) and Kerrice (Brooks) are both like professional dancers. Kerrice literally like danced with like Rihanna, she’s such a genius, and obviously Maddie Ziegler, don’t even. So I was in the dance studio and they were teaching me the dance. Maddie’s been one of my best friends since I was like 10 years old so it was so fun. It was the best.
On sending in a boat tour video to help land the role
I have a little tuna can boat similar to that one in my real life so when I was auditioning for the movie, I was really doing anything I could to get their attention, I was really desperate for this part. So I sent them a boat tour video… which looking back is actually super embarrassing, I probably shouldn’t have done that. I have driven boats quite often and I don’t have a boating licence either so that might have been a little bit inspired by me. Driving a boat was fun. We had really awesome stunt coordinators that could tell I wasn’t gonna hurt anyone so they let me really do it. I did the tractor as well. I did have to get my boating licence. I have a Canadian boating licence now.
On her upcoming projects
I’m definitely definitely excited to do more film. I just finished a movie in Atlanta that I would not have ever in a million years booked without this one and without Sundance. I am so grateful to Sundance, it opened things up for me in a way that I never ever ever (would have expected). It’s absolutely insane. I’m really excited to do more film, I hope I get to do it for a long time. I really really enjoy it so much.
My Old Ass is in cinemas from Friday 27th September