Written by Marissa-Catherine Carrarini
Thursday, 24 July 2008 00:00
Film -
Europe
It would seem that Georgia Groom - the captivating youthful starlet in Gurinder Chadha's new film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging - is on the fast track to acting greatness. Not only is her performance of the precocious and intense Georgia Nicolson extremely funny, but Groom manages to act out an elegant and poignant understanding of early teenage life that is convincing.
The character you play in ‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’ is very precocious. Do you think she is a character that teen audiences (in the UK and abroad) can identify with?
Definitely! Georgia Nicolson is a version of all teenagers. Everyone can relate to her because she is going through the many pains of growing up. Sure, she’s a larger than life character but I think people can look at her and remember the times when they did that or said this. Also, for the American audiences, I think it will be great because ‘Angus thongs…’ is a very British take on the teen film market. We only ever see American teen films - I think Georgia Nicolson will show them that there are girls all over the world growing up just like them!
What was it like working with director Gurinder Chadha?
Gurinder was great to work with. She’s strong and very, very good at her job. There are not many directors that see the process of film making from all aspects. She is great to work with because she has clear ideas and listens to her actors and crew members and takes it all into account. But more than anything, Gurinder is like a big kid! She was forever making jokes and pulling pranks. She is fantastic and I would jump at the chance to do it again.
There is a rumour on the internet suggesting that you and co-star Aaron Johnson [who plays “Sex God” Robbie in the film] were more than just friends. Tell us the gossip.
A rumour on the internet? (Laughs) Well, I promise it is nothing of the sort! Aaron and I get along really well, as did the entire cast; he is a lovely guy and a great actor. This is so funny! I think that any chemistry we may have had at the start of the shoot was quickly changed into a brotherly/sisterly type of relationship. I speak to and see Aaron a lot. He’s really cool and sweet but we are definitely just friends. I am positive he would say this too!
When did you first realize you wanted to be an actress?
I never realised it, it just sort of happened. Acting never interested me before. In fact I played rugby and football, but I started doing some local shows and then got into The Television Workshop in Nottingham, and it just happened.
You starred in ‘London to Brighton’ at the age of 13. What was it like working on such a bleak and gritty film when you were still quite young?
London to Brighton, was actually so much fun. For me and everyone else on the set, it was really enjoyable. The cast and crew bonded so much and in between takes of crying, smoking and hysteria, we laughed, had pillow fights and joked about! I learnt so much from Paul (the director) and my fellow cast are amazing. I get a weird kind of rush out of filming scenes that require a lot from the actor such as screaming and crying. It’s like a release!
At Emden film festival, people asked me if I needed to have any counselling or help sleeping which we found hilarious! Because I was treated like an adult and allowed to make creative decisions I stayed really unaffected by any grittiness or the subject matter. It was actually quite an eye opener!
‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’ is set to be a big hit. How to you feel about your rising fame?
It’s weird as I don’t really think of it as fame. To me it’s something I really enjoy and love. I definitely don’t do it to be famous. . I don’t think I really want to be “famous”, I just want to act. I think it’s a harsh reality that in order to pursue a dream such as acting it has to come with the fame. I don’t think a lot of famous people who we see week after week and who have their private lives splashed across the national tabloids enjoy it.
Are you worried about having your teenage years in the public eye?
I guess it is a worry, but hopefully it won’t happen! I am quite a private person anyway and for me, having things publicised in a bad way is very worrying. I jut want to stay normal and have a normal childhood; I think I will just have to be more careful than all my friends! But to be honest- I’m pretty well behaved anyway.
Who are your acting heroes?
My biggest inspiration or hero is Jodie Foster. I think the career path she has taken is great and it’s similar to the one I would like to take. I admire the way she has such a high profile but is also a very private person, and her work is amazing. Then I would say Samantha Morton is a hero too. She went to the Television workshop where I attend so I have always been interested; I love her in Control (which is also one of favourite films at the moment!) I think James McAvoy is inspiring, too. I also love watching Ellen Page. It’s interesting to watch someone a bit younger make some great moves. Hard Candy is amazing and also Juno.
So far you have played in very British films. Are you tempted to star in Hollywood blockbusters?
Personally, I love making British films because I am British and think we have a great film industry here and some of the most amazing directors and photographers etc. I love work by people such as Mike Leigh. I know, however, that if a part came up in an American film that was right for me and was something that I was really inspired and interested by then I would jump at the chance, but at the same time, if a low budget Brit flick came up that had a part I loved then I wouldn’t turn it down either. Big Budgets are not always impressive, I look at the scripts and the people involved and make my decisions from there.
