Chloë Grace Moretz is no longer that child actor. The 20-year-old is on a mission to prove she’s all grown up, starting with one of her toughest roles to date.
Chloë Grace Moretz is no longer that child actor. The 20-year-old is on a mission to prove she’s all grown up, starting with one of her toughest roles to date.
To say Chloë Grace Moretz is a wunderkind would be an understatement. At an age when the rest of us would be hoping we’d have enough money on our debit card to pay for dinner, she has an estimated fortune of well over $10 million and is one of Hollywood’s top young female stars.
Best known for her work in The Equalizer, Clouds of Sils Maria, Carrie, and the Kick-Ass series, Chloë also made headlines last year for passionately supporting Hillary Clinton, and for her whirlwind romance with Brooklyn Beckham. Recently, however, she confessed to having had a moment that obliged her to “slow down” and set aside more time for herself after a lifetime spent on movie sets and more than 50 film credits to her name. Before she really slows down, though,
Chloë has three new films in the pipeline. Later this year, she’ll be seen in the suspense drama November Criminals alongside Ansel Elgort, and Suspiria, the American remake of the Dario Argento horror classic that co-stars Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton.
But her next role is in Brain on Fire, where she plays a young woman battling an autoimmune disorder that attacks her brain and causes hallucinations, paranoia and psychotic outbursts. Based on the true story of New York Post journalist Susannah Cahalan, the film traces Susannah’s harrowing ordeal that saw her misdiagnosed by doctors and facing a lifetime spent in psychiatric institutions until a sceptical doctor steps in and discovers the true cause of her mental breakdown. Chloë tells us more about one of the most intensely dramatic roles she’s ever played.
What was it like playing Susannah in Brain on Fire?
It was sometimes frightening to imagine how people can become trapped in the healthcare system while being misdiagnosed and misunderstood. When the system defines you in a certain way, it’s hard to go against their version of what the truth is about what is wrong with you. Susannah, though, is a woman of incredible strength and character and she showed how you can overcome anything.
Was it exhausting to play a woman who suffers from hallucinations and psychotic outbursts?
There were some difficult days when I had to remind myself that I’m acting and to not lose myself in my character’s world. There’s always that line you have to draw so you don’t become overwhelmed or suffer with the role. I tried to think about everything Susannah went through, and how she lost several years of her life and her memory. And when I think of how strong and determined she is now after everything, that gave me a lot of strength.
Did you discuss the role with Susannah Cahalan prior to making the film?
I spoke to her a lot and tried to find out as much as I could from her about her experience. One of the ironic things about the film is that watching it helped Susannah piece together a lot of her own story because the disease had blocked out so much of her memory of that time. It helped to give her a clearer picture of what she went through.
Did anything about her story surprise you?
It was gratifying to know the New York Post stood behind her. They [realised] something was wrong with her, and that we really wanted to highlight that. You can’t point a finger [at someone] and think you know what’s really going on with them without looking really deeply into the person and the whole story.
What types of projects are you looking for now as compared to when you were a child star?
When I was younger, I often didn’t have so much choice in terms of my work because of my age. In recent years, I’ve been able to find many more complex and serious kinds of stories. I’m trying to choose roles that represent women honestly and in interesting ways. That’s very important to me. I also like working on films that mean something to me and help me grow as an individual. As I’m now a young adult, there are so many more kinds of roles I can play.
What’s your relationship with your family like?
We’re very supportive of each other. My mother has also taught me that blood is thicker than water. We’re a very close family although we’re probably a little crazy. But it’s normal for us and we all love and support each other.
Tell us about the house you bought for yourself in LA.
I finally have my own roof over my head. We still live veryclose but I felt... it was time for me to have my own placeI had the money, so I said “why not?”. I grew up with divorced parents and because of financial problems, mybrothers and I moved with our mother practically every two years. Now I can say, “This is my house, and I’m going to stay here forever!” It’s a very nice feeling.
Your house is still being renovated, but do you have a favourite spot yet?
The most extravagant part of the house is going to be the projection room, my little private cinema. I’m a movie buff and I could watch three movies every day if I had the time. I’ve already started collecting old movies like Rear Window. It’s going to be so much fun!
