Natalie Portman reveals the “sexy line” Haynes suggested she say to Julianne Moore.
The camera is a mirror.
But while filming, Portman and Moore were not actually able to see their reflections.
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in ‘May December’.Everett Collection
“We were looking into the camera and there were marks,” explains Portman.
We had marks to look at that were our own reflection and then the other’s reflection.
So you had to go back and forth between little Xs remembering which one you’re reacting to."
“We are used to this in terms of film acting,” adds Moore.
“When you’re actually shooting into a mirror, you’re often looking into a lens.
We had to really remember which was which, as well as do these scenes in all one take.
“We were a team,” says Moore of shooting these scenes with Portman.
“She’s copying my gestures in real-time.
We’re looking at ourselves in the mirror, we’re looking at each other in the mirror.
I make a gesture she’ll copy the gesture.
Gracie feels affirmed by her copying of the gesture.
Are they seeing anything?”
“My character asks, ‘What was your mother like?'”
“And Julie’s character says, ‘Beautiful.
She was beautiful,’ as she’s doing my makeup.
This is also where Haynes’ direction came into play, layering in subtextual sensuality.
“Which is such a great direction to make that a sexy line.”
“I chose to keep an observant distance from the action with sustained shots,” he notes.
May Decemberis now streaming on Netflix.
Want more movie news?
