Wish You Were Here tells a tragic love story, and the stars are all about it.
How Did Reading the Script First Affect the Stars?
“I Fell In Love With Every Single Character.”
I saw myself in every single character.
It was kind of easy.
Isabelle Fuhrman: I worked with Julia, and she sent me the script.
She [said], ‘I’d love for you to read it.
Think about being Charlotte.’
And coping with ghosting.
But I really just loved the movie and the script and devoured the book in like two hours.
And it was like a no-brainer.
Mena Massoud: As an actor, I’m always looking for arcs, the character arc.
A
nd so I wanted to go through that journey.
I fell in love with the character.
I fell in love with the story.
And even from a physical aspect as well, I shaved my head for this role.
So, it ticked a lot of boxes for me.
And then also getting to work with Isabelle, Gabby, and Julia.
I love working with titans of industry, and Julia Stiles is definitely that.
I want to learn from her.
It was a no-brainer.
Isabelle Fuhrman: I think that’s the beauty of casting, actually.
It’s like when a director and a casting director put together who they want to be involved.
How am I going to play somebody that’s kind of lost?
And I was like, but what if she doesn’t think that she is?
She doesn’t think that she’s lost.
She thinks she has a direction.
And so I think I was able to play with certain parts of myself within it.
And I think that’s my favorite part about acting.
You find things that are very different from you in these characters.
And then it’s possible for you to play with certain aspects of yourself within them.
you’re able to remove certain parts of yourself.
And then, very often, I leave a role and take things with me.
There are definitely things that I brought with me from Charlotte.
Gabby Kono-Abdy: And then you play off of one another and discover new things in that playing.
I didn’t see that.'
It was so easy to be around you and be in a scene with you.
I was like, ‘This is so easy.
Like why do I need to say what’s on the page?
Like we should just be tickling each other.’
What Does Moving Too Fast Look Like In a Relationship?
“I Think 90-Day Fiance Is Totally Appropriate.”
Gabby Kono-Abdy: Well, I mean, I got engaged to my husband after 90 days.
So I am a big lover of love, so Helen and I have that in common.
I think 90-day fiance is totally appropriate.
Mena Massoud: I didn’t know that, by the way.
That’s still perfect for Helen.
Kono-Abdy: I know.
Maybe it was like a little method acting going on, unbeknownst to me.
I believe that when you know, you know.
Massoud: Yeah, I think we’ve all had those moments.
There’s an immediate connection.
You make eye contact, and there’s just something there.
It probably happened to me when I was in elementary school.
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It happened again when I was in high school.
I think it happens often.
And I think that’s such a beautiful message because I feel like that’s very true.
And also, it’s not like it’s easy.
Every relationship has ups and downs.
They find the right person at the right time.
That this is not justher life isn’t over because this is over.
What Should Audiences Take Away From Wish You Were Here?
“… Have a Good Cry, and Come Out Feeling a Little Lighter.”
Mena Massoud: I personally want people to come see it.
And, you know, let a little bit out of from their experiences.
I think we’ve all been touched by cancer.
And cancer is a part of this film.
And that’s something that sometimes big blockbuster action films don’t give you.
So, I want people to use this film to let it all out.
So just hold the people you look tighter and closer.
Gabby Kono-Abdy: And to remind people to take risks, right?
The full interview can be viewed below:
Wish You Were Hereis now playing in limited theaters.
