Elizabeth Debicki Says Her ‘MaXXXine’ Character Is Like This Director

The big picture

• Elizabeth Debicki stars as director Liz Bender in Ti West's slasher film.
  MaXXXine
  in theaters July 5.
• Debicki finds similarities between West and his character, praising West's use of horror for performance and messaging.
• Debicki respects her character's perseverance as a director in the 1980s, a time when women were underrepresented in film.

She has played Diana, Princess of Walesa talented golfer during the roaring 20s, and a golden high priestess in space but Elizabeth Debicki's last role he sees her pass behind the camera. The Crown, The great Gatsbyi The Guardians of the Galaxy The star of the franchise will appear next You Westthe slasher, MaXXXinewhere she will play Liz Bender, the director of the fictional film, The Puritan II. During a chat with Perri Nemiroff for the latest installment of Collider Ladies Night, Nemiroff asked Debicki if he drew any inspiration for his character from the many personalities he has worked with during his time in the industry. Praising the filmmaker behind her latest project and all X franchise, Debicki admitted that he spotted some similarities between West and Liz Bender.

“One of the things I loved, and he's probably going to hate me saying this, though
there is a bit of Ti in Liz
, I think. Ti is a very intelligent director who understands this
horror is an excellent trojan for messages and for performance
, to give people opportunities to do really juicy acting work. So, sometimes I think there's a bit of him in her. I think what really made me laugh when I first read the script is how much she talks. She alone
loves
to talk. I know some directors who—and I love them—like to talk. Believe me, actors like to talk too, of course, but I think there is a tone to it. I've never worked with anyone like Liz Bender.”

Elizabeth Debicki is grateful for her work with the most important directors in the industry

From west to Baz Luhrmann, James Gunn a Steve McQueen, Debicki is fully aware that his talent has landed him on the sets of some gargantuan productions. Her role as Liz Bender certainly gave the actress time to reflect on some of those fond memories, taking a moment to tell Nemiroff about her feelings and experience on the set of Christopher Nolanthe science fiction classic, principle.

“Again, I've worked with the most beautiful human beings, even people I was really scared to work with, and I thought, 'Oh my God, they're going to be terrifying and really ruthless.' I was really nervous to work with someone like Chris Nolan I mean
he's like this movie god
. I said, “What will this set look like?” I mean,
I just love it
. I think he's a great person and a genius. So I'm very lucky that even the people I thought could be scary, they've been extremely kind and good.”

Elizabeth Debicki has nothing but respect for her character “MaXXXine.”

In MaXXXinethe audience will be transported to the 1980s as the titular character, played by Mia Goth, pursues his dream of becoming a star. Her will to succeed will set Maxine on a path that will inevitably cross paths with Liz Bender's, changing their lives forever. With nothing but the utmost respect for what her character was able to achieve as a filmmaker in a decade when women weren't often working in film as directors, Debicki shared her vision of Liz's passion and perseverance.

“Liz, there's an arch to her, but for me, as an actor who plays her, I think there's a realness to it because she's also kind of a creature of her time. I think trying to be a director in the 80s, a director , i
there are a handful of amazing women who directed movies
– they would have been
fighting tooth and nail for every podium
and everything they have to have to make decisions, and I think she's a product of that.
It is a kind of accumulation of hardness
this is the result of having to fight
really
very difficult to be where you are, and I think I identify with that.

Most people in the business, it's like, people's careers may seem like a linear rise, but they're not. They are always up and down, full of vulnerability. And so I found it quite cathartic. I don't know a female director like Liz Bender, they exist, but for me it was very satisfying to play someone on the other side of the lens.

MaXXXine hits theaters July 5. Tickets are now on sale. Check out Nemiroff's full interview with Debicki below.

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