Carey Mulligan joined Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 on Thursday morning to discuss her roles in the recent Oscar-nominated biopic Maestro and the Golden Globe-nominated erotic thriller Saltburn.
The 38-year-old BAFTA-winning actress spoke about directing and starring opposite Bradley Cooper in last year's hit biopic Maestro, before detailing how she approached the role of Poor Dear Pamela in Saltburn “had secured.
Maestro is a 2023 American biographical romantic drama film revolving around the relationship between American homosexual composer Leonard Bernstein, played by Bradley, and Carey's character – his actress wife Felicia Montealegre.
Carey told Lauren, “I was so surprised at how much having my director there helped me.” He could basically influence how I did something by the way he played his role…
“It would cause some kind of reaction in me because he would do it a certain way rather than giving me a verbal cue to do something different.”
Carey Mulligan, 38, sat down with Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 on Thursday morning to discuss her roles in the recent Oscar-nominated biopic Maestro and Golden Globe-nominated erotic thriller Saltburn
The 38-year-old BAFTA-winning actress spoke about what it was like directing and starring alongside Bradley Cooper in last year's biopic Maestro (pictured).
Maestro is a 2023 American biographical romantic drama film revolving around the relationship between American homosexual composer Leonard Bernstein, played by Bradley, and Carey's character – his actress wife Felicia Montealegre.
Carey plays poor Pamela in Emerald Fennell's hit Saltburn.
The BAFTA-winning actress talked about what it was like directing and starring alongside Bradley Cooper in Maestro
Maestro is a 2023 American biographical romantic drama film centering on American homosexual composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, an actress
Maestro was Carey and Bradley's first project together, although they had known each other for years. Carey spoke about how Bradley's passion helped her let go of any embarrassment and fully embrace the role of Felicia.
She said: “He made it really easy and he just didn't care and did whatever he had to do to make his performance feel as good as possible…”
“I thought, ‘You know what? If I were a painter, I wouldn't be embarrassed about what I would have to do to paint a great canvas. I would make a mess and not worry about it. “So I did that and I’m really happy about it.”
To get into the role of Felicia, Carey took a trip to Chile to visit Felicia's extended family – but stayed longer than planned.
She said, “It was amazing.” I mean, I loved it. I've never been to South America, so I felt like I had to see where she came from and what she left…
“I think she was extraordinarily ambitious as an actress and artist and really brave to leave her hometown.” Since I had Covid there, I was there alone for two weeks…
“When you’re there, you actually feel like you’re on the other side of the world, and that was now, in 2022.”
Carey also spoke to Lauren about her work on Saltburn, where she played supporting character Poor Dear Pamela. She said, “Every time, Emerald.” [Fennell] Create something like no one else would have ever thought of…
Carey told Lauren, “I was so surprised at how much having my director there helped me.” He could basically influence how I did something by the way he played his role.
Carey spoke about how Bradley's passion helped her let go of any embarrassment and fully embrace the role of Felicia
“She directed Promising Young Woman, which was one of my favorite jobs ever. I just love the way she thinks and I love what she creates and the characters she creates and she was so specific about poor, dear Pamela. It was never Pamela…
“The script said 'Poor Dear Pamela,' and that's why she asked me to play a different role, like a smaller cameo, and I said, 'Em, could I please play Pamela?' Just so I can have poor dear Pamela on my resume forever.'
Saltburn reunited Carey with her long-time friend Rosamund Pike – which she admitted was a joy after their long-standing collaboration.
She said, “She’s a genius; she is hysterical. I was so excited because Ros and I have known each other since I was 18. I did my first job with Ros: we played sisters in Pride And Prejudice, then we did An Education together…
“So this was our third time working together and I just love her.” She's the most incredible actress – she can literally do anything.
Carey's next project is the sci-fi drama “Spaceman,” due out in March.
She said, “It's Adam Sandler, me and a big spider.” I mean, look at the trailer, that pretty much says it all. Directed by Yohan Renck, an incredible director who directed Chernobyl…
“We shot it in Prague and it's a very crazy, artsy, beautiful Adam in his Uncut Gems, Punch-Drunk Love mode.”
Carey also spoke with Lauren about her work on Saltburn, where she played supporting character Poor Dear Pamela, and her upcoming film Spaceman.
She said, “Every time, Emerald.” [Fennell] Create something no one else could have ever thought of. She directed Promising Young Woman, which was one of my favorite jobs ever. I just love the way she thinks.
Carey, who is married to Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons, also spoke about how music helps her in life: “The last piece I did was a pretty serious monologue – the first part was supposed to be funny, but it was pretty serious.” …
“The rest is called Girls And Boys.” And in the wings for that – because it was just me on stage for 90 minutes and I was beyond nervous, it was the scariest thing I've ever done – I did Cher – If I Could Turn Back Time belongs. Such a blast…
“I stood in the wings and just danced really loudly to Cher because then I couldn't hear the audience. “I couldn't feel like I was going out in front of the people. Marcus Mumford.
“And then, just as the lights went out, I literally dropped my headphones on the floor to go on stage – the nice stage manager picked them up – and then I went out and did it.”…
“And it was like I had to just block out reality until I got on stage.”
Carey has been married to Marcus Mumford since 2012 (pictured earlier this month)
She praised Saltburn director Emerald Fennell, who she previously worked with on 2020's Promising Young Woman