We weren’t faking
any of those wrestles
or arguments or cud-
dles. We were living
[together]; when I got
there, we had to hit
the ground running and
get to know each other
very quickly. That, for
me, was easy because
we all understood one
another and had the
same sense of humor.
We had dinner nights:
Every week we’d try
to do a dinner and
have a bit of a slumber
evening. At that time,
it was getting cold and
cozy, so we were all
making mulled wines
and cooking Bolognese.
It was very idyllic.You also got to play
opposite Meryl Streep
(as Aunt March) a lot.
Were you intimidated?
Weirdly, no. I mean,
yes, obviously. But when
you’re with someone
who just breathes and
you’re transfixed by
them, you feel at peace.
It doesn’t matter what
you do; they’re there,
and they are going to
make it magnificent each
time. There’s nothing
better than acting with
someone who’s incredi-
ble. It makes you feel
incredible. That’s the
best way of summarizing
acting in a scene with
Meryl Streep. [Laughs]Why is a Little Women
movie in 2019 important?
Every generation needs
it. I don’t think we will
ever stop needing a
story about four women
set in a time where
they were told they
couldn’t do things, and
yet they did. —DCAmy isn’t exactly the most
popular March sister.
How did you initially feel
about taking on the role?
I’ve never disliked her,
so I find it very funny
that people are like, “Oh
my God, you’re playing
the worst sister ever!”
There’s something
quite endearing about
someone who just
says exactly what they
think. Me getting my
little fingers on playing
both younger version
and older version
was like, “Oh my God,
what’s going to hap-
pen?” [Laughs]Amy and her relationship
with Jo get much more
focus in this version. How
did you and Greta
approach that?
I can imagine that people
hate [Amy] because
she’s never really been
beefed out. You never
really understand why
her and Laurie get
together; you wish that
it was Jo and Laurie,
so it doesn’t really make
sense. As fairy tales go,
that’s not the ideal way:
to let the bratty sister
win the guy. But coming
to this job, it was always
laid down that this was
very much an ensemble
cast, and Greta really
wanted to tell a story of
these girls, not just one
arc. It was very easy
bringing that to the table
[for Amy]. She deserved
a bit of spotlight, and
I hope people watch her
and go, “I get it. I under-
stand her now.”You, Saoirse Ronan, Emma
Watson, and Eliza Scanlen
really feel like sisters.
Did you bond off set?The Scene
Stealer