The lovely Keri Russell talks about starring in her first romantic comedy, improvisation and collaborating with writer/director Jerusha Hess.
Keri Russell returns to the indie film scene with Austenland, the Sundance 2013 favorite about the lengths one woman will go to live out her dreams. Russell stars as Jane Hayes, a single Austen-enthusiast who obsessively dedicates her life to the characters and world of the author. Naturally, she books her ticket to Austenland, a theme park that offers guests the full Regency era experience, complete with dancing, sewing, parlor games and, of course, love.
We recently got the chance to speak with actress Keri Russell about the talented cast of Austenland, her ideal amusement park, and the upcoming Summer 2014 blockbuster, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Tribeca: Have you always been an Austen fan?
Keri Russell: Not to the extent that Jane in Austenland is. [Laughs] We didn't keep true to the world of Jane Austen as much as we kept true to the idea of what's funny when someone's obsessed with this world and completely immersed in it. We sort of gave ourselves that lazy freedom.
Tribeca: Do you remember your first experience of reading Jane Austen?
KR: I think I had an awareness mostly of Pride and Prejudice and maybe Sense and Sensibility. Once the remakes started coming out, I definitely went and saw all of those movies. I vividly remember re-watching Colin Firth in the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice in preparation. As he was walking out of the lake I just remember thinking, Gosh, this is long.' [Laughs]
Tribeca: Well, you have to wait a long time for him to emerge from the pond in that wet shirt.
KR: [laughs] Too long!
Tribeca: Your filmography is so extensive. From The Americans to Dark Skies to Waitress, we can see that you're not afraid to switch up genres and/or media. Have you always wanted to do a romantic comedy in this vein?
KR: I haven't been seeking it out, but it definitely was fun. My draw was Jerusha. I was familiar with her work; I thought she had a really unique, fun voice. It was just special and weird, and I just thought that working with her on a story of this kind could be fun. And it was. The combination of the quirky production design (including sight gags) with her poppy fun music choices made the experience really hilarious. She really made the story hers.
Tribeca: Was it refreshing to work on a project spearheaded by a powerful group of women like Hess, Shannon Hale and Stephenie Meyer?
KR: People have asked a lot about that you know it's certainly not something I sought out just for the women factor. As far as producers go, they were behind the scenes. I didn't have much involvement with Stephenie, although she is wonderful and, to be honest, she single-handedly got the movie made. So in that way she's incredibly powerful and I am very appreciative, but I didn't have much collaboration with the production trio. My collaboration was truly with Jerusha.
Tribeca: This movie has an interesting commentary on fandom in general. Was it interesting to step inside that world? Were you already familiar with fanatical fans with Felicity?
KR: I don't think anyone is paying money to pretend to be college students, but if they are, that's amazing. [Laughs] The idea of an Austenland where ladies go to romance and attend a ball with a marriage proposal at the end of the week is so delicious and embarrassing to me.The idea that you're so into this fantasy world- that you're so deep in it that you would go do that, is so heartbreaking and true and vulnerable and funny. And I also love that this is women's idea of real romance while men have strip clubs or whatever they do. [Laughs]
Tribeca: You get to play off two fantastic leading men: Bret McKenzie, who had never really had a leading role like this-
KR: Yeah, he was awesome, that guy. He was great.
Tribeca: And also JJ Field. Can you talk about working with two exemplary Austen leading men?
KR: It was really fun. I love the idea of the brooding actor that you think is unattainable, but all the ladies love him and try to figure out what's on his mind. On the other hand, you have the hot worker guy with the wheelbarrow, you know? I think Jerusha struck a good balance casting those two roles. She did it really well.
"I did like the sequence where Jane gets all gussied up and gets to walk behind all the hot men and the butlers in slow motion."
Tribeca: Working with Jennifer Coolidge must have been a lot of fun.
KR: Yeah, she's the best.
Tribeca: Did you have the opportunity to do a lot of improvisation on set?
KR: That's what she does so well. I love her in all those Christopher Guest movies too. She kind of comes on and just goes for it and you just have to hang on for dear life, hoping you don't blow one of the takes by laughing. She goes in crazy, insane directions, and does it so well.
Tribeca: Was there any time for rehearsal or were you all just kind of thrown in?
KR: We talked about it for a couple days. There wasn't a lot of time for rehearsal, but we did talk between shots to share ideas. Nothing too extensive. A lot of the actors in the film are comedians and really comfortable in that improv world. I think between Jane Seymour and Jennifer Coolidge, four line scenes would become thirty line scenes. It was riff, riff, riff. That's what makes the movie hilarious.
Tribeca: You get to live out a lot of women's fantasies by entering the world of Jane Austen. You dance, flirt, play piano (terribly) and even get caught in a rainstorm. Which scene was the most fun to shoot?
KR: I really loved working with Jennifer. Every take, every scene, was just so fun because it was fresh every time. You just watch her and try to react and be in the moment. What's cool about a
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The lovely Keri Russell talks about starring in her first romantic comedy, improvisation and collaborating with writer/director Jerusha Hess. 
