Julianne Moore on the Rare Honour of a Film Penned for Her
Julianne Moore reflects on the unique experience of starring in a film crafted specifically for her by director Todd Haynes, and the creative partnership that followed.
In the world of cinema, few accolades compare to having a script tailored with a particular actor in mind. For Julianne Moore, this milestone arrived unexpectedly, marking a significant moment in her career. Her breakthrough came in the 1990s, notably with Todd Haynes’ drama Safe, where she portrayed a woman beset by a mysterious illness, seemingly allergic to modern life. The film showcased her abilities and set the stage for future collaborations with Haynes, though she never anticipated he would one day write an entire screenplay for her.
When the opportunity arose, Moore was quick to accept.
“Oh, I was so excited. Todd had called me,”
she recalled in conversation with Terry Keefe.
“You know, we had been in contact over the years after Safe. And one day, he just called me out of the blue and said, ‘Hey! It’s me. How are you? Listen, I’ve just finished a script that I kind of wrote with you in mind. Can I send it?’ And I was like, ‘Send it! Send it!’ I got it on a Saturday morning, and I read it on the subway going to the gym”.
Far From Heaven: A Role Crafted for Moore
The resulting film, Far From Heaven, is set in the 1950s and centres on a housewife whose seemingly idyllic existence unravels after she discovers her husband, played by Dennis Quaid, in a compromising situation. The story delves into themes of societal pressure, gender expectations, sexuality, and race, all handled with Haynes’ characteristic subtlety. Moore immediately recognised the depth of the material and the significance of being chosen for such a part.
“A funny thing happens to you when you read a script like that,”
Moore explained.
“You’re thrilled in your bones or something. Just the idea that there was material like that out there, and he wanted me to do it. It moved me so tremendously. And he was like, ‘Do you like it?’ I said, ‘I’m in! I am so on board with this!’ It’s an incredible honour to have something written for you that way. I’ve had a couple of parts written for me before, but I’ve never had a whole movie written for me”.
Critical Acclaim and Ongoing Collaboration
Her performance in Far From Heaven earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, though the statuette ultimately went to Nicole Kidman for The Hours. Nevertheless, Moore’s portrayal was widely praised, and her creative partnership with Haynes continued, leading to further collaborations on I’m Not There, Wonderstruck, and May December.
Moore spoke warmly of their working relationship, describing it as a genuine partnership.
“I’m so honoured to be kind of in a partnership with him because he’s such a tremendous talent”,
she said, noting how their approaches to preparation and performance complement each other. She also highlighted Haynes’ meticulous vision, adding,
“When you look at Todd’s lens, he communicates so much emotion in a shot, in a frame. So for me to work with someone like that who is so careful, so nuanced, so completed in a sense, gives me tremendous freedom to do my own emotional stuff.”