Jessie Buckley has described director Maggie Gyllenhaal as a “soul sister” and “one of the most important women” in her life as the pair celebrated the world premiere of their new gothic romance, The Bride!, in London.
The 36-year-old actress leads the reimagining of the iconic Bride of Frankenstein alongside Christian Bale, with the film set for cinema release on March 6. The project, written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, offers a bold new take on the classic 1935 horror story.
Jessie Buckley said she relished the opportunity to give the famously silent character a voice for a new generation.
“Elsa Lanchester is on screen for about three minutes in the 1935 version, and she makes such an impact,” Buckley said, referencing The Bride of Frankenstein. “Still people dress up at Halloween as her, but she doesn't say anything. She's on the precipice of it; she wants to say something. And I think that was Maggie's first curiosity – ‘What if this woman has something to say?’”
“To be able to give voice to that ‘What if?’ and to really find all the colours of that curiosity and self-discovery and voice… You can only imagine, I loved it.”
Inspired by the 1935 original, which starred Elsa Lanchester, the new film follows Frankenstein’s Monster (Bale) as he journeys to 1930s Chicago to seek the help of scientist Dr Euphronious, played by Annette Bening, to create a companion by reviving a murdered young woman — the Bride, portrayed by Buckley.
The premiere comes just days after Buckley’s BAFTA triumph for her leading role in Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.
Gyllenhaal, whose previous directorial effort The Lost Daughter starred Buckley alongside Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Paul Mescal, used the occasion to call for greater representation behind the camera.
“Someone told me recently that only 7% of the movies made last year were made by women, but so many of the movies we are talking about this year are those 7%,” she said.
“I think that people are interested in a new voice and a new perspective and a new language, and when you let different people behind the camera, you will get something new. Everyone says they want something new, well, then different people have to make the movies.”
The Bride! also features performances from Peter Sarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal and Penélope Cruz.
Buckley and Gyllenhaal are set to continue their promotional tour with an appearance on The Late Late Show, hosted by Patrick Kielty, later this evening.
The film opens in cinemas nationwide from March 6.
