Greta Gerwig stars in the new Whit Stillman movie, "Damsels in Distress," and the 28-year-old actress is once again getting rave reviews, for her portrayal of a depressed college student.
Gerwig first gained notice in 2010's "Greenberg" and was one of the few bright spots in last year’s "Arthur" remake. She spoke to The Huffington Post about being pegged as the indie world's latest flavor of the month and whom she secretly wishes to be, at least some of the time.
You must have felt very clever doing "Damsels in Distress."
I felt like I had to use all of my available brain capacity to make sure I was as literate and articulate as [director Whit Stillman] was. I mean there’s so few characters written as well as this, but also, you’re being asked to deal with ideas and that’s very rare, so it was really fun.
Are you the new indie queen?
(Laughs) I don’t know. I feel like they keep giving the crown to different people. I don’t know that I’m the new indie queen, but I do know I’ve been very lucky to have had opportunities to work with really great directors, so if that counts as being an indie queen, then sure.
You know, like Miss America, your reign will end one day.
That’s why you have to be like Julia Roberts; then your reign never ends. Then you’re just going to be Julia. Of course, I’ll hand off my crown at some point. The great thing is, I’ve never felt like I’ve gotten to a point of overexposure. I feel like I’ve stayed pretty under the radar, which is such a gift even though at certain times I’ve had a feeling of, "Oh, I want to be a movie star!" But I actually feel like it’s made my experience much more pleasurable because I have been able to do all these incredible films, but I haven’t been in a place where it interferes with my life at all.
But you have pangs of wanting to be Julia Roberts.
Sometimes, yeah, but who doesn’t? But I also have pangs of wanting to be Hillary Clinton, so in general I just have pangs that I admire people for different reasons and want to emulate them. But mostly I just want to be myself.
Mostly.
Yeah, mostly. Sometimes I just want to be someone other than me but mostly just me.
You sound quirky. Are you quirky?
What does quirky mean? People always say, "Oh, you’re quirky."
Indie cute, how’s that?
When I think of quirky, it doesn’t seem womanly; it seems like a very juvenile thing and I would like to be worldly and wise.
How old are you?
I’m 28.
You have plenty of time to be worldly and wise.
I want it to start now! Quirky makes me feel like I’m 15 and into emo rock.
Does it sound patronizing if I say you’re adorable?
No, please!
OK, you’re adorable.
(Laughs) Thank you.