Mr. Church is the kind of film that leaves you grateful for the friends and friendships you have in your life. It’s a warm tale that sees Eddie Murphy step away from his comedic persona and into drama. Remember Dreamgirls? His role as Jimmy Early earned him an Oscar nomination. In Mr. Church, Murphy plays a cook hired to care for a young girl, Charlotte (Britt Robertson), and her dying mother (Natascha McElhone). The short stint job turns into a lifelong friendship between Mr. Church and Charlotte. I recently had the chance to catch up with Britt Robertson to talk about working on the film, and working alongside Eddie Murphy.
AD: What draws you to a project in general when you’re going through and reading a script?
BR: First, I read the story and think, will I have interesting things to do in this film? Do I like this character? Will I be able to explore her in a real way? Do I see myself in this role? It’s a little self-centered to start, it starts a little less about the directors and the producers, and more about what I can bring to a role. First and foremost, I have to be confident with what I’m doing. Secondly, the fact that this was Susan’s story and she had experienced it in her life, and it meant so much to her that she wanted to make a movie about it twenty years later, and that was really beautiful to me. I loved the idea of Eddie Murphy in this role.
AD: That’s something that was great about the film, it was filled with so many great performances, and yours was one of them. What did Susan tell you when you came on board?
BR: There wasn’t a whole lot of specifics because I knew early on that this wasn’t entirely her story and that it was loosely based on a true friendship. I wanted to have the open interpretation early on knowing that she was going to be close by during shooting. I knew we would always have her as a backup, but to bring my own interpretation to it as well. What was most important to me was finding out all the little details of her life, and his life, and what inspired her most. There were certain books that really influenced her love of writing and her love for literature, that was completely brought on by her Mr. Church and all of the wonderful skills that he has in the film; he can paint, he can play the piano, and it seems like he’s a very well-rounded individual. All of those stories that she was able to tell me were extremely helpful in knowing how to relate to Eddie in those moments.
AD: Was there an audition process for you in this role?
BR: There was. I’ve worked with Cinelou before, the production company. After I read the script I went and met with the director, a few of the producers, and then I had a formal audition in front of him, and [sings] “Then I booked the role.”
AD: There are two people playing your character. The younger Charlotte is a bit of a brat and makes his life a bit difficult. The older Charlotte is a bit more mature. What was that like for you?
BR: They shot the younger version of me first. Natalie Coughlin who plays young Charlotte did all her work at the beginning of the shoot, so I wanted to spend as much time around I could just to see what she was doing so that we were on the same page. It was nice to get a feel for how she was setting the tone. She is so brilliant in the movie, I think she has one of the best performances in the movie. It’s a really hard role to start off that story being so young, and to keep it so grounded and real while giving it as many dimensions as she did. What she did was the real stand out for me.
AD: Going back to your character being a bookworm, did you actually go and read any of the classics?
BR: It’s so funny that you say that because I remember …God, what was the very first book that goes on throughout the movie? What was it even called? I remember getting it from the bookstore, I started reading it, and it took me around two weeks to get through the first ten pages. I thought, “Geez, this is a real tough cookie to read?”
AD: Was it a Tale of Two Cities? No?
BR: I want to say that’s what it is, I’ve read that before. I haven’t seen the movie in so long.
AD: I saw it last week and I can’t remember. [laughs].
BR: I will definitely figure it out. It’s the book that she brings to him at my age, and says, “I just want to know more about you Mr. Church.” That whole scene. I definitely tried and gave it my best shot.
AD: Talking about that scene, and that relationship. It’s such a beautiful tale about friendship. You and Mr. Church have such a wonderful bond. Did you and Eddie hang out much?
BR: No, we just had rehearsals. That’s what was so great. My whole story is trying to get to know this man who’s been taking care of my character for so long. He’s been nurturing, raising and inspiring her. He hopes to get her through these huge things in life and she knows nothing about him. There’s something really wonderful about having Eddie, he’s got this mysteriousness about him. He’s very shy and quiet and it worked perfectly, and I had to work to get to know the real Eddie which parallels nicely with Charlie trying to get to know the real Mr. Church?
AD: Did he ever give you any advice?
BR: Indirectly, I would say. Eddie did something really incredible in this film that I haven’t seen in anyone else. Just the drastic change in his behavior. We’re so used to seeing him in larger than life, over the top, that smile and that life. What I thought was really wonderful in this movie is he still brings all that joy and happiness, but in a soft and understated way, and that was a huge lesson for me in that you can communicate the same ideas without having it be the same. There are so many different ways to communicate story and it was a real lesson in simplifying for me. So, yes, he did teach me some things even if he didn’t mean to.
AD: There are many scenes that stand out, but one that made me gasp was the car park scene. What was that like to shoot?
BR: I had a migraine that day. I had a really bad migraine. I haven’t had many disabling migraines before, but that was the one day that I had experienced it. I knew I had a big day, it was hot outside, and I had to wear the pregnancy belly. There was a lot going on, and I remember saying to the director, “Oh my God, I feel like shit. I’ve never felt so bad in my life.” He said, “You know what’s amazing, we can sort of tell on-screen, in a good way.” Because in that scene I’m not looking good. It’s grim, it’s a grim point in the story and it totally worked for the scene, but I remember it being nightmarish.
AD: They can be a nightmare when you have them. OK, so, aside from that scene, is there another big moment that stands out for you?
BR: One of the big moment’s I love is the wedding. I loved it because you get to see everything. You get to see Izzy, that relationship. You see Larson’s story come full circle. There’s a beautiful moment where Mr. Church and Charlotte dancing and there was something so joyful and sweet, and I recall thinking, “This is something Charlie would love in her life.” It was very much like that for me, dancing with Eddie during that scene. It was a special moment that I’ll remember.
AD: How did this change you as an actress?
BR: I think this is the first time that I spent with a child actor, especially one that looked at me as their pseudo mommy. That in a weird way was changing. It was the first time I realized how much influence I had on a young person, she’s a young actor, this young kid and she’s a little girl who should be going to school. It was the first time I was super aware of what I was doing on a set and how she is taking this in.
I remember working with McKenna and being aware of how I dealt with certain situations. If I didn’t understand something, I’d speak up and make it clear. We talked about everything, and I think it’s a nice way to be on set; clear, concise and controlled, and it was a good way for me to shape up.
AD: I’m going to ask you a fun question… Do you still collect aprons?
BR: YES! [laughs] I do! I am a huge apron collector.
AD: How many do you have?
BR: I think I have 12.
AD: That’s a lot! Do you use them?
BR: Some I use for cooking. Others, I just store as my collection.
AD: I have to say the film is such a beautiful tale of friendship, it made me go out and message all my friends. I was actually telling this to Susan McMartin the other day.
BR: Right? That’s exactly what I want everyone to take away from the film. It should make you appreciate people that you have in your life and want to love them harder and work a bit better.
Mr. Church opens on September 16