McKenna Grace & Jojo Regina chat about What We Hide

Summary

In this heartfelt discussion, McKenna and Jojo reflect on their roles in a deeply emotional film. McKenna, playing a motherly figure, shares how stepping into the role felt natural due to her strong connection with Jojo, while Jojo, portraying a young girl forced to grow up quickly, speaks about the challenges of her role. Both actresses discuss the bond they developed on set, highlighting a powerful dinner table scene where their emotions truly connected. Their conversation emphasizes themes of love, protection, strength, and resilience, providing insight into the film's emotional depth.

Takeaways

• 😀 McKenna found it emotionally rewarding to play a mom role for the first time, feeling a natural connection with her on-screen daughter, Jojo.
• 😀 McKenna describes her experience on set as one where she wanted to protect and care for Jojo, resulting in an easy and genuine bond.
• 😀 Jojo reflected on her role as Jesse, a character who grows up quickly and faces a rough situation, learning the importance of embracing small moments despite challenges.
• 😀 Jojo highlighted the emotional depth of her character, saying that her own emotional personality matched Jesse's struggles and resilience.
• 😀 McKenna's portrayal of the mom role was praised by Jojo, who mentioned how it was amazing to have McKenna as a guiding figure both on and off-screen.
• 😀 Jojo shared that playing a character in such a challenging situation helped her connect with the complexity of her role and deepened her understanding of life's unpredictability.
• 😀 The bond between McKenna and Jojo was strengthened through their scenes together, especially during emotionally intense moments like the dinner table fight scene.
• 😀 Jojo emphasized that McKenna’s talent and strength made it easier for her to access emotional highs, such as anger and sadness, during intense scenes.
• 😀 Both McKenna and Jojo praised each other's performances, with McKenna acknowledging Jojo's strength and maturity for such a young actor.
• 😀 The actresses expressed mutual admiration and deep respect for each other, fostering a strong working relationship that enhanced their performances in the film.

Q & A

How did McKenna feel about playing a motherly role in this film?

McKenna felt it was a new experience for her, as she hadn't taken on a motherly role before. She described it as easy because her bond with Jojo was so natural and strong, almost as if it was real. From the moment she met Jojo, she instinctively wanted to protect and care for her.

Did McKenna feel like this was her first mom role on set?

Yes, McKenna described it as feeling like her first mom role. She mentioned how it was different to be the older person on set and to look after someone, particularly given her age at the time of filming (around 15 or 16).

What did McKenna think about her relationship with Jojo during filming?

McKenna found their relationship on set to be very natural. She was emotionally invested in caring for Jojo, and it felt like a genuine, protective bond. She expressed how easy it was to connect with Jojo and be in that role.

How did Jojo feel about her character, Jesse, and the challenges she faced?

Jojo described Jesse as a strong character, but emphasized how Jesse's journey is about accepting that you can't control everything that happens to you. Instead, Jesse focuses on cherishing small moments and continuing forward despite adversity. Jojo found the role emotionally challenging but rewarding.

In what ways did Jojo relate to her character, Jesse?

Jojo felt that her personal emotional side matched Jesse's character. Both Jojo and Jesse are emotional people, and Jojo found that aspect of the character resonated with her. She felt that playing Jesse allowed her to explore a new perspective on growing up quickly in difficult circumstances.

What was the significance of the scene where McKenna and Jojo’s characters had a fight at the dinner table?

Jojo felt that the dinner table scene, where the characters yell at each other, was a pivotal moment of connection between her and McKenna. Despite the tension, it was a scene where they both fed off each other's emotions. Jojo highlighted how important McKenna's strong presence was in helping her reach those intense emotional places during the scene.

How did McKenna's performance impact Jojo's portrayal of her character?

Jojo credited McKenna's strong, talented presence for helping her tap into deeper emotional states during scenes. Having McKenna opposite her made it easier to access emotions like anger or sadness, which was crucial for their performances.

What did Jojo learn from her experience playing Jesse in the film?

Jojo learned that no matter how strong someone is, they cannot control everything that happens in their life. What’s important is embracing the small moments of happiness and continuing to push forward despite the difficulties.

What did McKenna think about her role in caring for Jojo’s character?

McKenna expressed that playing the role of a caring figure for Jojo was something that came very naturally to her. She was deeply invested in the character dynamic and felt an instinctive need to protect and care for Jojo's character from the very start.

What did Jojo think about McKenna’s performance as a mother figure?

Jojo praised McKenna’s performance as being incredibly strong and natural. She admired how McKenna was able to embody the role of a mother, describing it as an effortless and genuine portrayal. Jojo also appreciated McKenna's ability to bring depth to the role and create an emotional connection.