Very true to the spirit of the movie.
Yes. Somehow I’m not, but I want to be. I want to accompany myself and be kind.
It’s interesting that in this movie, you are that comfort, that sort of soothing center—
It’s called acting. [Laughs] The truth is I’m torn. I’m trying to be that comfort zone and I’m trying to be there for her. And I’m trying to be a person that is, to a certain extent, open, vulnerable, and grounded. But the truth is, I am these things, but I’m also many other things. I just want the best version of myself, and I don’t want to get all the other nuances. But I think a good director is interested in the whole spectrum. That’s also painful to a certain extent.
Have you ever thought about not watching yourself?
Yeah, I have. Just try to record [yourself] and then listen to it. It’s depressing. Like, “Oh my God, that’s me? I’m not even able to say one line in a nice, sharp, sexy and simple way? Modest, but to the point?” We look at ourselves and family pictures and we are like, “Oh God, I’m so ugly.” Five years later you think, “Oh God, I was actually handsome back then, and now I’m ugly.”
How did the rest of the movie strike you, beyond your presence?
I was overwhelmed. I had never heard the full story! And then being with Nykiya, seeing her coming-of-age story was heartbreaking. Andrea is so musical, so she put music in almost all the scenes; it felt a bit like the soundtrack of someone that has the experience of life but is transforming again into the body of a teenager and creates a soundtrack to her own fantasies. Again, we shot so many scenes that are not in the movie that I felt like, wow, we’ve really created this mountain, this giant mountain. What we get to see is the tip of the iceberg. It feels great to be a part of the whole thing.
You mentioned watching the film with Nykiya. Did she have a similar experience making it to yours?
Everybody shot chronologically, but I have no idea how much she knew before [production]. I don’t even know. I don’t even know Nykiya. [Laughs] We only met in the scenes and then the night of the premiere, drinking a glass of water and smiling at each other and taking some pictures together. We never got the chance to just hang out. We only know each other from this universe of Bird.
And you were living in the camper van nearby at that time. Did it get a little lonely, the filming of a movie this way?
Yes, but in a good way. I’m a loner.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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