We recently had a chance to talk to 14-year old English-born actress Isobelle Molloy who plays Maleficent as a young girl in the Disney film. Prior to making a splash on the big-screen, she starred in the original London production of “Matilda: The Musical.” This performance brought her to the attention of the “Maleficent” filmmakers and subsequently led to her being cast. She has most recently appeared in the British soap that has been running since 1985, “EastEnders”
Benji: Can you tell me what it’s like to be part of a big, successful movie like this?
Isobelle: Well, it’s really, really amazing and really surreal. It was such an incredible experience and I feel so privileged to be able to be a part of it. Such a great production.
Benji: What was it like when you found out you were cast in the movie?
Isobelle: I was really excited and really shocked that I got the part at this time. I felt really lucky to have landed the role.
Benji: Did you do anything special to prepare for the role?
Isobelle: Well, I done 3 auditions, and on the last one I got to do the screen test. Then when I found out I got the role, I just sort of kept practicing the script and bits, so yeah.
Benji: Was it exciting for your friends and family when they found out you were going to be in Maleficent?
Isobelle: Yeah, they were really excited, and really proud. Yeah.
Benji: Have you seen Sleeping Beauty? The animated classic?
Isobelle: Yeah, I’ve seen that sort of the classic, original one. I’ve always loved that story.
Benji: So you got to play a young Disney villain. Do you have a favorite Disney villain?
Isobelle: Well, I’ve always thought Maleficent was really cool because of her costume and her horns and I thought she just always has looked really powerful and really elegant and graceful in an evil way.
Benji: So for folks that fell in love with you in Maleficent, are there any other projects that you’ve done or are working on that they should check you out in?
Isobelle: Well, I’ve done Matilda in the West End. I played the part of Matilda. I’ve been in Oliver in the West End. In November I’m going to [inaudible 00:02:05] to do the production of The Sound of Music to play Louisa in November.
Benji: How does it compare to do a movie where they’re filming it compared to performing on the stage?
Isobelle: Well you get about them, both of them, an excitement but they’re both completely different. In theater if you get it wrong you just have to carry on and improvise, whereas in film you can make sure. If you get it wrong you can retake and make it perfect and things. It’s really different but really exciting at the same time.
Benji: I just got one more question for you. Do you hope that you’ll be able to reprise the role of Maleficent someday?
Isobelle: Yeah, I’d love to. That would be really cool. Yeah.