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GEORGINA CAMPBELL

Stars in film

Barbarian

Georgina Campbell’s love for acting was a slow burn with twists that she couldn’t have predicted. Campbell tells us, “I sort of fell into it [acting] and slowly fell in love with it,” and while her interest just began as a quiet flicker sparked by her love of film, it has since grown into a well-kept flame that seems to reignite with each project. Campbell knows that any actor is a firekeeper- longevity is difficult, the flame is sporadic, but the warmth is worth the effort. Her most recent role as Tess in 20th Century Studios’ Barbarian, is just one example of the fire burning bright, and like her start in acting, the film’s beginning is quiet and lightly cautionary until it ascends into a wildfire. Tess books a rental home that is oddly double booked, and finds herself enmeshed in a horror-filled situation that keeps dragging her back in. Written and directed by Zach Cregger, the film will be in theaters starting September 9, 2022 and we expect viewers to flock to it like they would a circle around a campfire, eagerly waiting for whispering horrors, chilling terrors, and twisting tales. In our interview with her, Campbell discusses working on Barbarian, her love for the horror genre, and escape rooms in Bulgaria. Read below for the full interview!

Jacket, Leather top, Pants, Tweed bag, Earrings, & Heels: CHANEL F22

On theme with the number of unexpected twists and turns in Barbarian, is there anything about the entertainment industry that was the biggest twist, or surprise for you?

I got into the entertainment industry in a really odd way. I was spotted on the street, which is ridiculous (laughs). I came into it in a really strange way. I didn’t know anything about the industry, my family didn’t know anything about the industry, so it was all very new. I had to learn as I went. You think that in most careers, you work your way up the ladder, but with acting it’s not a trajectory like that. It goes in different directions. I think that was a big learning curve for me, just knowing that you have these moments where things are going really well or you’re getting good feedback. Sometimes things go and then they come back. It’s kind of the long game.

Jacket, Leather top, Pants, Tweed bag, Earrings: CHANEL F22

For you then, how do you feel about that sort of instability? Is it something that makes you nervous or do you kind of like the lack of expectation for what’s coming next?

I think it’s something that my parents definitely didn’t like at the beginning! They were very concerned about the instability of it all, but because I came into it without any expectation- I didn’t necessarily have this dream of becoming an actress- thinking this is all I could or ever want to do. I sort of fell into it and slowly fell in love with it. So, I still went to university and did film studies and other jobs apart from acting. I feel like for a number of years I was prepared for the outcome that maybe this wouldn’t work out and maybe I wouldn’t be an actress full time. It’s been lovely that it’s ended up working out for me, and at the moment I’m able to act and have been working quite a lot. I guess I’m used to it, but I also don’t think it’s the be all end all, if that makes sense. I’m very passionate, but if I had to I’m sure I could do something else so it’s not putting all your eggs in one basket and being aware that there could be another life out there. It is a really hard industry- it’s hard to have longevity and keep working at a steady pace. I’ve only been working about 15 years, and it’s been up and down over those years.

Lula Heart Beret: Hood London, Denim Jumpsuit: STELLA MCCARTNEY F22, Heels: CHANEL F22

Jacket, Leather top, Earrings: CHANEL F22

Skincare:

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Micro Serum

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Micro Gel Yeux

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Micro Creme

Makeup:

Foundation: CHANEL Les Beiges Water Fresh Complexion B60

Skin: CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream 390

Blush: CHANEL Les Beiges Eau De Blush Deep Bronze

Eyes: CHANEL Ombre Premier Laque in Rayon 22

MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Secret Glow

Lips: CHANEL 215 Dilemne

Headpiece “Kezia”: HOOD LONDON

Roll neck sweater, dress, socks, heels: PATOU F22, Headpiece “Kezia”: HOOD LONDON

You mentioned that you studied film at Royal Holloway, so if you could go back to a period in film in any cultural context, what would you choose and why?

Oh gosh, that’s quite hard! Maybe the Hollywood Renaissance when there was the big star system and you had Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. It was an amazing gilded time when stars could make deals with studios and have a five picture deal. It still happens now but to a lesser degree. I wouldn’t want to be in this period, but I really like Expressionism. I really like that time and all the sets that they created- they were very beautiful but obviously came off a very dark time so I don’t know if I’d necessarily want to be there, but I like the aesthetic of it!

Skincare:

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Micro Serum

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Micro Gel Yeux

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Micro Creme

Makeup:

Foundation: CHANEL Les Beiges Water Fresh Complexion B60

Cheeks: WESTMAN ATELIER Baby Cheeks Bichette

CHANEL No 1 de Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm 1 Red Camelia

Eyes: CHANEL Les Beiges Palette in Deep

CHANEL Signature De Chanel NOIR

HOURGLASS Caution Extreme Lash Mascara

Lips: CHANEL Nude on Nude 206

Lula Heart Beret: HOOD LONDON, Denim Jumpsuit: STELLA MCCARTNEY F22, Heels: CHANEL F22

Dress: STELLA MCCARTNEY F22, Headband “Hecate”: HOOD LONDON

Headband “Hecate”: HOOD LONDON

Now on that same note, and moving into Barbarian, I want you to get into the mind frame of a film student. From more of an academic film critique sense, why do you think the film is so well done?

It’s a really, really good script. It’s very tight. It has a clear structure. A clear first, second, and third act. There’s a payoff from the beginning of the film to the end of the film. Zach [Cregger] has managed to tie up every single story in it. There are multiple characters with multiple stories, and they all thematically come together into a story of trauma and victim herds. You find out each of these characters’ different stories. He also writes dialogue really well- it’s very natural and flows very easily which means when you’re watching it it’s easy to get lost in it. It feels like even though the subject matter is very over the top and shouldn’t feel realistic, he’s managed to make it feel realistic.

As you mentioned, there’s a sort of realism to your character, Tess, that’s sometimes rare in the horror genre. Can you tell us a little bit more about how the film breaks conventions and this aspect of your character?

When Zach was writing the script, he was very aware of clichés in horror which is quite fun to play with because you know there’s audience expectations. I think the idea of being the character that keeps getting sucked into whatever nefarious activities are happening- he kind of played with that in making her go into the basement and down under. He also gives multiple reasons why she can’t get away from the situation. She makes all the smart decisions that she can, like calling the police or leaving, but again and again she gets called back into it which I think is really interesting.

Mesh Fascinator “Glamonatrix”: HOOD LONDON

Mesh Fascinator “Glamonatrix”: HOOD LONDON, Dress, boots: FERRAGAMO F22

While you are filming, you’re obviously aware that you’re acting and not actually in the situation, but I would imagine that there were times when you felt fear despite your brain knowing that there isn’t an actual threat. Was there ever a moment in filming when you felt like this?

Mostly, no. I’m a big horror nerd so I was mostly excited for those gory scenes. I was really intrigued by how they were going to make it look real- it was incredible. I kind of geek out at scenes rather than feel scared. But, there was one when she goes into the basement and she finds a room in there and she looks at the contents of the room and suddenly feels incredibly scared and tries to leave and finds Keith [Bill Skarsgård]. I remember seeing that set on my own, and even though it’s not real, I had that same kind of feeling of terror just because you know that this sort of thing exists in real life, and you know people have been in those scenarios. That specifically freaked me out, I didn’t like that at all!

What was it like shooting the film in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria was really amazing. It was not necessarily a place that I thought of visiting before. It’s really beautiful, the people are really lovely, it was just fantastic. Everyone there was really good at their jobs and incredible with such a good work ethic. We had a lot of fun. My boyfriend and I did a lot of escape rooms there. We went to as many as we could. We took the cast and crew there as well- that was my highlight!

Lula Heart Beret: HOOD LONDOND, Denim Jumpsuit: STELLA MCCARTNEY F22

Lula Heart Beret: HOOD LONDON, Denim Jumpsuit: STELLA MCCATNEY F22

So with the escape rooms and like you said you’re a huge horror movie nerd, you seem to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie! What are some of your favorite horror films?

Whenever I’m asked that films keep popping back up in my head! There was a British film called Ghost Stories that I really love. I actually went twice- I saw it one day and I went and saw it again the next because I liked it so much. I love that film. I also love Get Out. I love the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I watched Orphan the other night again, I hadn’t seen it in years. The sequel just came out, so I went back to watch the first one and it really holds up. It’s a really good film. It’s really well shot and funny and scary. That one was so good to go back to!

For you personally, do you tend to be a fight, flight, or freeze type?

Probably flight- I think I would probably leave a situation if I feel uncomfortable. I don’t think I’d be like Tess. I would leave early on, I would just run away (laughs)!

Dress: CHRISTOPHER KANE F22, Heels: CHANEL F22 Hairpin “Medusa”: HOOD LONDON, Dress: CHRISTOPHER KANE F22

Since this interview is for our beauty section, but I still want to relate to Barbarian– what makeup, skin care or hair care products are you trusting to hold up in an intense situation?

Oh god, I’ve been really lazy since COVID with hair and makeup. I use a lot of Kiehls on my skin. I have a nice Kiehl’s evening oil that I love using at night. I use Living Proof which is really good for curly hair.

Lula Heart Beret: HOOD LONDON, Denim Jumpsuit: STELLA MCCARTNEY F22

Roll neck sweater, dress: PATOU F22, Headpiece “Kezia”: HOOD LONDON

I know you have some exciting projects coming up. Can you tell us a little bit about what we can look forward to next from you?

I’m excited to see Birdbox Spain come to Netflix hopefully this year or next. We shot the whole film in Barcelona, it’s a film set in the Birdbox universe but following a group of people living in Spain when the phenomenon happens. I shot an independent film last summer in Portugal called Lovely, Dark, and Deep with writer and director Teresa Sutherland which again I have no idea when it’s coming out, but it was a really special and beautiful project about a back-country ranger searching for her missing sister. What I’m most excited for is a project I’m currently working on with my management company, Range, to get off the ground. It’s an adaptation of a novel I fell in love with this year. We’re in very early stages of putting the project together, and I’m loving the process!