Leaky’s “Fantastic Beasts” Set Report: Talking to Alison Sudol

Alison Sudol bounced into the room, bubbly and smiley, and instantly gave us the perfect introduction to her character of Queenie Goldsteing—despite being dressed in a make up room bathrobe (to protect her wardrobe for that days filming, which we did not see) and her head wrapped in a towel. She was in the processes of getting ready to film more scenes as Tina’s younger, spirited sister. Make up was done; hair and wardrobe were still in progress.

Queenie is Tina’s roommate, and a legilimens who can read minds. Well, she can extract feelings and memories from someone’s mind—which is really cool. Alison describes her as big-hearted and free-spirited. She is absolutely amazed and awed to be apart of the 1920’s American wizarding world. Alison was all smiles as she told us it was difficult to wrap her head around it all in one go.

QUESTION

So, I asked Eddie this question but what was your sort of moment of, “Oh, my God, I am now part of this entire universe!” [D]id you have like a realization whether it was on set or beforehand?

ALISON SUDOL

I mean, I think it’s been a series of realizations ’cause it’s so enormous that it’s hard to get your head around it in one go. So, I think first, just even auditioning for it was a huge thing. Just to have the opportunity to potentially be a part of this was huge. And then getting the role was massive but it was just too much to take in. And then I think seeing the set, seeing New York for the first time was pretty incredible and what was especially incredible was seeing photographs of the set from that week, ’cause you kind of can’t even take it in when you’re looking at it. And then, when you see it caught on camera, it’s like we’re making this sort of epic film. Yeah, it’s been pretty surreal.

Auditions came as a surprise for Alison, as she wasn’t really informed of what she was auditioning for. The blind auditions were orchestrated to find a Queenie that had the right chemistry with the rest of the gang (Newt, Tina, and Jacob), as well as an actress that embodied Queenie as a whole and as best as possible.

QUESTION

What was the audition like for this film? Did you have to read from past Harry Potter scripts, or did you have to prepare your own material?

ALISON SUDOL

Well, I wasn’t actually even coming in to audition initially. I came in for a general meeting and then, Fiona, who cast the film said that, “Actually, I’d like you to check something out.” And I had no idea that it was connected to this world even. She did mention Harry Potter but I didn’t understand at all ’cause I was sort of jet lagged. But it was quite a long and in-depth process because there’s just the character of Queenie alone which took auditioning ’cause I had to show that I could be her, and then there’s many different colors to this role. And there’s also the chemistry between the gang and that was very important.

So, there were a lot of sort of, putting us in different situations and matching up different actors with each other. Katherine and I got seated on a couch next to each other and they were like, “Right, you’re sisters. Go.” And we were like, “Nice to meet you. Okay. <laughs> We’re sisters now.” And it was pretty incredible because when you have real chemistry with someone, you can really find those moments quite easily and she and I sort of delved into this sisterhood in about four seconds that made both of us cry and I felt like I had a sister suddenly. It was a pretty meaningful moment. And yeah, then they also had me try on a lot of wigs.

With Queenie, it is all about relationships—how Alison’s character bonds with her sister, future brother in law, and her new love, Jacob. I tackled Queenie’s relationship with her sister first, something about which Alison couldn’t say enough.

QUESTION

I was going ask you about your relationship with Katherine as a character because I have a twin sister and she’s actually a lot like Queenie. She’s very into make-up and free spirited and blonde and a wild child and I’m more like Katherine. My name’s Catherine I’m more straight forward and organized. So, I was wondering what your character’s dynamic is in relationship, as sisters–[for example], you two are roommates, my sister and I are roommates. <laughs>

ALISON SUDOL

No way.

QUESTION

Yes way. And I was just wondering as sisters, you’re the younger one– do your [characters] get along, or Katherine as Tina, more you know, motherly and domineering? What’s their relationship like?

ALISON SUDOL

I think it’s a really beautiful relationship. It’s two sisters that have basically raised each other because their parents died when they were very young. So, there’s a kind of mutual caring for each other. It’s not like older sister-younger sister because I think in some ways Tina is more grounded and an adult, in some ways. But then, Queenie has this deep empathy and such an unbelievable amount of just perception about everybody but especially about Tina. So, there’s a real care and a warmth and you know, they, occasionally, are like sisterly and bicker but we didn’t want it to be that kind of relationship because it’s so much more about the love that they have for each other. And that’s just present. It’s not even you know, trying to show it. It’s just there.

Having lost their parents at a young age, Queenie and Tina formed a bond that would grow tighter as they grew older, taking care of one another. Alison loved working with Katherine, saying they had the perfect chemistry to portray Queenie and Tina’s sisterhood. Describing Queenie and Tina’s relationship as “beautiful,” Alison addressed Tina’s and Queenie’s two different personalities and their two approaches to mutual caring. Tina is the grounded adult, while Queenie is empathetic. For the sisters, it’s about love not bickering.

Alison brought another relationship to our attention. Queenie and Jacob. They have an “interesting dynamic,” and in their new-found friendship, or relationship (we’ll find out), it’s all about trust and humanity connecting and bringing two strangers together, whether or not they are magical or no-maj. Alison felt that Queenie couldn’t hide from Jacob, but rather had a profound “openness” with him.

QUESTION

Can you talk about Queenie’s relationship with Jacob and Newt, and what it’s been like working with Dan and Eddie?

ALISON SUDOL

They’re both such great people and it’s been so fun and lovely and it’s just they’re very supportive, both of them. And funny, too. We all laugh a lot on set. And as characters, Newt is this person who has a key to a different world. As does Jacob really and so, they’re quite interesting to Queenie, but Jacob, in particular, he’s just such a kind, kind man and because she’s able to see into him like she does in everyone, she sees how kind and good he is through and through. It’s a real lovely dynamic between the two of them that he can’t hide from her and he has nothing to hide ’cause even when he says something like that he doesn’t mean to, it’s still great.

One of the most interesting aspects of this relationship is the taboo on witches and wizards mingling with No-Maj. Living in New York City, No-Maj and magical people intermingling is bound to happen. However, it is against the rules for a magical person to become closely attached to a No-Maj, even though many find No-Maj fascinating.

QUESTION

In the UK, in the Harry Potter world, if you are a witch or a wizard, your identity is sort of easily traceable. You went to Hogwarts, it’s a very small community but it seems like from what we’ve glimpsed in America, it’s a bit more dangerous maybe to be magical. Could you speak a bit about how your character relates to the magical community and how that forms her identity in this new realm.

ALISON SUDOL

Well, I think your’re very right in that. There’s more of an “us and them” mentality. And they’re always intermingling so it’s this strange sense of living with people that you’re sort of fascinated by but you’re not really allowed to get close to because otherwise it could just jeopardize everything. I think it’s just a very different dynamic. And then, there’s an interesting dynamic between Queenie, and well, and all of us, really. And Jacob who isn’t magical because there’s this sort of fascination and a realization that humanity can access even though, you know, we may be a little bit different, we can cook dinner with our wands but there is still something very much in common between the two worlds.

 

Alison felt a deep personal connection to her character of Queenie. She said that Queenie was a real joy to play, and like Queenie she loves having fun and finding the adventure with every little thing. Queenie loves the adventures she finds herself on with the gang. Rooted in her deep love for people, Queenie is always 100% present to the situation around her.

QUESTION

Is there any part of your character that you personally relate to?

ALISON SUDOL

Oh, so much of her. I think she has a real joy to her. When I’m at my happiest and least self-conscious which you know, we all have days where that happens and days where it doesn’t happen. But I really can find adventures in anything. I just love having fun ’cause if you have the choice between not having fun and having fun, I’d much rather have fun. And with Queenie, I’m kind of required to be in that head space. Because she’s just so in love with this adventure that they’re on. And I think I love people and so does she. And there’s a lot to her. I just try to scrape away the sort of stuff that doesn’t feel present or joyful or free ’cause there’s just a freedom with her. It’s not all joy. Sometimes she’s upset, sometimes she’s angry, but she’s a hundred percent present.

When it came to learning more about Queenie from J.K. Rowling, Alison admitted, with smiles and starry eyes, that she “fangirled” upon meeting the author and became to flummoxed. She didn’t find out a lot about her character upon their first meeting, but had hoped to over come being starstruck by Jo and to discuss her character in the future. At the time of the interview, she was comfortable with the large amount of information about Queenie in the Fantastic Beasts script, as well as the huge amount of freedom she had to fill in the blanks.

QUESTION

Did you get to have any conversations with J.K Rowling about the character or the role?

ALISON SUDOL

I actually only just met her the other day which was a total honor. But, (laughs) to be honest, I got a little bit flummoxed and I wasn’t able to ask her anything ’cause I was so– I just was like, <gasps> <laughs> (laughs) I don’t know what to do! (normal) She was absolutely wonderful and I sort of let the others ask questions and sort of hope to glean as much as I could, but I didn’t want to attack her ’cause I felt also like, if I started asking questions, they may not stop. I hope to get more intrepid. But luckily, there was a lot on the page about Queenie and then also I was given a huge amount of freedom to create her as well. It was sort of like I was entrusted with this person and then they said it’s okay. You know her. Go for it, you know, just go where you know she would go. And that’s also been amazing to have that sort of free reign.

I asked Alison about her character being a role model for women and girls, and the golden heart of Queenie came out in her answer. She admitted that there may be pressure to feel Queenie is a character that should help empower younger girls, however she hoped all sides of the character showed a balance of all the different sides of being a woman. Alison explained that Queenie is incredibly feminine, and sometimes her femininity is seen as weakness, but it shouldn’t be. There is a a defined difference. Queenie is beautiful, but she is also incredibly smart and kind. She is not ashamed of her beauty, but she is not vain either. Hopefully women and girls will be able to identify with Queenie and learn to be more accepting of all aspects of themselves.

QUESTION

All the female characters for Harry Potter went on to become like feminist icons and role models, like Hermione’s huge, so did that add any pressure or was it something you were thinking about as you were like taking on the next big female roles in the Harry Potter universe?

ALISON SUDOL

Absolutely. It’s something that Katherine and I care about very much. It’s an opportunity to show different sides of these women and empower younger girls growing up. I’ve learnt so much about being a girl from watching films. I think what I love and what I find is also a great responsibility with Queenie is she’s incredibly feminine. And I grew up not seeing the strength in femininity. I grew up kind of feeling guilty about being a girl and wanting to just be like the boys and be treated the same.

I didn’t wanna be different, I didn’t think that beauty was something to be proud of. And what I love about Queenie is that she’s incredibly smart, she’s kind, she’s beautiful, she has that pizzazz in femininity. She’s completely unashamed about it, and not vain at all. She’s just a good, good human being. I think as actresses it’s part of our responsibility to show all different sides of a character and of women. There’s not the sort of the fancy one and the serious one, but we’re all sort of very deeply layered human beings that happen to be women.

During the course of the interview, Alison passed around Queenie’s wand. Simple, yet very elegant, it matched her character perfectly. The body of the wand was sleek black, with a silver pearl handle that curled into a shell-shaped spiral. Connecting the black body of the wand and the pearl shell handle was a pointed gold band. The wand was the fanciest of all the Fantastic Beasts cast, but it wasn’t too flashy.

In terms of the Fantastic Beasts, Alison explained that Queenie approached the creatures like a kid going to the zoo. She was fascinated by the creatures, but aware of their wildness and power. Having a magical zoologist for brother-in-law will suit her well.

QUESTION

We know what Newt’s relationship is with the Fantastic Beasts. So, what is Queenie’s relationship like with these things? Like, clearly she knows they exist because she lives in this world, but are there ones that she’s particularly fond of or ones that she’s terrified of, ones she finds repulsive?

ALISON SUDOL

Well, there are not a lot of beasts in New York proper. It’s not like we’re out in the countryside where there’s animals anyway, so, my choice was that she hasn’t really seen most of these things before ’cause it’s a much more urban environment. It would be really hazardous to have these creatures out and about. So, when she does come across them, there’s this like sense of wonderment, of like a kid going to the zoo for this first time. It’s pretty extraordinary and they’re fascinating. And occasionally a little bit, you know, I wouldn’t even say scary but just you’re aware that they’re wild.