Rebekah Graf - goals, pain and 'The Dirt'
Our editor-in-chief Lil Safonova speaks with american actress Rebekah Graf.
— What hobbies did you have as a child, and what are your hobbies now?
— I still love playing music and dancing. Although now it’s guitar and ukulele instead of the piano. I love children and was lucky enough to volunteer at The Children’s Hospital with The Art of Elysium for the past 8 years. I can’t wait to start that again once we’re able to.
— In addition to your main interests, what else fascinates you?
— I am fascinated by anything and everything science-related. I, unfortunately, (or honestly; probably fortunately for anyone who would have ended up being a patient of mine), did not have the math skills to become a doctor like my father, but I still completely geek out on science podcasts, books, magazines and documentaries.
— Millions of girls want to become an actress, but only a few are lucky. Tell us how you managed to enter the Los Angeles movie industry. Do you think this is down to luck, or is it solely the result of perseverance and hard work?
— There are a lot of ways I could answer that. When I first came to LA, I was so overwhelmed, incredibly depressed and I didn’t give my career the focus, or attention, that it deserved. I was raised to have a very intense work ethic and I am so grateful for that, but it took me a few years, and an awful breakup, to get back to that. My parents are just about the kindest and most supportive people in existence and knew what I was capable of. There were times when I was waiting tables or nannying and would wonder if I would ever get hired as an actress again, but I never wondered if I could do it. It just took making a game plan, falling and getting up over and over again to realise. I used to repeat to myself, «You are completely in charge of you.» It was a reminder that no one was going to live my life for me. If I wanted something, it was up to me and only me to get it.
— You love children and I really appreciate that in people, as I have two children of my own. Do you plan to have your own family in the future?
— I do love children! I have three nephews and a niece, and would love to have one of my own someday!
— Who would you be if you did not manage to become an actress?
— That was never an option.
— Along the way, what difficulties did you face in your career?
— Well, I’ve had a lot more «nos» than «yeses.» I think the best thing a person in a creative industry can do, is to look at a «no» as a «why». If you can understand why you weren’t hired for a certain role, and it is something within your control, then wonderful! You can fix it!
— So, let’s talk about Amityville Murders. Do you believe this story? I mean, this house is said to have been taken over by paranormal forces. Did you also happen to shoot in the real house?
— We did not work in the real house. This was a film set that was built in Los Angeles and some of it was shot in a house in Korea Town. I’m not sure how much I believe about paranormal forces, but I guess never say never. Tell us about The Capsized. The movie is amazing and we congratulate you on this role, you played it excellently. Honestly, even when I watched this movie, realizing that it was all in reality, I experienced very deep emotions. It was terrible and difficult to look at the suffering of these, essentially doomed, people.
— What was it like for you? Did you have time to let this through yourself? Describe your feelings.
— Thank you. As fun as this experience was, this was a really hard role to play. Meg was a real person. I knew when I was hired that I was being trusted to tell her story; her final living days, and that was a lot to carry. I did a lot of medical research so that I could understand the pain she was feeling, and how the blood poisoning would affect her each day. It was heartbreaking and I definitely cried thinking about this young woman going through such a tragic experience and losing the love of her life right in front of her eyes. It wasn’t hard to put myself in her place and imagine myself having gone through the same scenarios. All of the tears in the movie came from a very real and honest place.
— I think you can be proud of this role. Was the shooting difficult physically? Tell us something interesting about the filming process.
— This film was extremely physically demanding. We shot most of the film in a water tank in the Dominican Republic, so luckily not in open waters, but I was incredibly sick throughout most of the filming. In fact, in one of the scenes, I came straight from the hospital onto the set. I had lost my voice from screaming so much, got third-degree burns on my face from the intense sun and spent a lot of hours treading water. By the end, I was covered in burns and bruises and ended up being hospitalized a second time in the US.
— Let’s talk about The Dirt. Firstly, it’s a crazy cool movie. And I very much congratulate you on this. This is likely the best movie on this theme that I have seen in the last 8 years. I liked all the actors, they all played their roles perfectly. I can imagine how much humor there was on the set. We once filmed a 5-minute music video, also at real events on a very similar topic, and we had 1 hour of continuous laughter from «bad takes» backstage. What did you like most about this shoot? Have you made new friends?
— I understand that you met the real Motley Crue after filming, what emotions did they evoke? Do they closely resemble the characters that were shown in the movie?
— I did! I got to meet the entire band at our premiere, and they are honestly lovely. Tommy is sweet, funny and hilarious and Colson portrayed him perfectly. I also spent a lot of time talking with Vince and I can’t imagine anyone capturing his sweet, surfer/rocker boy vibes like Daniel was able to.
— Your character, Heather, does she look like the real you? If so, how?
— Well, I’ve heard that quite a bit throughout my life and I’ve always been extremely flattered! These kinds of roles are tricky because, while it’s not a look-alike contest, casting obviously wants someone who can be transformed into the person. I’m very lucky that I was able to work with such a talented hair and makeup team to help turn me into Heather.
— What is your general attitude to rock and underground music? What kind of music do you prefer to listen to?
— I love classic rock! I listen to a huge variety of music, but as a Texas girl, I always gravitate toward country and the blues. There’s just something about those two genres that really resonates with my soul. After all, you can take the girl out of the country…
— What is your favorite rock band that stands out from the rest?
— My favorite rock band is and has always been, Aerosmith. I remember stealing my sister’s CDs and listening to them in my bedroom and dreaming about being Alicia Silverstone in the “Crazy” video. I’ve yet to meet them, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to play it cool when I do.
— In what image would you like to act in a movie in future?
— I have a dream role that I’ve been working on with friends and collaborators for quite some time, but I’m not ready to talk about that quite yet. Stick with me and I promise I’ll eventually share.
— What are your favorite genres in cinema — horror, comedy, drama etc? Which is closer to you, personally?
— I grew up watching classic, romantic comedies. The span of what I watch now is so varied that it’s almost impossible for me to pick a favorite. I love being able to tell a story, and I think the most important stories are those that reach a wide group of people. Stories that everyone can relate with, and those that make us feel connected to the rest of the world.
— What’s your favorite role you played to date (if it’s not a secret) ?
— It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite role, but playing Heather Locklear felt very surreal to me. I grew up watching her on TV and felt honored to be chosen to tell a part of her story.
— What inspires you the most?
— What I’m capable of. I try to remind myself daily, that God made me and he made me to do something with my life. Now it’s up to me to go out and do the damn thing! I tell myself that I have no idea what’s to come and what all I can do, and that’s an idea that excites and inspires me.
— Give advice to aspiring actresses, girls who dream of a successful career. What personal qualities should they have?
— Get focused. Make goals, and make progress to reach those goals. Keep moving forward every day, even if it’s just a small step. Push yourself, because I promise you can do more than you think you can, but listen to yourself. If your heart is no longer in it, then stop. There are so many wonderful things you can do in this world. You’ve just got to figure out what it is and don’t stop until you get there. And if someone tells you no, just remember, that’s just one person.
— Are you currently filming a movie or is everything suspended due to COVID-19?
— I am currently filming two TV shows! Walker, for CBS and another that I can’t announce quite yet.
— 2020 was difficult for all artists, how did you get through it? What did you do? Is there something good and useful that you took from 2020?
— 2020 was difficult for all humans in general. I wish I had some enlightenment about how I was able to power through the pandemic and become a stronger version of myself, but the truth is, it was a struggle. I took advantage of the time with myself as much as I could and actively worked to improve myself in every area, every day. But honestly, there were days I just wanted to eat ice cream, watch Mama Mia and tell my dogs how beautiful they are on repeat, so I let myself have those days also. We all did the best we could.
— Describe yourself in just one word.
— Lion-hearted