Jessica Rothe On Creating Magic, Telling Stories, Appreciating the Small Moments and Her New Film 'All My Life'
Jessica was photographed and interviewed virtually in LA by Alison Engstrom
You have had a really busy and exciting year with three new projects, despite everything going on, Congratulations!
Yes, it’s been delightful and wonderful, especially because all of these projects were things that I was really excited to share with the world, but it wasn’t exactly the way I had imagined them being born into the world. I feel really lucky with All My Life, even though the story is heart-wrenching and has moments that are heartbreaking and sad, at the end of the day, it’s a movie that’s filled with so much hope and is life-affirming. It’s about the power of love and connecting with the people around you and how when we all join forces, there is nothing that we can’t do. I think that’s a very powerful message to put into the world right now—one that I feel like we need more than ever. So in a funny way, it’s the perfect movie to put out into the world right now.
How would you describe the road to where you are currently in you career—was it unexpected, hard, fun, wild?
It was all of those things. I still feel like I’m on that road to be really honest. I think one of the amazing things about being an artist is that you never really arrive. It’s always like, what’s the next job or creative endeavor; how am I going to push myself and what’s the form of artistic expression that I want to explore next?
I grew up in Denver, Colorado and I had a lovely, but tame childhood—no one in my family was in the industry. It wasn’t like I was growing up on the coasts where we had friends who were involved in the business. So I went to school every day and if I got good grades I could go to play practice or to choir. I also played lacrosse for a while, so it was a very 90s high school experience. I was lucky in high school, my drama teacher sat me down at one point and was like, I think you could do this if you wanted to, which blew my mind because I knew that I loved storytelling, acting, singing and performing, but it never really occurred to me that it could be my job and people would pay me to do it. She helped me apply to different schools and I ended up going to Boston University’s acting conservatory. I loved the opportunity to take other types of classes like photography and English and to stretch myself in those ways. The more well-rounded I can be as a person, the better artist I can be. I have more to draw from and I can understand the human experience in a different way.
When I got to BU, I fell even deeper into love with performing and storytelling and it was the first time I had ever been around a group of people who all were passionate about the same things as I was. It was so exciting and liberating. Then I moved to New York; I started two different theater companies with friends. We would do sight-specific plays at bars or parks, almost like a bar crawl but for plays. I did a lot of theater and it wasn’t really until later that I was exposed to film and TV. I was a little trepidatious at first because I loved live performances, interacting with an audience, rehearsing and the process of putting on a play, but I instantly fell in love with filmmaking as an art form and how intimate and exposed you can be. And also, what an incredibly collaborative experience it is to make a movie or TV show. There are so many people working on a set but every single person’s role is vital. I think that’s just so incredible and there are very few industries that are like that. There are days where of course, my job is my job, and I can feel grumpy about waking up early or I am hungry and we are waiting awhile, but every time I have a friend or say my mom comes to visit me on set, my eyes are open to how incredibly magical what I get to do is. I get to be a part of magic every single day.
Would you say there was one moment where things really shifted for you?
I would have to say when I moved to LA. I came out here because I am a creature of the sun (laughs). As much as I loved New York, I needed wildlife and some vitamin D. When I arrived here I was so lucky to land with an incredible team with a bunch of people who were working very hard for me. Probably the first role that got things going for me was when I was cast in La La Land. I had the opportunity to work with Damien Chazelle, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling and not only was that such an incredible experience to witness those artists work, see their process and be a part of it, but also I got to be in a movie musical which has been a dream of mine since I was a child. At the time, we all knew that it was very special so it was l gratifying to see the public embrace that film too. I think that this industry can be incredibly hard, competitive and unforgiving at times. It’s true, I have friends who are insanely talented and work their booties off and they just never had that project to catapult them to that next level. I feel so, so lucky that I was in the right place at the right time and to work on a project that then made it easier for people to put their trust in me. I think that’s a really big part of this industry.
In your new film All My Life—I cried like a baby by the way—which is based on a true story, you play Jennifer Carter who falls in love and as you are about to start your life together, your FIANCÉ gets diagnosed with terminal cancer. How was it for you to step into such an emotional role portraying a real person?
It was incredible. I really love dramatic films and roles. I am a big cryer in my own life; I find it very cathartic. I want to strive to have a very diverse, complex and multifaceted career where I get to do everything from musicals, to horror comedies and straight dramas. I think it’s really important and important for me to explore a diverse range of characters and emotions. I think that’s what it means to be human, to experience all of those types of things. This movie from the moment I read the script I instantly fell in love with it. Jen and Sol’s story, their love and incredible amount of strength that both of them had throughout the progression of the film. One of the reasons that it is so life-affirming to me is that they never gave up—even when they knew things weren’t looking good. They wanted to cherish the time they had together as much as they could. I was lucky enough to spend time with real-life Jen and the first time we spoke, we talked on the phone for over three hours. One of the biggest things she talked to me about was that they made the conscious decision not to wallow in their circumstances. I just find it inspiring the amount of love, laughter and light they tried to fill their remaining days with. It was a very emotional and hard shoot, but I feel so lucky I got to be part of it.
In movies like this, underneath the sadness there is a greater message. What did you take away from it and what do you hope that others will as well?
I hope that people take away the reminder to breathe and be present. All of these tiny moments in our lives, which might seem insignificant, are actually the foundation of who we are and what our relationships are. It’s so incredibly important, often more than the big flashy moments, especially in this time of covid, quarantine and isolation. It’s important to stop and breathe and there are some really beautiful things happening. The world is on fire and things are a bit crazy and scary but I have gotten so much incredible quality time with my husband and my dog. If we were moving a million miles a minute, we just wouldn’t have them. I hope that people remember to stop and smell the flowers and also that when we all work together we are so much more powerful.
You’ve had a lot of great projects come out this year including ‘Valley Girl’ and ‘Utopia’, all very different. What types of roles intrigue you the most? Is there a type of material that you want to explore in the future?
There are so many—I would really love to do a period piece that could be anything, I mean Valley Girl was a piece from the 80s, but like the 1920s or the 60s are really fun. I think it’s great to tell stories in transformative times because it’s just another level of escapism. At the end of the day, humans are humans and I think the most beautiful stories are the ones that transcend time and place. I would really love to do an action movie. I got to dabble in that with the Happy Death Day films because we filmed so many stunts and there was quite a bit of running but I always thought it would be fun to do something along the lines of Charlie’s Angels or James Bond—something that is pure popcorn. At the end of the day for me when I choose a role, it’s because I have fallen in love with the character and there is something new, exciting and terrifying about their journey and something that I have to explore. It’s one of the reasons why I have the urge to jump into all different types of genres.
I saw on your Instagram that you are a budding ceramicist!
That’s been my new covid hobby. I had taken two classes before we all got locked down for quarantine and the place that I had been taking classes said on their Instagram that they were renting out wheels. I got really excited, not only because I could continue to practice, but also because I would be supporting a local business. I have made a lot of really ugly bowls (laughs) but it’s so mesmerizing and fun. It’s very meditative. I wish I was at the point where I think of a shape and my hands just make that shape but it’s not what happens, it’s just a fun puzzle.
I also know a congratulations is in order since you recently got married! So many people, including family members have had ot put off their wedding, rescheduling it two times. Any words of advice for anyone who wants to get married during this pandemic?
For us, we just sat down and thought as they say to think about the three things that were the most important to us and that’s where you put your money. We did a similar thing and were like okay, is the most important thing to have everyone there in person, or do we just want to get married and have a micro-wedding and Zoom everyone in? Then when there is a vaccine, we can throw a huge party? That’s the avenue that we ended up going down. We were just ready, I have to say I am the biggest advocate of micro-weddings. We went from a wedding that was supposed to be like 200 people to a tiny intimate gathering at my parent’s backyard in the woods in Colorado. It was so magical. We had quality time with every single person that was there. I remember every single detail because I could be fully present. So just do it, no one can be mad at you, that’s the best part (laughs). Technology is amazing, we were able to have more people check in over Zoom than we would have had at the wedding. What a gift to be able to share that joy with other people.
That’s awesome! Can you share What’s next for you?
I have actually been writing something for the first time, which has been exhilarating and daunting and at times a maddening process. My writing partner and I just finished our second draft and we are hoping to sell it in the new year. It’s an exploration of female friendship, which is so important in my life. I know that my female friends feel their best friends are their true soul mates, so it’s an idea around that theme. It’s been really magical working on it; I am grateful for quarantine in the sense that I would always have excuses on why I wouldn't have time to write. I had already organized my bathroom five times (laughs), and I can’t make excuses anymore. Auditioning is starting to wake up again; I’m aching to go back to work, but I am also only want to do it in a way that feels safe and responsible for everyone involved.
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‘All My Life’ is now in select theaters and streaming on Prime Video
Hair by Bobby Eliot at The Wall Group; Makeup by Jenna Kristina at The Wall Group