Daisy Ridley talks producing and starring in the film Magpie

Daisy Ridley shares her experience in producing and starring in her latest movie, Magpie. She originally conceptualized the idea of a character whose world became intertwined with a child actors family on set, after her own experience of seeing how reality and truth can become blurred during the filmmaking process. Taking this idea one step further, screenwriter Tom Bateman shaped this into a story where a married couple whose relationship is starting to show cracks become intertwined with an actress who is playing their daughters mother in a film.

In playing her character, Annette, she found a real opportunity to tap into the world of someone who is feeling incredibly isolated after the birth of her second child following her and her husband moving to a more rural area. It was important to her that she convey Annette’s love for her children and in particular her daughter being what makes her light up throughout the day.

Starring opposite Daisy, Shazad Latif played her husband in the film and they sought to capture a marriage that had initially been full of love but where the things that they used to love about each other had since become the things which now drive them apart instead. With a history of infidelity on her husband’s part, Annette begins to spiral in imagining what might be happening when he’s on set with their daughter and this led her to map out in detail what she imagined her character would be doing during this time even though we don’t see her on screen.

The film lays the ground work for an emotional twist and it was important that every choice along the way feel justified and authentic to her characters experience.

Watch the full conversation below:

Q&A on the film Magpie with actor & producer Daisy Ridley. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company.

A couple find their lives turned upside-down when their daughter is cast alongside a controversial major star.