Movies Features

Abigail Breslin talks New Year’s Eve

By Anne Brodie Dec 7, 2011, 16:39 GMT

The film, set in New York City on New Year\'s Eve, will follow the intertwining romantic stories of several characters. ...more

Abigail Breslin’s fifteen now and no doubt experiencing the pains and pleasures of being a teenager.  She gets to live out a little of that in the anthology film New Year’s Eve, as she and Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays her watchful mother quarrel over her plans to go to Time Square on New Years’ Eve.  

Mother wants her home in ways that could be construed as selfish, but daughter wants to begin to assert herself and be with the boy she likes. 

Breslin, the child actor who made her mark in Little Miss Sunshine is now a tall and willowy blonde, dressed in designer clothes in shades of brown, taupe and black.

She looks gorgeous, but her elegance hasn’t dampened the youthful enthusiasm of someone like her character, wants to be out in the world. 

M&C spoke with Breslin in Toronto.

M&C: There are so many characters and stories in New Year’s Eve, and you didn’t have much time to get your story across.   How did you manage? 

Breslin: What I loved about my storyline is that Sarah Jessica Parker who plays my mum we play as mother and daughter in a battle-of-the-wills story.   It’s definitely a lot of fun, a fun storyline and it’s definitely something that is cool because people can relate to both.  

A lot of kids my age will understand Haley’s point of view to want to be independent and be with her friends and be her own person, but at the same time you can see where Sarah’s character is coming from, that she wants to protect her from Times Square on New Years’ Eve.

M&C: How is Sarah Jessica Parker as scene partner?  She seems lovely.

Breslin: She’s sweet and so much fun to work with.  It was fun doing the scenes where we had to fight in the middle of the subway.  She’s so sweet and we basically talked about American Idol off camera that was our big thing. It was on while we were filming.

M&C: You and your mom compromise and you get to kiss your friend Seth.  Is this your first onscreen kiss?

Breslin: It is!  Haha. 

M&C: Did you have any nerves?

Breslin: Um, I mean, you know ...  It was kind of fun because my best friend [Cassidy Reiff] plays Piper in the movie. 

M&C: Your real life best friend?

Breslin: Yes!  And we got to work together. It was fun to have my best friend there for the first onscreen kiss in a movie.  It was professional.

M&C: So you’ve passed that little obstacle now.  As you move into teenaged, older roles, how are they different?

Breslin: I always want to try to play different roles and not play the same person twice.  This character is definitely different.  It’s my first real teenage role.

There’s a movie I just finished filming in Winnipeg and that’s a much darker role. It’s a really heavy movie.   I just want to keep doing different things.  [Class Project is about two sisters who plot to kill their alcoholic, abusive mother.]

M&C: Thank goodness it wasn’t winter in Winnipeg.

Breslin: Yes, okay, but I started filming there in September and I finished in October.  It was 100 degrees the first week and then 20 degrees Fahrenheit which is like freezing cold and they were all the scenes where it had to be like summer time. 

It was horrible.  The weather was not sunny but the people there are so nice.

M&C: There’s a real arts scene in Winnipeg.

Breslin: Yes exactly, everyone was so cool.

M&C: You’re always busy working or preparing for your next role.  Do you have a normal life?

Breslin: Yes for sure, my mum always says “How can you play a fifteen year old if you’re not a fifteen year old?”  When I’m not filming, I just kind of go home and hang out with my friends and so the normal things.

M&C: Do you do chores?

Breslin: Oh, yes, I clean my room, take the dogs for walks, and take the garbage out, all that stuff.

M&C: Do you ever speak to the older actors about acting techniques or is your approach personal?

Breslin: I watch and see how they act on set and how they get into their scene.  I’m more of watcher.  I watch and take things in.

M&C: You don’t want to interrupt people.

Breslin: Exactly, not like “Hey!”

M&C: What kind of role would you really like to do that might surprise people?

Breslin: One of roles I want to play is Lady Jane Grey which is one of my favorites, a really interesting story.  That’s definitely something I would love to do one day.  She’s sixteen. 

There is a really great movie with Helena Bonham Carter and I’ve seen that movie ten times.  She was pretty amazing so that would be hard to do, but yes, that’s definitely what I’d like to do.

M&C: Are you a big reader?

Breslin: I love reading!  I’m reading a book now, Blood on My Hands, a thriller type book by Todd Strasser.  I read all the time.

M&C: Do you get ideas for films for yourself?

Breslin: Yes that’s definitely it.  I get into books and I can’t stop reading and I look for a movie to do.  I write short stories and would like to make a compilation of short stories.  I’m writing a script right now with my cousin.  It’s not very good but we try. 

M&C: Is it on Final Draft?

Breslin: No, here’s the thing. We don’t have Final Draft and we’re asking for that for Christmas, so we texted it, which is a bad application.  It’s not just for taking notes, but it’s perfect for writing.  It’s a love story, a girl, that type of thing.   It’s cute, it’s funny.

M&C: So finally, are you dating?

Breslin: Not at the moment.  Not right now.  [Laughs]

Visit the movie database for more information.