In the Hulu original Run, Sarah Paulson plays Diane, a single mother who has raised her daughter Chloe (played by newcomer Kiera Allen) in total isolation. Diane has done everything to control every move Chloe has made since her birth, but there are secrets that Chloe is only beginning to grasp.
Run is the newest film from writers, producers and director of the breakout film Searching. Screen Rant had the exclusive opportunity to talk to actors Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen about their roles in this new film. Learn about their first time meeting, how much influence Kiera Allen had on the final film and their experience working with the filmmakers.
Hi Sarah and Kiera! How are you doing today?
Sarah Paulson: Very good.
Kiera Allen: Great! How are you Justin?
Very good. Very excited to talk to you about this film. I just wanted to start off by saying you both did an amazing job with this film. The film would not work if you two didn’t work and you both were incredible. I wanna go back to what was the first meeting between you two?
Sarah Paulson: Kiera…
Kiera Allen: Oh my gosh. (Laughs) Well I was a big fan of Sarah’s work. I was actually in the middle of the latest season of American Horror Story when I found out that she was cast and that I was gonna be reading with her. It was literally a Wednesday Thursday thing. Watched the episode Wednesday. Got the call Thursday and was like...that seems reasonable. (Laughs) Was absolutely terrified. Absolutely terrified. And she came in and I just had this very weird surreal moment of “OH MY GOD you’re in three dimensions. (LAUGHS) It was just so crazy. This was my first feature film. I’ve never been in an audition room with someone like Sarah before. It was the first time. The first time I’ve really seen someone that I ire, that I just watched doing incredible work that week, like walk into the room with me and be ready to do a scene with me. But she right away put me at ease, she wanted to get to know me. We spent a long time talking even before we did the scene. So I would feel comfortable. And she really believed in me incredibly from the very first day. That very first audition. We did two or three scenes together. I think I Aneesh (director) was like “you know if this ends up happening, if Kiera ends up getting cast.” And you(to Sarah) said “why wouldn’t that happen?” I was like...oh my god! (Laughs) So it was really a remarkable thing and after I got over myself and stopped being so intimidated it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Sarah Paulson: Indeed.
Kiera Allen: I’m sorry just talked so long…
(Laughs) Sarah...just kinda wanted to point something out...when I told people who I was interviewing today a lot of my female friends were like “you are NOT interviewing Sarah Paulson today!” (Laughs) they were very excited. So I wanna know when you meet someone like Kiera and you know you’re gonna be hopefully working with them how do you feel about what their reaction is when they meet you and see you like that.
Sarah Paulson: I don’t ever think of anyone knowing A.) Who I am. B.) Give a s*** about me in that way. I don’t think about it that way. I was really thinking I hope...I knew Aneesh (note: writer/director Aneesh Chaganty) was really really high on Kiera. And really was like “this is who I want.” I was given a little bit of power to say like, I don’t feel it with this person, or I do feel it with this person. If I had said, this doesn’t feel right to me I assume there would have been a bigger conversation to be had. Which was an interesting position to be in. It was a little nerve racking. But I just knew right away...there was not a doubt in my mind that Kiera was the girl. She was it. There was just no question about it. It’s not like I read with 4 other girls, Aneesh was like “this is who I think is right.” And it was just so clear to me instantly. And I think we both felt like “oh yeah…” I don’t have kids, she has a mother but I don’t have kids, but I was like…I’d buy this! I’d buy this. And it was great. It was great right away. But it never occurs to me that someone might be like…”holy shit.” (Laughs) Most of the time I’m thinking they will be like “Who are you? What?” You know…
Kiera Allen: It was definitely the former for me. (Laughs) I was trying really hard to play it cool. So I’m glad to hear it didn’t read so much.
Sarah Paulson: You always play it so cool.
Kiera Allen: Ok...well...I’m undoing all of that right now by telling you about this. (Laughs)
A film like this is about balancing tone. What were the discussions you two had concerning the ton of this film. It’s still a thriller but there’s also a big amount of drama embedded into the story. What were those discussions like?
Kiera Allen: Sarah, did we ever have conversations discussing the tone?
Sarah Paulson: I do think it’s interesting that, for you...as a person watching this movie through a more critical lens...what works about it, what doesn’t...when you’re inside it sometimes I feel like...and Kiera mentioned this earlier when we were speaking to another journalist...that like we just played it for real. We just invested in the reality that we were these women. And this was our story. This was our dynamic. It changed as it changed and it changed between us. We were just sort of along for the ride. I know I can speak for both of us. We just trusted Aneesh and he’d spent so much time working on it and he had an answer for every question. Nat (note: Producer Natalie Qasabian), Sev (note: writer/producer Sev Ohanian) and Aneesh were like this trifecta. And he told me right away anytime I give you a note, you may see me talking to them but we kinda do it together. It’s not like it was directed by all three of them but...they very much...they’re like a truple. It’s a real thing. (Laughs) It’s like a real thing. So I just trusted him and knew what he was asking us to do was part of their vision. It’s really our job to help bring the director's vision to life so I just trusted him. If I hadn’t, believe me I would have been like “NO!”
Kiera Allen: (Laughs) Absolutely. Totally agree. Always trust Aneesh.
Sarah Paulson : Always trust Aneesh. When in doubt, trust Aneesh.
So Kiera, with this being your first feature film, one of the things I’ve found out...because I talked to Aneesh and Sev earlier today...was that their discussions with you really did help shape the movie. Like especially in of the authenticity and making sure that everything was accurate, especially the fact that I think they even said that there was some last minute ADR work that you had to confirm which one was right. How do you feel about this being your first film and you kinda had…
Sarah Paulson: All the power.
This much influence in the end product?
Kiera Allen: (Laughs) Well I will say I had very little influence...for good reason...had very little influence over the story and the script. That was all them. By the time the script landed on my lap as an audtioner it was already this beautiful, compelling story I was so invested in. And with regard to authenticity, I emailed Aneesh after my first audition, when I first got the script from my call back...I read it and immediately emailed Aneesh and said…”look, whatever happens with casting I can’t wait to see this movie. This is one of the best portrayals of a disable character I’ve ever seen.” And so it started off from a really really wonderful place. And then just the fact that they made space for me. And they made time. And they made it a priority to get everything right. And they never put it on my shoulders. They never said “it’s your job to make this authentic.” They did the research. They did all the foundational work to build it up to the place to where it was, but little details. I was always welcome to come forward and say “you know what...I would transfer this way instead of that way.” Or you know “I wouldn’t want someone to come behind me and push my wheelchair without me knowing. Here’s how I would do that instead. Here’s how I would communicate this. And these tiny tiny changes were made that ultimately, to me, made a big difference in of the authenticity but not biggest thing was just being on set with this team all the time, knowing that I had a voice. They let me have a voice and that made being on set, comfortable and safe and a safe place to be vulnerable all the time. I really give Aneesh, Sev and Nat ...the WHOLE crew a lot of credit for that.
Awesome. Just to wrap this it up...I kinda brought this up to Aneesh and Sev earlier and I was wondering...because I was asking this is sort of their second in single parent thriller movies (laughs) I was asking if they had a third one in mind...and if so would you two be up to the task to returning in any capacity to work with those two again?
Sarah Paulson: YES!
Screen Rant: (Laughs) I figured.
Kiera Allen: Absolutely.
Sarah Paulson: What if were were both like...umm…uhhhh…
Kiera Allen: Ehhhhh...uhhh...I’ll work with Aneesh, Sev and Nat again but not Sarah….
(LAUGHS)
Sarah Paulson: Oh again...ummm...could we just...She’s obviously gonna be a big star and leave me in the dust. I like my own face so I don’t want to share with her. I find it irritating.
Kiera Allen: We have to share a face?!
Sarah Paulson: We have to share a face! (Laughs)
Kiera Allen: Oh no! I didn’t know this was coming. I would be so happy to share your beautiful face.
Sarah Paulson: I would be so happy to share your face man.
Thank you so much.
