Science-fiction meets adventure with a star-studded cast in Netflix’s big new budget film The Electric State, out now on the streaming platform! Before the film’s release, we chatted with Woody Norman who stars as Christopher to learn more about working with the cast and his experiences on set.
The Electric State, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, is set in the aftermath of a robotic uprising in the ‘90s and follows a young woman named Michelle who embarks on a journey across the American West, accompanied by a mysterious toy robot and Keats, a smuggler, as they go in search of her younger brother.
The film features an incredible lineup of actors, as Millie Bobby Brown plays Michelle, Chris Pratt stars as Keats, and also includes Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, the voices of Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, and so many more. Woody’s character Christopher is Michelle’s brother in the film.
“Every year of being a teenager, I’ve been on the job of [The Electric State].”
In addition to this huge project, Woody is also known for his role as Jesse in the film C’mon C’mon, working alongside Joaquin Phoenix, for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He has also appeared in the Netflix miniseries Troy: Fall of a City.
Woody revealed that he didn’t actually audition for the role of Christopher, but received an email from the Russo brothers asking to get on a call with him to discuss the role. Talk about being so perfect for a role that the directors personally request you!
Because Woody played the brother of Millie Bobby Brown’s character, he said the two worked closely together and said Millie’s experience and professionalism always showed on set. Woody said Millie was so incredibly nice and really owned her character and contributed to a calm set where he always felt comfortable.
“[Millie Bobby Brown] made everything easier, she’s been doing this a lot longer.”
We asked Woody about his prep for the role, and he said he didn’t need to prep a lot to play Christopher, and instead relied on his acting experience and really focused on his performance over the lines.
“I prioritize performance over words.”
Yet, because he is English, Woody said he really enjoyed working alongside American actors or actors with very good American accents to pick up on their tone and enunciation of words.
“The things I do consciously try and learn is when I work with American actors, I will listen to them more because obviously I have to do an American accent and I’m English.”
While the film is set in the 90s, Woody said it contains references that all age groups will understand and relate to!
Thank you, Woody, for Facetiming with Young Entertainment! Make sure to follow him on his Instagram at @officialwoodynorman. Be sure to watch the rest of the interview where we ask him about his favorite moments on set. While you’re there, be sure to like and subscribe to our channel for the latest news in young entertainment.
Consider this:
- Sometimes less is more on set! While being on a large set can feel overwhelming, don’t feel the need to take up the room and be the biggest voice. Sometimes just observing is the most powerful tool.
- Take the time to get to know your fellow cast members. Understanding them as people first can help in an acting setting.
