Conversations with Greta Gerwig (2018)

Career Q&A with Greta Gerwig, Writer/Director of LADY BIRD, on January 10, 2018.  Moderated by Sara Vilkomerson, Entertainment Weekly.

GRETA GERWIG has rapidly emerged as one of Hollywood’s most engaging actresses, screenwriters, and directors, most recently writing and directing LADY BIRD.  The film has appeared on over 200 “Top Ten” lists for 2017, and has won Best Picture from the New York Film Critics Circle and Gerwig has won Best Director from the National Board of Review.  The film is nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Gerwig was last seen in 20th CENTURY WOMEN alongside Annette Bening and Elle Fanning from director Mike Mills. Gerwig received a Critics’ Choice Award nomination in the category of “Best Supporting Actress” for her portrayal of “Abbie,” a photographer who is being treated for cervical cancer. Last year, Gerwig also starred in Pablo Larrain’s JACKIE alongside Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard; Todd Solondz’s WIENER-DOG opposite Danny DeVito, Ellen Burstyn, and Kieran Culkan; and Rebecca Miller’s romantic dramedy MAGGIE’S PLAN opposite Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore. 

In 2015, Gerwig starred in MISTRESS AMERICA, a comedy that she co-wrote with director Noah Baumbach, which premiered to rave reviews at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Gerwig’s previous collaboration with Baumbach, FRANCES HA, earned her Golden Globe and Broadcast Film Critics Association Award nominations in the category of “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.” The film, which also earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for “Best Feature,” premiered at the 2012 Telluride Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, and New York Film Festival.

Gerwig first received critical acclaim for her breakout role as “Florence” in GREENBERG, which marked her first collaboration with writer/director Noah Baumbach. In the film, she starred opposite Ben Stiller and her performance earned her several nominations including a Gotham Award nomination for “Breakthrough Performance” and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for “Best Female Lead.” 

Other film credits include Barry Levinson’s THE HUMBLING opposite Al Pacino and Dianne Wiest, Woody Allen’s TO ROME WITH LOVE opposite Alec Baldwin, Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page; ARTHUR opposite Russell Brand and Helen Mirren; the romantic comedy NO STRINGS ATTACHED with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher; Whit Stillman’s comedy DAMSELS IN DISTRESS; and Fox Searchlight’s LOLA VERSUS. A darling of the independent film scene, Gerwig’s prior credits include Ti West’s “art-house horror film” HOUSE OF THE DEVIL; the Duplass brothers’ genre-bender BAGHEAD; Joe Swanberg’s HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS as a writer and actress, and NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS which she co-wrote and co-directed.

Gerwig graduated Magna Cum Laude from Barnard College and currently resides in New York City.