When it came to casting the lead character, Ann, the young wife and mother who learns she has just a short time to live, “My Life Without Me’s” writer/director Isabel Coixet knew she’d found the right actress after auditioning the Canadian born actress. Her commitment and insight immediately spoke to the director. “When I met Sarah in New York, I knew she was Ann. From the beginning, we agreed on almost everything about Ann, the way she walks, the way she dresses,” recalls Coixet.
What was about the project that intrigued you?
I thought the script was brilliant and I thought that the character was so interesting. I loved that it portrayed someone who lived below the poverty line as a really rich human with a lot of intelligence, as opposed to the kind of stereotypes that we've gotten used to with people being portrayed in terms of white trash and trailer trash. That is so offensive, it’s great to see someone portrayed who lived in a trailer and was just a really smart, good human being.
Was that in the script or was that a product of your input?
That's the script. I really think it took a European filmmaker to do that. I think in North America we have so much stigma attached to these things that it took a European filmmaker to make a movie like this.
Was there much about this character that you could relate to?
You know, I’m sure there are some connections here and there but they are mostly subconscious. I sort of look up to her more than anything else. I think she’s braver and stronger and smarter than I’ll ever be.
If you were in that situation where you have to decide to tell or not to tell, how would you handle it?
I don’t know. My sense is that I would share it with the people in my life but I don’t think you ever really know how you are going to react when something like that happens to you.
Do you feel that it was the right decision for your character?
I think for her, with her specific set of circumstances, it was the right thing for her to do. I don’t think that necessarily means it’s the right thing for anyone else to do.
Your character makes a list of things she has to do before she dies. Was that a difficult scene to play?
Yes, it was very emotional but it was never depressing, and I think that sort of comes across in the film as well. I don’t think that people come out depressed, although they might be very moved. She’s a very practical person; she has a lot she has to get done. It’s about getting things done, about living life more than anything else. If anything, it gave me a sense of needing to enjoy life more.
Did it make you think about what would be on your own list?
I don’t know what would be on my list exactly. I tried to not make my own list so that I could really experience the movie through her eyes.
Did the fact the director, Isabel Coixet, is female make a difference?
I don’t know. Isabel is an amazing filmmaker and it was great, there’s a kind of intimacy with her because she’s operating the camera so she’s right there with us. She's a bit of a role model for me just because it’s really amazing to work with a director who’s written this brilliant script, who's a great filmmaker, who’s operating the camera herself, directing in three languages. Some of the crew were French, some were Spanish, and some were English and Canadian. She’s a bit of a superwoman.
I read that you’d like to get into directing. Is that in your future?
I direct short films. It’s not this huge ambition of mine. It’s something that I’d like to do both, because I think you learn a lot one from the other.
Do you see yourself directing a feature, or will you stay with short films?
Yes, I’m going to do a feature next year. I haven’t figured out a way to talk about it yet (laughing).
