Conviction tells the story of Betty Anne Waters (played by two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank), a wife and mother who dedicated her life to doing whatever it took to free her brother, Kenny (played by Sam Rockwell), from jail. Kenny was convicted of murder and Betty Anne was so positive her brother was wrongfully imprisoned that she got her GED and put herself through law school in order to defend him. Lewis enters the story playing Roseanna Perry, a wreck of a woman whose lies on the stand helped get Kenny convicted.
Exclusive Juliette Lewis Interview
How did Tony Goldwyn help you get into this complicated character?Juliette Lewis: "Well, as you've seen, I have two scenes. It's a small role but it's pivotal and it offered me the chance to do something I've never done on screen before, to completely transform both visually and emotionally. And also the second scene is so complex I've never had to go through so many different emotions in a single scene as intensely. So, as intensely as she feels remorseful to vindictive to getting distracted by the television because she's out to lunch to then, at the end, her being manipulative and very lucid. And so Tony was this incredible guide that I could trust, because basically when I'm inside the person, I have to be as true as possible to that personality. I'm not looking at myself from the outside so I really have to trust my director's validation, his coaching, his guiding to go, 'Maybe make it more strange here,' or 'Let's try this.'"
"And what was so beautiful about him is he wanted to play. We really played with that scene. He also has a sensitivity that he knows as an actor what it takes to create that kind of fragility, so he creates an atmosphere that's focused and moving along so that I can hang on to that energy. We did our takes very quickly because you're in the moment. He was great in every way. I was also excited by him visually because it's a visually very intimate story. It's not sterile. It lets you into the heart of the characters."
It's funny that you say it's a small role because I walked away from the film thinking you were one of the major co-stars because your scenes are so incredible - and you're such a scene-stealer. I loved her look. How instrumental were you in figuring out her physical appearance?
Juliette Lewis: "Me too - that was my whole thing. First of all, it was such a great time. Every department is looking for the truth to keep things honest, and they want to make it as believable as possible. So their job, especially with the dialect coach, is we don't want you to be thinking, 'Okay, we're speaking in a way you haven't seen us in other parts. Okay, fine.' And then after that, you accept the character. So for me the subtlety of the make-up was so amazing. Like, you don't see it but they aged my eyes. They gave me wrinkles I don't have. They speckled my complexion so that it's that sort of toxic drug and alcohol addicted complexion. And then the hair is just unkempt. And then the teeth, of course, we got made a couple of weeks before shooting."
"But I was so excited. This is one of the thrills of a lifetime. I wanted to lose myself in this and get rid of all my idiosyncrasies. I didn't want you to see my anywhere in the part but completely believe this person. And, also, as an actor it gives me a chance because I'm intensely curious about people and people especially that are different than me and my own experience. It's one of the thrills to get under that individual's skin and make it this very human, visceral breathing personality. So some of the comments I've gotten were, well, that I looked pretty disgusting I guess, which was necessary because it has to be true, you know? But the other thing was that people didn't recognize me or didn't know it was me until later or something. That was pretty exciting."
You totally disappear into the character.
Juliette Lewis: "And I've got to tell you also the fact that I'm doing these interviews, there's no project I'd want to be promoting more. I mean the fact that it's a true life story, it moves so many people, and that it also sheds light on an issue that not many people are aware of - of innocent people in prison. But that was just icing on the project. That wasn't the initial intention because it's really a familial love story. But I never in a million years expected the reaction I've been getting from this part. Especially as you get older in this business you learn never have expectations and to really enjoy the work and the journey, and so this has been the opportunity of a lifetime."
Do you still really enjoy it after all of these years?
Juliette Lewis: "Oh, I have to tell you. Maybe you don't know what I've been doing..."
You've been concentrating on your music, right?
Juliette Lewis: "Yes, I've done that for five years so I've been fulfilled in a completely different way creatively. And so now that I'm doing film again, it's like this passionate love affair I'm having with the process. And I must tell you on the one hand I'm just happy to not be on the road. On the other hand, I can focus on one thing because with my music I focus on everything. I'm a band leader, I'm a songwriter, I'm a performer... I focus on business. So this is a real luxury now just to be a working actor. I love it and I relish helping my director and the writers tell their stories."
Do you think taking the break and getting into your music helped you become a better actress?
Juliette Lewis: "Yeah. Somebody asked me do I look for roles the same way as when I was younger. 'What's changed?' And it is my ability, what I have to offer has changed so much. I just think my well of experience and confidence has opened up. As an artist and if you're developing in other areas, it just improves anything you do I would think. And as a songwriter this is a whole other magical creativity that I wasn't doing and so was extremely unfulfilled. But absolutely I would want to do both; it was never one or the other. I had to focus on music very intensely if I was going to have a future at it, you know? Everything has to do with your relationship with an audience, so that is touring. That's my tour life. But what was my short answer? Yes, I think I have more to offer and also more life experience here now in my 30s, so I'm looking forward to the future."
Does being a songwriter make you look at scripts differently?
Juliette Lewis: "Actually I was always a songwriter acting; I was always a singer, acting. And so then it opened me up, like, 'A-ha, wow, I'm finally hearing the drums. I'm telling these mini-stories.' Or, 'I'm working through a metaphor in my lyrics,' and all these things. So my acting world informed also my songwriting a great deal. I was using music always to create the emotional life of my characters early on. It reminded me to be fearless again because that's what happened - I wasn't in music. I always intended to do music but I waited until I was 30 and I had to sort of kick myself and go, 'Hey, remember your mantra of being fearless? You're not doing it.' I had to remind myself to walk the walk."
You didn't actually meet the lady who you are playing, right?
Juliette Lewis: "No, her and Nancy Taylor, because they committed crimes obviously aren't going to be involved in the movie. But 98% of what I say in that movie is from transcripts of interviews that my character gave. So her language that she used, her guilt, all these things are things she said. And that was incredibly informative."
"Betty Anne was not on the set when I was working, but I talked to Barry Scheck just to have him tell me stories of this woman, how she called him drunk in the middle of the night and things like that. So I knew I was playing a drug and alcohol addicted personality who's lived quite a destructive life."
Who makes horrible decisions...
Juliette Lewis: "Horrible decisions. So there's truth in there. And there's also, at the end of the day, my intuiting it, my creation. The biggest compliment I got was from Betty Anne herself who said I did that portrayal justice and has been really happy with what I did onscreen."
How are you taking the Oscar buzz around your role?
Juliette Lewis: [Screaming and laughing] "I'm not... I'm going, 'Nah, nah, nah, nah,' with my fingers in my ears. No, this is the thing. I never expected to be invited in so thoroughly and excitedly by people the way they're reacting to my performance. That's the thrill. And I know, now more than ever, to just enjoy the ride. But it is nice to have another chance at things now that I'm a bit older and have more perspective. Because when I was younger earlier on, I was not prepared for having so much attention. It wasn't in my natural way. I did not want people to put me on a pedestal. I like to speak for the people and be one of the peeps. That's my nature."
"Okay, that was not a short answer. The short answer is I'm enjoying the journey and I'm happy to be on the team, on such a stellar team."
