美国国家公共电台 NPR In 'Her Smell,' Elisabeth Moss 'Turned It Up To 11,' Then Turned It Up Some More

In 'Her Smell,' Elisabeth Moss¹ 'Turned It Up To 11,' Then Turned It Up Some More

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

A new movie features an actress better known for TV. Fans of "Mad Men" and "The Handmaid's Tale" will know Elisabeth Moss. In "Mad Men," she played Peggy Olson, a determined² copywriter at a male-dominated advertising³ firm.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "MAD MEN")

ELISABETH MOSS: (As Peggy Olson) I don't know if you're aware, but I brought in the Popsicle account today - on my own.

INSKEEP: In her new film, Moss plays a very different kind of role.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HER SMELL")

MOSS: (As Becky Something) So enough with this jibber-jabber, and let's rock. And that sums it up in one big lump...

INSKEEP: This movie is called "Her Smell." It was written and directed by Alex Ross Perry. We should mention the studio, Gunpowder⁴ & Sky, is among NPR's financial supporters. Now, the film imagines the chaotic⁵ life of a drug-addled musician. Moss plays Becky Something, the lead singer of a fictitious⁶ all-female punk band in the '90s. She joined Rachel Martin to talk about the part.

MOSS: Becky Something is a toxic⁷ personality sort of dealing⁸ with a lot of her own issues and demons⁹. But I think we've all kind of experienced that kind of person who we just - you know, somehow you can't get away from them. They're very interesting, but they're not good for you.

RACHEL MARTIN, BYLINE¹⁰: Yeah. There is a manic intensity¹¹ to, I mean, everything she does. And the film does such a good job of creating that frenzy¹² from the very beginning. I mean, it's just, like, nonstop, just crazy.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HER SMELL")

MOSS: (As Becky Something) I got to get out of here. I got to go to Becky's room. Stinks¹³ of [expletive]. I bid you ado. And hibida, hibida, hibida. That's all, folks.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) Oh, geez.

MARTIN: I mean, was that hard? Where did that come from?

MOSS: Well, it was on the page. And so I...

MARTIN: It was on the page? That's not ad-libbing?

MOSS: Oh, no, no, no. There's pretty much zero improv or ad-lib. And that's kind of - one of the things that Alex did was he wrote this character who had these long monologues¹⁴, who spoke¹⁵ in this stream of consciousness. But it was incredibly specific. It was the hardest dialogue I've ever had to learn because if you - even though it sounds like rambling¹⁶, even though it sounds like it doesn't make sense, if you change a word or if you flip¹⁷ two sentences, it actually really doesn't make sense. So it really had to be pretty much spot on.

MARTIN: Hibida hibida was on the page?

MOSS: A hundred percent.

MARTIN: (Laughter).

MOSS: I mean, I think he threw every pop culture reference previous to the early '90s that he could throw in there.

(LAUGHTER)

MOSS: Most of which I didn't know or understand.

MARTIN: I was just going to ask you, is that your time and was this your music?

MOSS: No, I mean, I was born in '82. So I sort of missed this. I missed the '90s music.

MARTIN: You had music growing up, right? Your parents were musicians?

MOSS: Yeah, but much more in jazz and blues¹⁸. I learned the piano a little bit when I was little because it was just sort of, like, required. But no, because I was a dancer and an actor, I didn't really have time to also (laughter) learn an instrument.

MARTIN: Did you then need to work on playing the piano and just the musicality of the character - singing, guitar?

MOSS: Yeah, I mean, I learned the guitar. I practiced for about four or five months, I guess. I was not going to become a guitarist. But I just needed to learn how to look like I was playing these songs. The piano was the one I did actually have to learn because that was one take live, from beginning to end. But it was a very, very simple version of Bryan Adams', "Heaven."

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HER SMELL")

MOSS: (As Becky Something, singing) Oh, thinking about all our younger years. There was only you and me. We were young and wild and free...

MARTIN: It's great scene. You're playing a song for your daughter.

MOSS: Yeah. And she sort of abandoned her daughter. She is an alcoholic¹⁹ and a drug addict²⁰ and recovering and trying to repair her relationship.

MARTIN: It's the most beautiful - no offense²¹ to Bryan Adams, but it's a great version of that song. (Laughter).

MOSS: Oh, thank you. Yes, I like to think it's better. No, (laughter) I think Bryan Adams is not going to be threatened by my performance.

MARTIN: (Laughter).

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HER SMELL")

MOSS: (As Becky Something, singing) Baby, you're all that I want. When you're laying here in my arms. I'm finding it hard to believe. We're in heaven.

MARTIN: There's this energy between you and the young actor who's playing your daughter. And I did, in that moment, think as I was watching it, how do you act that? How do you act through playing the piano when it's not natural to you?

MOSS: Well, what's interesting about that scene is just that I was sort of saved by where Becky is in the film because I think she is really nervous. And I, as an actor, was really nervous to play the song because it's not my forte²². And so it really didn't hurt that I was a little bit nervous myself.

MARTIN: Right, it actually played into the fact that they don't really know each other, these two people.

MOSS: Yeah, exactly.

MARTIN: What came out of that in terms of your own ambition? I mean, this was you. This was Elisabeth Moss. I mean, it was a beautiful script, but the number of minutes where it's just you on screen - either those monologues or your face - did you learn anything about your craft from this particular project?

MOSS: I didn't think about it that much. I just did it and just kind of went as big as I could and threw it all at the wall knowing that the - Alex and I knew that the only mistake we could make was not going far enough. And so we both just went for it.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HER SMELL")

MOSS: (As Becky Something) And you know what? That's why I'm leaving because when I needed it, nobody ever put a hand on my back and told me it was going to be all right.

MARTIN: Did he ever have to pull you back? I mean, did it ever feel too far? Or you're like, nope.

MOSS: No.

MARTIN: That's where it should be.

MOSS: So we started with act one. And I remember basically him just being like, faster, faster, faster. And I was like, OK, OK, OK. And we got there. And by the time we got to, like, act three, where she's just truly lost her mind and is high on so many things, I had turned it up to 11 and then realized I had to go even higher. (Laughter).

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HER SMELL")

MOSS: (As Becky Something, screaming) Just a little thing. Just a little thing. (Collapses to floor).

UNIDENTIFIED ACTORS: (As characters, gasping).

MARTIN: What was it like for your co-stars, I mean, just to be in your energy?

MOSS: I felt bad for some of the people that I didn't know as well. I'm not really that good at being social on set. I'm not somebody who, like, sits around and chats because I just - it's too tiring for me. And I need to kind of conserve²³ my energy.

So I only felt bad for people that I didn't really know as well. I remember Amber²⁴ Heard came in and did a couple days. And I apologized to her at one point. I was like, I'm really sorry. Like, I just met you, and I'm not this person.

MARTIN: (Laughter).

MOSS: But everybody else was incredibly supportive, particularly Agy and Gayle, my bandmates. We had a real nice unit from the very beginning.

MARTIN: And that's clear. I mean, it's a subplot. But the nature of female friendship, too, is really strong in the film.

MOSS: Yeah, thank you. I think so. And the forgiveness that's possible.

MARTIN: Yeah.

MOSS: And also the generosity²⁵ in sometimes saying, that's it; we're done.

MARTIN: Yeah...

MOSS: You know, especially with an addict, there's a point that you have to walk away. And both of those characters reach that point.

MARTIN: Elisabeth Moss, her new film is called "Her Smell." Thank you so much for talking with us.

MOSS: Thank you, I really appreciate it.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

4 gunpowder   

n.火药

参考例句：

• Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。
• This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

5 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

6 fictitious   

adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的

参考例句：

• She invented a fictitious boyfriend to put him off.她虚构出一个男朋友来拒绝他。
• The story my mother told me when I was young is fictitious.小时候妈妈对我讲的那个故事是虚构的。

7 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

8 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

9 demons   

n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念

参考例句：

• demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼
• He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰，那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

11 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

12 frenzy   

n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动

参考例句：

• He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
• They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。

13 stinks   

v.散发出恶臭( stink的第三人称单数 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透

参考例句：

• The whole scheme stinks to high heaven—don't get involved in it. 整件事十分卑鄙龌龊——可别陷了进去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soup stinks of garlic. 这汤有大蒜气味。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

14 monologues   

n.（戏剧）长篇独白( monologue的名词复数 )；滔滔不绝的讲话；独角戏

参考例句：

• That film combines real testimonials with monologues read by actors. 电影中既有真人讲的真事，也有演员的独白。 来自互联网
• Her monologues may help her make sense of her day. 她的独白可以帮助她让她一天的感觉。 来自互联网

15 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

16 rambling   

adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的

参考例句：

• We spent the summer rambling in Ireland. 我们花了一个夏天漫游爱尔兰。
• It was easy to get lost in the rambling house. 在布局凌乱的大房子里容易迷路。

17 flip   

vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的

参考例句：

• I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书，看来似乎很有趣。
• Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。

18 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

19 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

20 addict   

v.使沉溺；使上瘾；n.沉溺于不良嗜好的人

参考例句：

• He became gambling addict,and lost all his possessions.他习染上了赌博，最终输掉了全部家产。
• He assisted a drug addict to escape from drug but failed firstly.一开始他帮助一个吸毒者戒毒但失败了。

21 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

22 forte   

n.长处，擅长；adj.(音乐)强音的

参考例句：

• Her forte is playing the piano.她擅长弹钢琴。
• His forte is to show people around in the company.他最拿手的就是向大家介绍公司。

23 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

24 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

25 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。