Scene 2 Seen Podcast: Thomasin Mackenzie, Ottessa Moshfegh, Luke Goebel, And William Oldroyd Talk ‘Eileen’

Welcome to the Scene to Seen Podcast. I am Valerie Complex Associate editor and film writer at Deadline.

I have a disclaimer. I talk to actress Thomasin Mackenzie, director William Oldroyd, script writers Ottessa Moshfeg and Luke Goebel, about the Neon film Eileen, but this episode is going to be split into two.

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First half is a separate interview with Thomasin Mackenzie and the second half is a full interview with Moshfegh, Goebel and Oldroyd. Think of this as the Eileen hour! Hope you can cut me some slack because they couldn’t record together!

Eileen is adapted from the novel of the same name written by Ottessa Moshfeg. Alongside Mackenzie, the film stars Ann Hathaway, Shea Wigham, Marin Ireland, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan.

The film is set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when a reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path.

McKenzie hails from New Zealand and has emerged as one of the most talented young performers in recent years. After a minor role in The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (2014), Her breakout role came in Debra Granik’s drama film Leave No Trace opposite Ben Foster.  (2018), for which she won the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance. Other noteworthy credits include starring in the 2021 indie drama I’m Not Here, the 2022 sci-fi mystery Last Night in Soho directed by Edgar Wright, and a lead role in Jane Campion’s Netflix film The Power of the Dog opposite Benedict Cumberbatch.

Still only in her mid-20s, Thomasin McKenzie has proven herself as a talented dramatic actress capable of connecting with audiences through complex, challenging roles. With her career still on the rise, she remains one of the most promising young actors working today.

In the first half of the episode, I talk to her about how she maintained character in the middle of a New England winter, forming a connection with Ann Hathaway, and her recommendations on the best films from New Zealand.

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Author, and writer Ottessa Moshfegh is a fiction writer and screenwriter from New England. Eileen, her first novel, was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award. She’s also the author of the famed book, My Year Of Rest and Relaxation.

Luke B. Goebel is an author and screenwriter living in Los Angeles. His first book, Fourteen Stories, None of Them Are Yours won the Ronald Sukenick/American Book Review Innovative Fiction Prize.  He also co-wrote the film Causeway—2022

William Oldroyd is best known for directing the critically acclaimed TIFF 2016 breakout film Lady Macbeth starring Florence Pugh. After premiering in Toronto, the film went on to garner rave reviews at The London Film Festival, win the the International Film Critics Awards Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival and earn William a DGA nomination.

In part 2, I talk to the group about the process of book to screen adaptation, the power of transgressive fiction, and the collaborative process between director/writer.

**If you like what you hear, be sure to review, like, and subscribe to the Scene to Seen Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and iHeart.**

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