The Girl Before | Interview with Jessica Plummer (Emma Matthews)

What drew you to this project?

The script was phenomenal. I read it all in one sitting. Normally, my attention span isn’t that great, but I was completely absorbed. I haven’t read the book. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to. But I know that it was a bestseller. So, it felt like quite an honour to be a part of it.

The Girl Before has a fantastic ensemble cast. What was it like working with your co-stars?

It was a real “pinch me” moment. I knew that David and Gugu were both attached to the project before I auditioned. Later on, finding out that Ben was joining us was nice. It was quite a small cast, so I felt like we became a little family, if that makes sense.

Whilst you were reading the script, was there anything in particular about Emma’s journey that you were really looking forward to exploring further?

So, you get the script, and you get your character and you’ve got to figure out why they do certain things. Emma uses distractions as a coping mechanism. She wants to put to bed things that aren’t working anymore and reinvent herself all over again. And the reason why she does that was interesting to create and figure out i.e., her backstory as to what happened to her previously to make this her coping mechanism.

What was the shooting process like? Do you have a favourite memory from filming?

Where to begin? There were so many incredible moments during the filming process. Starting from the beginning – receiving the phone call from my agent that I got the role. I remember I was getting ready for bed at 9pm when I received the call, I screamed and woke my whole house up! It felt like a dream. Even now, I still don’t believe it’s real.

Walking into One Folgate Street and seeing the set was breathtaking. It was probably my favourite filming location. It did feel the same way as my character described it – like a fortress. I felt so safe, relaxed and comfortable there. We were a small cast, and we were quite close – especially with the crew. Every day was a joy, different and challenging. But if I had to pick a favourite memory from filming, I’d say Emma’s birthday because that was a party scene and fun to film.

Without giving too much away, were there any challenges during filming?

As much as One Folgate was my favourite place to film, it was very cold to film there. It was a warehouse, not a studio, so there were no radiators. So, the cold was challenging! You could see your breath in front of your face.

What was it like working alongside intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien?

It was amazing. I’ve never done scenes of that nature before and so to have that support, knowing that I was safe, was great. I would describe it as a dance routine – you pick the beat and moves before the day of shooting, so you can go over them and remember them in your head. So that when it comes to it, you approach the scene with the same kind of markers.

What was it like working with director Lisa Brühlmann?

Lisa was fantastic. We called her “The Lady in Pink” because she had this wonderful pink coat that she would wear. She made you feel like you could trust her and that she trusted you and your perspective, but also give great direction. She has this kind aura about her and she’s lovely. I would really love to work with her again.

The house is almost like another character in the ensemble. Take me back to day one stepping foot on the set for the first time. What was that like?

I think I had to physically collect my jaw from the floor. I knew it was going to be stunning and beautiful from the descriptions and the conversations that I heard. But, I mean, it exceeded anything that I had imagined. It’s huge – I didn’t think it would be this big. It’s stunning!

Is there one element within this house that you’d like to incorporate into your own home?

Maybe not the stairs… I love that it’s open plan. My house is very much “room room room” and I find that me and my daughter are always following each other. And I like the open plan living space of this house. Also, my house is probably the opposite in that this house is minimal, and I still have my Christmas tree up from 2019.

Now, finally, the house rules require residents to move in with only essential items. So, what are the three essential items that you can’t live without and why?

I love questions like this! I feel like they are really telling about a person. My daughter! Is that a cop out? Because that is a given. Coffee and my headphones. Although I need something to plug my headphones into…. So, coffee, my daughter, music!