Robin Wright on how her iconic Forrest Gump role continues to follow her

Hollywood actor and director Robin Wright on the iconic roles that continue to follow her, and the reason she knew she was ready to start directing.

Because you are so well-known and well-regarded as an actor, many people may not realise that you started a pyjama line called Pour Les Femmes in 2014.

Not to make light of a terrible situation, but surely this past year has been good for business?

Exactly. We had a very successful year because of this time we are in. It’s also an incredible, sustainable brand that’s giving work to women in conflict regions, so I couldn’t be more proud.

”I just am so happy that the glass ceiling has a crack.” (Picture: Australscope)

You also have experience as a director, first when you helmed some episodes of House Of Cards and now with Land, which marks your feature-film directorial debut.

When you started your acting career as an 18-year-old – on the TV soap opera Santa Barbara – did you have any visions of eventually being in the director’s chair?

No, not at all. But then I started to feel ready on House Of Cards. We built this family together on House Of Cards for six years. It was such a safe haven and you could do the very thing you wanted to learn.

I just took advantage of having that security and very experienced crew members around me who basically were giving me free cinema school while I was directing. That was a gift. I got the bug and I never wanted to stop doing it.

Why?

“I just am so happy that the glass ceiling has a crack. It happened.” (Picture: AFP)

The biggest draw, after directing one episode, was the collaborating. Everyone is part of the creative. It’s so different to acting, which is a soloist act. You’re with yourself much of the time, rehearsing your lines by yourself, doing your written homework by yourself.

I just thought, “Wow, this is really so enlightening and invigorating, to work with all the department heads and their teams.”

You filmed Land before COVID. Could you have had even an inkling of how much the story would end up resonating?

This content has so much heart. This movie is about human beings and how we need to be connected to get through difficult times. And this time we are all enduring – separation and isolation – is a reminder of how beautiful human beings can be to one another and how desperately we need one another.

“We built this family together on House Of Cards for six years. It was such a safe haven and you could do the very thing you wanted to learn.” (Picture: David Giesbrecht/Netflix)

You also star in the film. Originally that wasn’t the plan, but it didn’t work with other actresses and their schedules. Are you glad that happened?

No! I so wish I could have had another actor, because they would have been so much better. There was a slew of actresses I wanted to do this role and, just practically, it would have been a lot easier. In the end it was challenging, but it was a hoot.

We shot the movie in 29 days and I’m like: this was meant to be, because we only had … 29 days. I didn’t have the time to pontificate or do multiple takes. It was one or two takes and then we had to move on.

“Those movies are going to go down in history. And how wonderful that I am part of it.” (Picture: Forrest Gump)

Your character survives for over two years in a cabin in the woods, without a mobile phone. Speaking for yourself, what could Robin Wright not do without for that amount of time?

It’s such a hypothetical because it’s like, “Would I really miss the phone or computer?” Sitting here today I would say no; I would welcome that. But probably I would miss Mexican food the most. So I would need to make sure I bring a lot of corn to make my tortillas.

Robin Wright features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

Considering your body of work as a whole – which spans TV, film, huge hits, cult classics and several decades – is there a character or famous quote you will never get tired of talking about or hearing?

It’s always the two classics: The Princess Bride and Forrest Gump. I always get lines thrown at me from those movies, and it just warms the heart. Because those movies are going to go down in history. And how wonderful that I am part of it.

For the first time, two female directors are up for Academy Awards in the same year. As a director, what does this mean to you?

I just am so happy that the glass ceiling has a crack. It happened. People have asked if those nominations have happened because of pressure and I’m like, “Yes!” I do think the pressure helps. And no-one should be ashamed of that.

Land is in cinemas from Thursday, April 29.