Filmmaker Posy Dixon (Keyboard Fantasies) chats to SICK OF MYSELF lead actress Kristine Kujath Thorp in this intimate, laugh-out-loud funny episode of The Modern Line podcast. From wildly absurd acting techniques (think dog tasers and drinking gallons of beetroot juice), to working with Kristoffer Borgli and portraying loneliness and narcissism on screen, Posy and Kristine delve deep into the making of Sick of Myself.
Listen to the podcast and take a browse through our notes on Sick of Myself below.
All behind the scenes photographs are provided by Eye Eye Pictures
POSY DIXON: What was the audition process like?
KRISTINE KUJATH THORP: I was called in by a casting director. It took so long to get the part… I kept on sending Kristoffer mail, saying like; “What is happening? What is up? Are we getting there?”… I was really, really eager to get that part. I just couldn't let go of it. I kept on telling people that I was waiting for the final callback for Sick of Myself for two years. And I would have just kept on going.
POSY DIXON: How did you work on developing your character?
KRISTINE KUJATH THORP: I worked a lot with improv to figure out my character.
I invited Eirik (who plays Thomas) on like Signe and Thomas' ‘first date’… They both have a very bizarre sense of humour and a very morbid sense of humour. And both of them are very… they don't have any filter, they don't have any stop button. They act on impulse. I think they both found that attractive in the other one.
POSY DIXON: What would be your dream role, your dream script? Manifest it.
KRISTINE KUJATH THORP: Well, I've always said… I think it's impossible now because I'm getting older and I'm not French… but if Yorgos Lanthimos were to make a film about Jeanne d’Arc, I would play Jeanne d’Arc. That would be my dream.
POSY DIXON: Can you suggest a double-bill of films we should watch back-to-back?
KRISTINE KUJATH THORP: I’m a huge fan of Roy Andersson, and to get the full experience, I would probably say A Swedish Love Story which was his first feature, and then Songs from the Second Floor as the second one because they're so different, but they're so freaking good… you should watch all of his films.
POSY DIXON: The physicality of your role is really incredible. You slammed yourself around a lot. Can you talk about the rehearsal for that?
KRISTINE KUJATH THORP: We used a lot of time to rehearse falling. And actually I think we had like one or two full days of just falling and then one day of just gagging and then puking and shaking. Shaking was, I think, the hardest because it's really hard to make your body shake and make it look natural. So I found this woman who does something called ‘shake therapy’, which is for people with PTSD. She taught me how to do that so I could make my body shake uncontrollably. But we also tried other different techniques… like electric dog collars.
POSY DIXON: Taser?
KRISTINE KUJATH THORP: It's almost like a taser that you put around the dog's neck. We always just put it around my legs. But it was so painful. And you don't actually shake.
POSY DIXON: There are little moments in the film where Signe and Thomas will be at a party or an event and Signe is sort of like staring at the room having one of those out of body moments. You know, where you're just looking at everything around you, just being like, what the fuck is this bullshit?
KRISTINE KUJATH THORP: Yeah, she really hates it, but she also really wants to be a part of it. I guess it's usually like that when you really want something, you hate it, but you love it... I think she has a lot of friends, but not really real friends. But that's also because she's not real with herself, or with anyone. I think Signe also feels very left behind because all of the friends she surrounds herself with are really successful and have this drive, or they’ve reached a goal in their life, and she's just stuck… she's never really found her path in life, and she doesn't really have a goal. It's just too much in her face to be able to cope. I think that's really sad. We're brought up with the idea that we can do everything and we can become the best at anything. And when you're constantly being told that, but you don't get the super nice job or become super famous, then it feels like you're a failure. And I think that's really sad as well, because, of course, you can have a great life without that.
SICK OF MYSELF IS NOW AVAILABLE TO WATCH ONLINE. WATCH HERE