Come along on a special journey through an interview with Robin Wright ,Hollywood Icon! Learn about her amazing life and all the cool things she does in movies and helping others. Get ready to explore her world and the awesome stuff she’s passionate about!
An Interview with Robin Wright
How did your career start when you were young?
Wright: I was a dancer first. I thought I’d dance on Broadway. But I also wanted to travel. In Paris, I did modeling to pay rent. I stayed almost a year and didn’t go to college. I met new people and had fun.
Q: What would you tell your younger self?
A: I’d say, be confident and create boundaries. People might hurt you because you’re young. Know what you want and where you’re going. That’s important.
Q: What did you learn when you started acting?
A: I worked long hours on a show called Santa Barbara. Sometimes I slept at the studio because it was far from home. I learned how to manage time and stay healthy. I also learned the technical parts of acting. We used three cameras, so I had to know where to look and stand for each camera. I learned a lot from older actors too.
Q: Were you nervous working with famous actors in The Princess Bride?
A: Yes, I was nervous! I knew the British accent, which helped. I prepared a lot for each scene, listened to music, and got ready. I used to worry a lot about doing everything perfectly. But after acting for a long time, I learned to move past that. Sometimes failing in a scene is okay. You just try again. During that movie, I fell in love with acting for films. It was like a big team effort, working with famous people. I learned a lot from them.
Q: How do you get along with new people on a movie set?
A: It’s good to watch, listen, and let others get to know you. If people already know each other, it’s like joining a family. But with new groups, it takes time. You need to be patient and friendly.
Read More: Curious to explore Robin Wright’s expansive career and life’s work? Our detailed account of her life’s journey offers a comprehensive view of her achievements and contributions.
Q: How do you handle Hollywood, where people aren’t always patient or humble?
A: When I direct movies, I believe in being kind. It makes everyone comfortable to share ideas and work together. We talk, share thoughts, and decide together what’s best for the movie.
Can an actor create that environment too?
Of course! An actor can also help make that happen. I enjoy working with others like that because they bring new ideas. We all help build the project. It’s interesting that they say “directed by” for movies or shows. It’s not just one person directing; everyone plays a part.
Q: What did you think about doing after successful movies like The Princess Bride and Forrest Gump?
A: There was pressure to keep working, but I wanted to plan for the long term. I wanted to act for a long time, so I chose roles carefully. When I got offers, I thought about how I felt and if I connected with the story. Acting is emotional, like exploring someone’s feelings every day. Some roles didn’t feel right for me; I knew someone else could do better.
Q: Shouldn’t you sometimes try things you feel unprepared for?
A: I started doing that when I was much older, in my 40s. In acting, people often give you similar roles. For a long time, I mostly played sad characters. But I wanted to change that. Then I got the chance to play Claire Underwood in House of Cards. She was very different from what I usually did.
Q: Why did you choose family over work when most actors work a lot from 20 to 40?
A: Being a mom was important to me, so my kids were my main focus. People said I should do more work, but I liked the idea of keeping them wanting more.
Q: Why was it hard for you to agree to be in House of Cards at first?
A: I didn’t like the idea of doing TV. I preferred movies where I could travel and play different roles. But David Fincher, the show’s director, said it would be amazing. He promised I’d have lots of time to tell the story. I was worried about the role being just a politician’s wife. But David said we’d make her strong, like Lady Macbeth. I trust him, so I agreed to do it.
Q: How did you begin directing?
A: The producers asked if I wanted to try. I was very scared, but the crew was amazing. The camera operator helped me a lot. He said I’d learn while doing it. It was a great chance, and I felt safe directing on that show.
Q: What happened after Kevin Spacey left the show?
A: Things were difficult then. We stopped working for about two months. We had to decide: Should we stop the show forever or finish it? We chose to finish for the fans and to keep our team working. It was important to do the right thing for everyone.
Q: When you took over the lead role, what kind of personal pressure did you feel?
A: It wasn’t so much pressure as it was an added workload. It felt like, “Alright, stay strong because you’re going to finish this off.” Interestingly, the storyline didn’t change much. Even with the shift, Claire was set to become president, and he was going into the private sector.
How did you decide what to do next?
I found a passion for directing, especially watching actors grow. Giving them guidance, they change right there—it’s so exciting. I wanted to do more of that.
You recently directed and acted in a feature film, Land. Did that larger-scale project feel scarier?
No, it didn’t feel scarier. I had an amazing team of producers who knew their work really well. They supported me. When I was directing and acting, I couldn’t always be behind the camera. So, I trusted my team. I knew they shared my vision for the project.
Q: Do you think things are changing for female directors in Hollywood?
A: Yes, they are. Pressure made the industry change. But now, it’s like there’s a little opening in the ceiling. We have to keep talking, making our voices stronger, and staying active.
Q: Why did you start helping women in places with problems, like Congo?
A: Ten years ago, I learned about the troubles in Congo linked to minerals in our phones. It shocked me. Militias take control, hurt people, especially women. I felt I should do something. I use a phone with these minerals, and it bothered me. So, I met some rescued women. They said, “We need help. No one knows our problems. Companies buy these minerals, making things worse.”
Q: Why did you start a sleepwear line to help women?
A: While working on House of Cards near Washington, DC, I tried to talk to Hillary Clinton, asking for help for these women. I wanted to fix things like bad trade for electronics and diamonds. But I didn’t make progress. Then, my friend suggested, “Let’s make pajamas we love and give some money to groups helping women learn skills and get support.”
Q: Why did you start making pajamas?
A: We started to help women in Congo and give them jobs. We wanted people buying our pajamas to know they were supporting these women. We also wanted to be kind to the environment. Fashion makes a lot of waste, so we use eco-friendly plastic bags and recyclable packages. We treat everyone fairly, have small workshops, and check that everything is clean and right—no bad things like child labor.
How involved do you get in the business?
I help design with Karen each season. She works in the workshop, and I talk about our work.
How do you measure success?
For me, it’s about not believing what others say you should do. Like, if you don’t do a movie every year, you’re finished. That’s not true. If you trust yourself and believe in what you do, that’s what matters. I felt this strongly, maybe because I had kids when I was young. They were most important, and everything else came after them.
