In this interview Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote talk about Netflix’s Pieces of Her — what drew them to the series and challenges they experienced.
The new Netflix series Pieces of Her was released last Friday, March 4. The thriller drama is still on the Top 10 List on the platform and since its release everybody is talking about Toni Collette’s performance.
Based on the NY Times Bestseller of the same name by Karin Slaughter, the series follows Andy who is caught in a deadly mass shooting at a local diner. Moments later, she witnesses her mother, Laura, violently eliminating the threat with ease. As Andy begins to unravel her mother’s actions on that day, her perspective on their entire familial relationship takes a new turn.
Pieces of Her was created by Charlotte Stoudt and executive produced by Bruna Papandrea (Big Little Lies and The Undoing). Australian actresses Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote star in the new edge-of-your-seat thriller series. All eight episodes are directed by Minkie Spiro, who is also executive producer.
I had the opportunity to chat with both, Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote, who play Laura and Andy, respectively. Toni was very happy to work with director Minkie and said that she “gave everything to this series and she was an amazing partner.”
Toni also mentioned that the story and scripts written by Charlotte Stoudt “were very clear” and the series “is about family, it’s about trauma, it’s about personal freedom, and it’s about ultimately about mom and daughter relationship.”
Both actresses were excited to be work in Sydney, Australia, especially Toni. “It was fun to work in Sydney, at home.”
For Bella Heathcote, the relationship mom-daughter was all in the script, “it’s on dialogue and in the intimacy that’s so apparent in the way that they speak to each other and relate to one another.”
When I asked Toni about her most difficult moment on the series, she mentioned about two scenes. But, one of them was “to bring a certain amount of truth to my character when she was going through cancer treatment and there’s a moment where she speaks to another woman who’s been driving her nuts and she sits next to her while getting chemo together and when that woman is really close to death, my character finds it very confronting and goes to talk to her and it’s the first time you really hear her talking about the truth of her life and what she’s experienced.”
Indeed, it was a beautiful scene and I even got goosebumps when I watched and when she was describing during the interview. Way to go Toni!
Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote Interview
Be sure to check out the full interview with these talented actresses below.
NEXT: Pieces of Her Review: A Twisted Mystery Thriller
About Pieces of Her
In a sleepy Georgia town, a random act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events for 30-year-old Andy Oliver and her mother Laura (Collette). Desperate for answers, Andy embarks on a dangerous journey across America, drawing her towards the dark, hidden heart of her family.
Pieces of Her is based on the New York Times bestselling thriller from internationally renowned crime author Karin Slaughter and published by William Morrow. Her books have been published in 37 languages and sold over 35 million copies around the world. She has written over 18 novels including New York Times bestsellers Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter.
