SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Ella Mackay“, now in cinemas.
From the minute she steps into her office as the new Lieutenant Governor, all eyes are on Ella MacKay (Emma McKee) in director James L. Brooks' latest film, As Good As It Gets. “Ella MacKay” follows the 34-year-old title character as she tries to balance the high pressures of her new job in which everyone around her believes she is destined to fail, a marriage to her high school sweetheart on the brink of collapse, and the return of her absentee father (Woody Harrelson), all set against the backdrop of the new Obama administration.
As the entire staff watches her fail, Ella must find a way to balance her personal and professional efforts while trying to prove herself worthy of the job she's worked in all her life.
McKee spoke with Diversity about unleashing Ella's pent-up rage while filming, paying homage to comedies from Hollywood's golden age, and working with Greta Gerwig on the first installment of the Netflix franchise, Narnia.
What were your first conversations with James L. Brooks about during the early stages of filming the film?
We kept coming back to write the lyrics and it took a lot of research. I sought his opinion on where Ella comes from and the influences behind her, and I was able to meet with some elected government officials to ask them about how their day is structured in order to understand the mechanics of daily life as a government employee. Jim has said this before, but he was heavily influenced and wanted to pay homage to what he calls the golden age of Hollywood and screwball comedy. We always wanted to honor that.
There are two women in Ella's life: Aunt Helen [Jamie Lee Curtis] and Estelle [Julie Kavner]her secretary. They see all sides of Ella, and while watching the film, I felt like they saw a lot of their younger selves in her. What does Ella see in both of them and carry with her as she becomes governor?
I think with Aunt Helen, it's just unconditional love. They just have mutual respect for each other. The moment Aunt Helen sees Ella for who she is, and this happens from the very beginning of the story, we witness one of those moments when you have someone in your life who believes in you and loves you for who you are, without considering or expecting anything in return. Helen is Ella's biggest champion. By the way, Jamie has this too. It's life imitating art, but there's a real vitality to it, it's always moving forward, so funny and so wonderful.
I'm so glad you mentioned Julie because she's incredible. She is a very charismatic person. I respect her so much and she has made me laugh so many times. I was truly inspired by these two women.
Ella and her husband Ryan [Jack Lowden] become embroiled in a scandal that will cause Ella emotional harm and affect her career. We, the audience, see Ryan using Ella to get what he wants, and he feels stuck in her accomplishments. At what point does Ella realize it's time for her to end their relationship?
This is a good question. I think she'll find out sooner than we think. In the beginning, when they are young, we understand why she falls in love with him, because he sees potential in her. When you're 16 or 17 years old and you have someone who believes in you so wholeheartedly, it's a really powerful thing. It's pure and serious at this point until it becomes opportunistic and much darker and horrific at the end.
He just keeps coming back and keeps coming back. When she finally says the line, “You wouldn't do this to me even if you liked me,” it's such a sad feeling. The fact that she can say that in that moment is a testament to Jim's writing skills, but to have that kind of clarity is amazing.
I love how Ella finally lets out all her anger and grief, screaming along with Helen at the end after she leaves Ryan. It took her so long to finally speak up, but it's incredibly cathartic in that moment.
This was not originally planned. There's an early scene where she seems to be choking or trying to scream, but nothing actually happens. She's deflated and can't do it, and Jim has made it his mission to make me scream because I can't do it either. It was an important moment, and it also felt right. I felt like it was a moment that was needed and people needed to see it. It was very cleansing and primal.
There's such a clear sibling dynamic between Ella and Casey. [Spike Fearn] throughout the film because he really humiliates her the way siblings do, especially when she accidentally gets drugged in his apartment and when he comes to her for advice on how to win Susan. [Ayo Edebiri] back. What was it like building a relationship with Spike?
Spike and I talked about this yesterday, but I have a brother his age. Our families are from very similar places in England, so as soon as we met there was always a connection and understanding. I felt so protective of him because he is at the beginning of everything. Spike himself is very smart and sensitive and has such an understanding of things. I love this scene because all the cuts to him and his reaction are just good because he's in shock. He is precious in these scenes. I love that he finally asks for help.
Ella is a couple of years older than me, but I remember some of the things that happen to her throughout the film. What do you hope they take away from her character for those who are younger and see themselves identified while watching this film?
I hope they take back what I took from her and it's very inspiring to see someone so persistent in what they do, have such a great work ethic and care so deeply about what they do. Knowing how to inform yourself is important, and using your knowledge to serve others is a very noble cause. It's a very simple human act and I think we can all learn a lesson from it.
You're about to star in Greta Gerwig's Narnia, and I noticed that Ella and Jadis [The White Witch] in their own way they balance in high positions of power, but are on opposite ends of good and evil. When you work with directors like Jim or Greta, what is it like exploring these two different roles and how they present themselves?
Ella can be level-headed at times, but I don't think of her as necessarily level-headed. I think she can show up at certain points and get the job done, but she's also clumsy. We tried to find the cracks in the moments when she fails and when life surprises her. When you see those cracks in someone, it's fun to play. There's a big gap between Ella and Jadis, who I'm filming right now, but I get to be around some of the greatest and most passionate cinematic minds in film history. It's such a privilege. Both Greta and Jim are very truthful in their approach and manner and care deeply about the work. It is very inspiring and enriching to be around such people, and they always lead by example.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
