Up-and-Comer of the Month: Isabella Amara on Her Breakout Role in “Wilson,” Woody Harrelson’s College Advice and the Magic of Sundance

Craig Johnson’s adaptation of Daniel Clowes’ acclaimed graphic novel WILSON hits theaters this weekend, and while Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern are as impressive as always, the film’s young star Isabella Amara also made a strong impression in her first leading role.

Amara plays Claire, the daughter who Dern’s Pippi gave up for adoption when she was young and strung out, much to the surprise of her ex-husband Wilson (Harrelson). Claire is struggling with depression as a result of being bullied by her peers and ignored by her parents, so when her biological parents enter her life, she learns to love herself with their help.

The 18-year-old actress acquits herself nicely in the role, holding her own against her formidable co-stars. Wilson also serves as a good stepping stone between Amara’s turn in The Boss, in which she played a teenage version of Melissa McCarthy’s character, and her upcoming role as one of Peter Parker’s classmates in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

As Fox Searchlight prepares to unleash Wilson on the world, Amara spoke with the Tracking Board about the film’s audition process, her magical experience at Sundance and whether college is in her plans during this very busy, very exciting time in her life.

Tell me the story behind your passion for acting. What made you want to get into such a crazy business?
Well, I started out doing school plays. There’s just something about it that gives me this adrenaline rush, and I get all happy and giddy. It’s a very good therapeutic relief for me, because it’s so hard for me to be vulnerable with people. It’s such an awkward feeling and it’s uncomfortable, but if you bottle it up too much, you can get too angry or too sad, and flip out. Acting allows me to flip out for a scene and not do it in a destructive manner toward anyone. It keeps me and everyone else that I know sane, and it makes me happy because it’s a therapy outlet and something that touches so many people. It’s like having play time for a job.

You’ve done a couple studio movies already, but tell me how Craig discovered you for this role and what the audition process was like with Woody.
Like any other audition, my agent sent me the sides and the breakdown, saying we should chase it. Normally I’d get coaching for a lead role in a feature film, but I was pretty busy at my performing arts high school so I was like, “don’t worry Mom, I don’t need coaching.” I went in and did it in maybe three or four takes, picked the one I wanted and sent it off [to the filmmakers].

That got me a Skype session with Craig, which was nerve-wracking because it was my first-time doing anything like that. We talked about life and school, and then the character. They said they wanted to see me do the sides for older Claire, when I’m supposed to be in my 20s. I was freaking out inside because I didn’t know how I was going to seem older. I was anxious about it, so I talked with people about the differences between young people and older people, and things like cadence and pitch and gesticulation. I made sure my features were more defined.

So I taped it and sent it off again, and then I got a call asking me to come to Minnesota for a working session with Craig, [casting director]David Rubin, and the producers, Mary Jane [Skalski] and Jared [Goldman]. We talked about the character over lunch, and asked each other a lot of questions. Then I went with the head of wardrobe Chris Peterson and we picked out clothes for the character. And then a few days later, I got the official call from Craig and said “yes.” David told me I was the very first audition that he saw and the first one he showed Craig, and that nobody else was able to beat me out. The whole process took about two months.

I didn’t meet Woody until we had our screen test, and it was very weird. I was so anxious to meet him and be there in general. It was my first lead and my first screen test, but he was very open and accepting from the get-go.

Were you familiar with Daniel Clowes’ work? What do you make of his unique sensibility and way of looking at the world?
I’d heard of Ghost World and seen some clips, but hadn’t really read anything. I was never a huge graphic novel or comic book reader, but now I am. It’s such a cool form of expression!

I love Daniel’s way of looking at the world. It’s so unique and honest and real. It’s also very sardonic and dark and misanthropic, with this curmudgeonly attitude and dry humor, but I dig it because it’s different. It’s not just a storybook Hollywood picture. He has a very interesting take on the world and I think it’s a take that others have, but no one else vocalizes. I love how he takes these weird, sort of outsider characters and tells their stories.

Which actresses do you look up to, and whose career would you most like to emulate?
I look up to [my co-stars]Laura Dern and Cheryl Hines and Judy Greer. They’re all super sweet women, as well as real and funny and grounded. I mean, everyone looks up to Meryl Streep because she’s Meryl Streep, but I really like Helena Bonham Carter too. She does that weirder stuff, but she’s always grounded and real. I also really like Britt Robertson, who’s an amazing actress. Kaya Scodelario is phenomenal too.

Did Woody or Laura give you any career advice as you set out on this Hollywood journey? Were there any special moments you shared with them during filming?
One thing Woody told me was to go to college, but not to learn anything. Just go to get some great experiences for acting. They both advocated for fighting for what you believe in and staying grounded and humble and true to yourself. They just threw me in and forced me to swim. I didn’t really get any preparation for that. When we wrapped, Woody told me that he had learned a lot from me and that was crazy! THE Woody Harrelson telling you he learned something from you is amazing, and so weird, since I’d watched him growing up. But I think you can learn something from everyone.

What has been the biggest pinch-me moment for you so far? Was it Sundance?
I think it was Sundance. That was a once-in a-lifetime experience. Well, hopefully not, but it was magical. Not only were the press days magical and the premieres and what everyone had to say about Wilson itself, but the atmosphere was phenomenal. Everyone was so supportive of the arts, and the snow and the mountains were beautiful. It was just this loving, calming atmosphere where people know who I am and respect me as an actor. I had huge A-listers like Shailene Woodley and Logan Lerman coming up to me and telling me how much they enjoyed my performance.

What’s next for you? I know you’re going to be in Spider-Man: Homecoming and the idea for that franchise is to keep Peter Parker in high school, so are you under contract for more Spidey movies?
So I was under a two-year contract with Fox Searchlight at the time we were filming Spider-Man, but I did do a Nashville episode. There is another Spider-Man movie, but nobody has said anything to me about it yet. I just hope I can continue working and being busy.

So wait, you left us hanging! Are you going to take Woody’s advice and go to college, or stay focused on acting?
I’m playing it by ear. I’ve applied to a few places and gotten in, but it’s going to depend on how this year plays out. Acting is one of those things where if an opportunity presents itself, you’ve gotta ride it. I’ll probably end up deferring a year, but I will go, whether I go to a campus or do it online.

 Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief