Elisabeth Moss recently joined Kelly Ripa on her "Let’s Talk Off Camera" podcast to discuss her new FX series, "The Veil," and reminisced about her time on the set of James Mangold’s 1999 drama, "Girl, Interrupted."
Moss, who was around 15 years old during filming, portrayed Polly "Torch" Clark, a character grappling with schizophrenia and the aftermath of severe burns. The film starred Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie, with Jolie earning an Oscar for her role.
Reflecting on the dynamic on set, Moss revealed the natural division that emerged due to the tension between their characters.
"There were two camps: the Winona Ryder camp and the Angelina Jolie camp... based on what was on camera, based on the script," Moss explained. "I found myself in the Winona Ryder camp. The Angelina Jolie camp was really cool, but I felt intimidated by it. I never thought I could fit into that camp."
Despite the divide, Moss later shared that she found Jolie to be lovely when they connected after filming, though at the time, she felt out of place in Jolie's circle.
Ryder had previously hinted at the divided atmosphere in a 2010 interview, noting that she and Jolie didn't develop a close friendship during production. Ryder, both the star and executive producer of "Girl, Interrupted," believed Jolie maintained distance to preserve the integrity of their characters.
"Girl, Interrupted" was adapted from Susanna Kaysen’s memoir, depicting Ryder as Kaysen and Jolie as Lisa Rowe, a manipulative sociopath. Moss described the experience of working with such an esteemed cast as "incredible," particularly given her age at the time and the presence of Ryder, Jolie, and other talented actresses.
"It was like being dropped into the Wizard of Oz," Moss reminisced. "I was so awe-struck by my surroundings and working with Winona and Angelina, and they were so different and interesting."