Photo: REX USA/Picture Perfect
In this month's Carrie remake, Julianne Moore plays an infinitely strict, bible-thumping Mom to a teen with telekinetic powers. It may seem like a departure for the actress, but we're beginning to learn that nothing is a stretch for Moore. This is the woman who stepped into Sarah Palin's shoes and has been nominated for three Academy Awards, after all. Plus, as she told us, she knows a thing or two about keeping a teen in line. And no, we're not talking about prayer circles and exorcism — when the cameras stop rolling, Moore is a dedicated mother of two. We hit her up for her infinite wisdom on growing up, and holding onto the fountain of youth.
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How were your teenage years?
"Compared to this, pretty benign. There’s always a lot of drama. My son is 15 and my daughter is 11, and so I probably feel more worried for her because she’s a girl, and I don’t have experience of being a boy. I think the one thing you want for your children is to make sure that they feel they can come home and tell you everything, just because it’s that sense of isolation that is really most damaging. So as long as they feel that they could come home and talk to a parent, a friend to talk to, I think everything is okay."
"Compared to this, pretty benign. There’s always a lot of drama. My son is 15 and my daughter is 11, and so I probably feel more worried for her because she’s a girl, and I don’t have experience of being a boy. I think the one thing you want for your children is to make sure that they feel they can come home and tell you everything, just because it’s that sense of isolation that is really most damaging. So as long as they feel that they could come home and talk to a parent, a friend to talk to, I think everything is okay."
Once they bring home boys and girls, it will be interesting.
"They have brought them home already. My son has several girlfriends. I welcome it. Honestly, I think it’s great. It’s such a process toward maturation. What you are always trying to do with your children is that you are inching them toward adulthood, one step at a time."
"They have brought them home already. My son has several girlfriends. I welcome it. Honestly, I think it’s great. It’s such a process toward maturation. What you are always trying to do with your children is that you are inching them toward adulthood, one step at a time."
You play a very strict mother in Carrie, is that how you are in real life?
"I think you should be strict. Obviously when you are talking about fiction and you are talking about parenting and reality, that’s a different thing. But in terms of actual parenting, I think it’s actually important that you have rules in your family and that your children know what the rules are, and that there is safety in that, too. Children are not adults and they shouldn’t be treated as adults. They need to be protected and that’s what rules are for."
"I think you should be strict. Obviously when you are talking about fiction and you are talking about parenting and reality, that’s a different thing. But in terms of actual parenting, I think it’s actually important that you have rules in your family and that your children know what the rules are, and that there is safety in that, too. Children are not adults and they shouldn’t be treated as adults. They need to be protected and that’s what rules are for."
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Nobody would guess your age. What’s the secret? Sunscreen?
"I honestly think, I swear to God, my mother kept us out of the sun when we were kids because we were all so fair, and it’s made a huge, huge, difference, I really do. I think it’s interesting, so much of who we are is genetic and I think it’s so tough. We say, 'Oh you have to be this way, and you have to be that way,' and these are all the things that, we kind of are what we are. You can take care of yourself and eat well and stay out of the sun, and take vitamins, go to the doctor, all of those things. All of those things are good, and I think above and beyond that, there is health. I think health is the most important thing."
"I honestly think, I swear to God, my mother kept us out of the sun when we were kids because we were all so fair, and it’s made a huge, huge, difference, I really do. I think it’s interesting, so much of who we are is genetic and I think it’s so tough. We say, 'Oh you have to be this way, and you have to be that way,' and these are all the things that, we kind of are what we are. You can take care of yourself and eat well and stay out of the sun, and take vitamins, go to the doctor, all of those things. All of those things are good, and I think above and beyond that, there is health. I think health is the most important thing."
In the movie, you are not wearing any makeup. How did you feel when you saw the first images?
"I knew what I looked like, it didn’t bother me. But, what was funny was Chloe’s mom, who is lovely, but she had only really ever seen me like that. So I forget, one day, I had to come to the set for something and I am looking normal, and she went, 'Oh my goodness! You look so pretty!' I started to laugh and I was like 'Good, okay.'"
"I knew what I looked like, it didn’t bother me. But, what was funny was Chloe’s mom, who is lovely, but she had only really ever seen me like that. So I forget, one day, I had to come to the set for something and I am looking normal, and she went, 'Oh my goodness! You look so pretty!' I started to laugh and I was like 'Good, okay.'"
Do you think a female director brings more to this movie?
"I don’t know that I would be gender specific, because I think it’s important not to do that, because I think it works against people to say 'Oh female, male, one is better.' I think having a director with a point of view and certainly someone like Kim, who doesn’t come from commercial films, I think that was really great. She’s friends with Brian De Palma, she’s close to him, so she has a relationship to him and to that movie, and that was great."
"I don’t know that I would be gender specific, because I think it’s important not to do that, because I think it works against people to say 'Oh female, male, one is better.' I think having a director with a point of view and certainly someone like Kim, who doesn’t come from commercial films, I think that was really great. She’s friends with Brian De Palma, she’s close to him, so she has a relationship to him and to that movie, and that was great."
You have had a great successful career. What kind of new goals do you have?
"Just to keep working, man! I think one of the pleasures of getting older, honestly, is when you realize that there is no 'there' there. I think when you are younger, you feel like, 'Oh, I do this and I do this and I do this.' And, then when you are my age, I think you know you have to enjoy where you are. Everything is about being where you are, at that moment, being present, enjoying it. So yeah, I think it’s sort of one job at a time and working with people that I like and being with my family."
"Just to keep working, man! I think one of the pleasures of getting older, honestly, is when you realize that there is no 'there' there. I think when you are younger, you feel like, 'Oh, I do this and I do this and I do this.' And, then when you are my age, I think you know you have to enjoy where you are. Everything is about being where you are, at that moment, being present, enjoying it. So yeah, I think it’s sort of one job at a time and working with people that I like and being with my family."
Do you miss not having an Oscar?
"You know what, it’s always better to win than to lose, I know. But, on the other hand, it’s always better to work than to not. So, I think, ultimately, I want to be able to work on things that I enjoy."
"You know what, it’s always better to win than to lose, I know. But, on the other hand, it’s always better to work than to not. So, I think, ultimately, I want to be able to work on things that I enjoy."