CELESTE M. COOPER

Going the distance in Range Runners

By Alex A. Kecskes

Born and raised in Joliet, IL, Celeste M. Cooper is the youngest of four children of Keith, the former warden of Joliet Correctional Center, and Anitra, a special education teacher. A former shy athlete (track and field, basketball, volleyball, and swimming), Celeste got the acting bug after several teachers persuaded her to start acting. She eventually skipped track practice in her senior year of high school to audition for You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Soon after, Celeste was cast as Lucy Van Pelt and never looked back.

Celeste went on to study acting at Tennessee State University and then DePaul University’s The Theatre School, where she received her MFA in Acting in 2012. Less than a year out of school, Celeste performed at one of the top theaters in the Midwest—the Goodman Theatre—where she played Juliet in Measure for Measure. A few months later, she co-stared on Chicago P.D. as Medical Examiner Cooper, which turned into a recurring role. In 2014, Celeste was named Most Promising Actress at the Black Theatre Alliance Awards.

In Range Runners, Celeste is Mel, a distance runner who encounters two drug criminals on a rugged mountain trail. After being beaten, tied up, and badly injured, she summons the courage and will survive.

Thank you for taking the time for this interview. What drew you to Range Runners and the character of Mel?

Celeste M. Cooper: As soon as I got the sides from my agent, I identified with Mel, which included being pushed and encouraged by her father and running to please him. I thought, OMG, I completely understand this woman. Succeeding in sports was part of my father’s dream for me and Mel was trying to prove that she could distance run and ultimately fight for her life.

Did you audition for the role, if so, what was that like?

Celeste: Yes, I got the sides and went into PR Casting. After doing both sides, they set up a callback but I was rehearsing for a play, so I met them at a shooting warehouse in Chicago. And when I saw the producer, director, and

writer, and no one else, I just assumed that the other actors for the role had come for their callback on another day. But I learned later, that I was the only one they called back. After seeing how I ran and engaged in fight coordination, the stunt coordinator, Aaron Crippen, who is amazing, liked me. Then the director, Philip S. Plowden started talking to me like I’d already got the part, saying, you’re the one I want for this. So I was a bit surprised. But then I thought, well, I proved that I could act and do the physical stuff, so why not? Being the only person in a callback was something I’d never experienced. I sometimes like auditions, just so I can prove to myself that, yeah, this one’s mine. I’m going to rock this thing (laughs).

Are you a runner? Did you train for this physically grueling film?

Celeste: My father was the warden at the Joliet Correctional Center and Anitra pushed me in sports. So I was used to running—I’ve been running since I was seven years old and kept it up till I was 18. My father coached me in basketball and track, screaming at me from the sidelines. So what Carl Clemons-Hopkins, who plays my father in the film, was saying sounded very familiar (laughs). I was already doing lots of physical acting. In a play called The Doppelganger at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, I was sword fighting, dragging bodies, and doing lots of physical stuff—nine times a week for a couple of months.

Distance runners often talk about ’hitting the wall.’ Did you experience any of that while filming or training?

Celeste: I definitely had some exhausting shooting days; however, I was always focused on getting the shot. I’d tell myself, ‘no matter what, I have to get this shot…mind over matter.’

What did you draw from to portray the emotions of a woman at first defeated, then summoning the strength, willpower, and courage to go on?

Celeste: I personalized every situation Devon Colwell wrote for Mel. I used my imagination, small pieces of my life, and/or personalized experiences I’ve heard about.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in completing this film?

Celeste: Two things: the conditions and dealing with unfamiliar props. We shot in the woods and it was extremely hot; however, I still had to run and fight whenever the scene called for it. There were ticks everywhere—sometimes on me—and snakes, bugs, dirt, and more. My make-up consisted of dirt, fake blood, and sweat. I felt gross every day. I was afraid of heights but quickly had to get over that. I used to call Range Runners the ultimate Fear Factor episode (laughs). The other challenge was dealing with several props for the first time in a scene. I remember filming one particular scene that overwhelmed me with what seemed like a multitude of unfamiliar props. But I pushed through my frustration and insecurity and I told myself, ‘I got this!’ That scene turned out pretty great and it makes me so happy. Mind over matter won once again.

Where was the film shot and how many days were you in the woods?

Celeste: We shot for about 18 days in Southern, Illinois— Makanda and Carbondale.

Some of the fight scenes were pretty physical. Did you sustain any injuries?

Celeste: Yes, but nothing that would stop me from shooting. I got some minor burns on my hands, several scrapes, and I rolled my ankle once or twice.

What’s next for you? Drama or more physical action roles?

Celeste: With this pandemic, who really knows? However, I’m great at staying busy. I will definitely continue to produce different creative projects. I’m currently working on a short film by Mia Chung with my theatre home, Steppenwolf Theatre Company. I’m also interested in more TV and film opportunities—drama, comedy, action, and thrillers. I’d love to do some more physical roles and I’ve always been interested in playing a superhero, action figure, boxer, and basketball star.