Star Power Vol.52

from the editor

HELLO THERE, READER!

In this Star Power Issue, we got to chat with actress Georgia MacPhail who stars in Horizon: An American Saga

She talked to NYOTA about preparing for her role, working with Kevin Costner, and her dreams of being a writer.

I hope you enjoy reading the issue and that it inspires you to go after your dreams

YOURS TRULY,

Carol Wright EDITOR IN CHIEF @ CAROL WRIGHT

1.Editor'sLetter

3.GettoKnow

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Get to Know Georgia

I am one of 5 kids in my family

I have a chocolate milkshake pretty much every day

I was born in NY and moved to LA when I was two

I have 3 dogs, 2 cats, a rabbit, and 7 chickens

I love all sports, especially basketball

Georgia’s Playlist

Amy Winehouse // You Know I’m No Good

Amy Winehouse // Back to Black

kenzie// Anatomy

Olivia Rodrigo // so american

The Backseat Lovers // Poolhouse

Young the Giant // Mind over matter

The Neighbourhood // Sweater Weather

Sabrina Carpenter // because i liked a boy

Olivia Rodrigo // love is embarrassing

Olivia Rodrigo // obsessed

Georgia MacPhail

Photographer: Jonny Marlow | Hair: Ryan Richman | Makeup: Loren Canby | Styling: Amanda Lim

Georgia MacPhail is an actress on the rise whose name is soon to be known by audiences everywhere. MacPhail, who plays Elizabeth in the film Horizon: An American Saga; talked to NYOTA about preparing for the role, working with Kevin Costner, and her dreams of being a writer.

From a young age could your family tell that you had a passion for performing? Most definitely When we watch old videos of school plays and concerts all the way back to preschool, I was always smiling so big that I could barely get the lines out! I was just so happy to be on stage, whether it was singing, dancing or acting. I loved the excitement of performing for an audience.

Is there an actor or actress whose career you would like to emulate or are inspired by? There are so many actors that inspire me. I really admire actors that are able to do both comedy and drama really, really well Emily Blunt stands out for me as a great example of this. She’s one of my all-time favorite actresses because she is so versatile. She’s hilarious in The Devil Wears Prada and has such great comedic energy, but then she absolutely blew me away in Oppenheimer with that heavy, dramatic role. I aspire to be equally capable of making people laugh and making people cry!

You play Elizabeth Kittredge in the upcoming film Horizon: An American Saga. Tell us a bit about the character and how you prepared for the role.

Elizabeth is a 12-year-old pioneer girl who moves west during the 1860’s with her family. She begins the film as a bit of a sassy, precocious girl who is innocent and naive to the dangers surrounding her community She suddenly finds herself in the middle of utter chaos and devastation as her home and village are attacked by the people that have called that land home for so many years. So, she is forced to grow up quickly, to be strong for her mother, and to acclimate to the harsh realities of the time, as so many children had to do back then. I prepared for this role by reading about westward expansion and believe it or not, by watching Little House on the Prairie, which I had never seen before, but is based on the same time period. It was actually really helpful and allowed me to visualize what life was life, particularly for women and children who were settling in dangerous Western territories in the mid-1800s

Horizon: An American Saga is a big project for Kevin Costner who directed and cowrote the film. Once you got to set and started to film did you feel the gravity of the project?

So, we had about a week between when I got the call that I booked the job and when I had to be on set for my first fitting. I am so grateful it was so fast because I went to set pretty clueless with just how big of a deal this all was. I had heard of Kevin, and I knew from my parents’ reaction that this was a huge project, but at the time, I hadn’t seen any of his movies So, upon arriving on set, I wasn’t the slightest bit nervous or intimidated which really served me well, thank goodness! Kevin is so enthusiastic about telling this story, and his passion is contagious. As a director, he is so involved in every little thing, but also very approachable and open to your ideas for your character, so it feels like a real collaboration This was the first major film set I had ever been on, so to say I am forever spoiled is an understatement. Everything was absolutely top notch, the crew was so incredibly kind and professional, and it was just such a joy to go to work every day. The bar is definitely set very, very high!

You worked closely with Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington. Did you learn a lot through watching them and working with them?

So much! It was literally like a master class in acting every single day. One of the most important things I learned from watching Sienna and Sam was that the script is a guide, but the actor makes so many creative calls on their own that help develop their character and tell the story. Whether it’s their body language, or the way they yell or sigh or shrug, it all matters so much. I remember thinking to myself so many times “that’s not in the script, can they do that?” but of course they can, and they made so many great creative choices that helped tell the story authentically and emotionally.

The film covers a tense period in American history. How was it navigating the subject matter and separating yourself from your character while filming?

There were some very intense scenes, specifically ones that involved Elizabeth’s family directly. Part of what helped me get to the emotional place I needed to get to for these scenes was to put myself in Elizabeth’s shoes and imagine these terrible things happening to my family. I was away in Utah filming for weeks at a time with my siblings back in California, so this made my time on set extra emotional for me It was definitely an eye-opening experience to realize that the freedom and safety I am privileged to have in my life now is thanks to the strength and resilience of my ancestors that fought to survive through the unimaginable.

Outside of American Saga you’ve also worked on the film Roswell Delirium, which is a sci-fi project. Was it fun to suspend your disbelief and dive into playing Lynne? Roswell was definitely a fun project. Lynne is a bit of a ditsy mean girl who bullies the main character for having less than she has She could not be more different from Elizabeth, so it was a nice opportunity to play two very different characters in the same year

You also write music. Is that a creative outlet for you between filming?

Yes, I have a constant stream of open documents with song lyrics at all times! I’m always writing in my head or jotting down lines in my notebook when they come to me. I have a few songs I’ve been working on this year, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get the nerve to share them with anyone besides my dogs.

Could you ever see yourself writing or directing projects one day?

Yes! I’ve actually wanted to be a writer since before I ever started acting. Writing is my passion, whether it’s screenplays, song lyrics or novels, I love to write. I haven’t shared anything with the world quite yet, but maybe one day when I get brave. Directing is another story. I have the utmost respect for Kevin, as the sheer amount of hours he put in on set was mind boggling. He would be one of the first people there in the morning and one of the last to leave. I have never seen anyone that passionate or invested. I definitely see how hard it is to direct a project of this caliber with so many moving parts and lots of things that are out of your control

What advice do you have for aspiring actors?

Pack your life full of interesting experiences because it makes you a more unique and interesting human. Join the sports team, take up the cello, meet new people, travel. Having those experiences to draw on makes you a more authentic and unique actor that will stand out in a sea of people.

Similarly, I would pass along some wise words that an actor shared with me on the set of Horizon. She told me that in this industry you will experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows where you’ll think you may never work again. Through all the ups and downs it is so important to have a rich, full life in addition to acting that keeps you busy, grounded and brings you joy. Acting can be a part of your life, but it can’t be your whole life.

“Through all the ups and downs it is so important to have a rich, full life in addition to acting that keeps you busy, grounded and brings you joy.”

Georgia’s Top Picks

TV Show: Dance Moms

Book: The Giver

Fashion Trend: Ripped jeans

Movie: The Hangover

STAR POWER TEAM

EDITOR IN CHIEF

GRAPHIC DESIGNER CAROL WRIGHT CAROL WRIGHT

COVER DESIGN NICOLE COX COVER

Actress: Georgia MacPhail

CONTRIBUTORS

Photographer: Jonny Marlow

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