Disney sent me to Los Angeles on an all-expenses paid press trip, in exchange for my coverage of these events, which included an exclusive interview with Thor Ragnarok’s Rachel House . All opinions are my own.
When Thor Ragnarok’s Rachel House walks into a room, you take notice.
As she speaks, I realize that this voice sounds familiar. A voice that I have heard multiple times in my living room while watching Disney’s Moana. Not only does Rachel House play Topaz in Marvel’s latest film, she is also the voice of Moana’s Gramma Tala. No wonder she seems familiar to me! I love her already for simply being the village crazy lady!
Rachel House talks to us about what it’s like on the set of Thor: Ragnarok and how she feels about being coined as Director Taika Waititi’s good luck charm.
Exclusive Interview with Actress Rachel House
While you were filming the scenes, there was a lot like really dead pan stuff. How hard was it to keep a straight face?
I’m pretty used to keeping a straight face, ‘cause I’ve done a lot of Taika’s films, and he, it’s always like that. But, some of the other actors weren’t so good at it. They were losing it, especially Jeff Goldblum because he was so funny. Jeff was so masterful at improvisation.
What was your favorite scene that didn’t make it, or something that you wish had made it in?
There’s a lot, and I believe they’re going to do a gag real.
What’s your favorite part about working with Taika?
Just the fun. This is the first time working with him. The other films were very independent, therefore we had a very limited amount of time to shoot. And we had to literally run around the bush, and the mud, and the snow, and the rain. It was a lot of fun, but we had no time. So, we had to keep going. Whereas, in Thor, because of the scale, we got to breath a little bit. Taika was allowed to play as much as possible. That was really great seeing him able to do that without any kind of time restraint.
You made us laugh and cry in Moana. What was that like transforming to Topaz in Thor: Ragnarok?
Kind of easy-ish. It’s the kind of character that Taika always makes me play. It’s funny because I play all these really mean characters and I’m not mean at all. I think he kind of enjoys that.
How did you get involved with Taika in the first place?
I met him when he was 17. He was in a play in this little theater in Wellington, and he was the best thing about it. I was a couple years older, and at drama school at the time. I met him after and said, “You were so great.” And then I started becoming a fan of his little crazy comedy stuff. became a very big fan. From then, we just kept staying in touch. I had no idea he was gonna end up being a awesome film director. He was an artist, actor, and a comedian
Was it intimidating to step into the Marvel universe?
Yes. There’s so many wonderful people involved in the Marvel universe. They’re just normal people, talented people. The intimidation didn’t last long.
What did you find most challenging as a performer on set every day?
To be honest, my costume. It was really stiff and hard to move.
It’s beautifully made. The costume designer is out of this world, but the costume was a bit hard to move in.
You’ve been coined as his good luck charm.
It’s not good because when you put that out there, it can reverse. I was really scared because the press started coming out before the film. I was thinking that it’s going to implode. But, it didn’t, thank goodness.
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