Mia Wasikowska, the Australian actress best known for her star-making role in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, stars as the iconic titular character in Jane Eyre with Michael Fassbender. Wasikowska believes that her greatest challenge in taking on the role was to make it her own so the audience could connect with such a well-known character. “She’s a character that has lived for many generations, so when you think about how old the story is, it’s a real testament to her character; people still connect with her now,” Wasikowska told uInterview. “With Jane, people already have an idea of who she is – they really know her character. So there’s an obligation to hopefully deliver so that people will connect and believe you as her.”

Wasikowska prepared for the character by reading the book so she could immerse herself in the role and the language. “I did a lot of research, and I read the books again and went through and underlined things I thought were important to remember,” she said. “I looked at a lot of visual references as well. I like to really understand who they are. And I made sure I was comfortable with the language, because it’s not a language we really use anymore – very poetic and lush.”

Wasikowska’s chemistry with Fassbender was immediately apparent, which made her acting in the film an easier process. “I think that we got on so well from the beginning, and when you get on with someone where you have to have that same kind of relationship in the movie — half your work is done. So it really helped,” she said. “And we also had a similar way of working, and we were able to counter the intensity of the material and the drama of the material with a lot of fun; we were able to use that and channel it into the scene.”

Leave a comment

Read more about:

Q: Which role of yours you're the most proud of? - MiaWFan
Q: Hello Mia, I've just watched new Jane Eyre clip and I can't wait for this. I wonder that does it annoy you when people can't pronunce your surname properly? Loves. Nagehan - nagehannr
Q: Would you be interested in stepping behind the camera as a director someday? - Robert
Q: What do you think sets this particular version of Jane Eyre apart from the others? - Robert
Q: Based on your movie roles so far, it seems you connect deeply with the characters you play to create a believability. What do you look for in a character when reading a new script? - Gregoriancant
Q: Who Was Your Favorite Role Model Growing Up? - TerrenceHanton
Q: We know that before act you did ballet performance. Can you tell us what advantage dance gave you in your new career, acting? - MayraGuardia
Q: You always wonder what it's like working with Daniel Craig and Johnny Depp. Could you tell us the first word that comes to your mind to appoint the following colleagues with whom youve worked and maybe aren't well known by the public? Jamie Bell Henry Hopper Aaron Johnson Xavier Samuel - MayraGuardia
Q: If you could play any role you wanted in any film made so far, which role would it be? - MiaWFan
Q: If you could travel in time, where would you go? - MiaWFan
Q: Who would you like to work with in the future? - MiaWFan
Q: I think you were fantastic as Alice, can you still relate to her very well? - MiaWFan
Q: What did you learn from Tim Burton while making Alice? - MiaWFan
Q: Would you be interested in directing a film in the future? - MiaWFan
Q: I know you enjoy photography in your spare time, but have you ever considered publishing a collection of your work or exhibiting it in galleries? I would love to see your portfolio, being an amateur shutterbug myself. - JFCMovies
Q: Follow-up question: Were you actually named after Mia Farrow? The resemblance you bore to her with the pixie cut was uncanny. (And hopefully you'll shoot a movie here in San Francisco someday!) - JFCMovies
Q: Hi Mia. This is Raven from San Francisco. Jane Eyre is such an iconic novel. Were you intimidated at all by taking on this role? - rjkeller

She’s a character that has lived for many generations, so when you think about how old the story is, it’s a real testament to her character; people still connect with her now. With an original character, the audience takes what you give them. With Jane, people already have an idea of who she is – they really know her character. So there’s an obligation to hopefully deliver so that people will connect and believe you as her.

Q: How did you prepare for the role? - rjkeller

I did a lot of research, and I read the books again and went through and underlined things I thought were important to remember. I looked at a lot of visual references as well. I like to really understand who they are. And I made sure I was comfortable with the language, because it’s not a language we really use any more – very poetic and lush.

Q: Also, could you please tell us what it was like working with Michael Fassbender? - KathyHorsfall

I think that we got on so well from the beginning, and when you get on with someone where you have to have that same kind of relationship in the movie – half your work is done. So, it really helped. And we also had a similar way of working, and we were able to counter the intensity of the material and the drama of the material with a lot of fun; we were able to use that and channel it into the scene.

Q: Hi Mia. It’s Kathy from Colorado. I was wondering if you could share some funny stories from the Jane Eyre film set. - KathyHorsfall

Oh, so many! We just had a lot of fun. Yeah, I can’t remember, but there was definitely a lot of laughing. It made it very easy.