Burr Steers’ Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (due in theaters on February 5th), is a pretty straightforward version of the well-studied Jane Austen classic, but with a few daffy interjections of zombie violence to ensure that kids with short attention spans are watching. The film will be merrily chugging along with the usual romantic misunderstandings, and then occasionally explode into well-choreographed kung-fu scenes; the Bennets are well-trained in Chinese martial arts in this universe.
Australian actress Bella Heathcote, from Dark Shadows, plays Jane Bennet in P+P+Z, and she was kind enough to sit with Crave, offer up a few choice cuss words, and tell us about her affection for the original novel, the importance of Jane Bennet to the story, and how much she enjoyed doing the extensive kung-fu training that is so often required for a Jane Austen production.
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Also: Burr Steers Says Killing Zombies is Like Sex in ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’
Crave: Feel free to cuss. But only if the urge strikes you.
Bella Heathcote: [Laugh.] Shit piss!
And with that, to Jane Austen. Did you read the book for the tenth time before shooting began, or were your encouraged to stay away from the book in fear that it would corrupt the zombie parts?
I think both things are true. I’m really familiar with the book; I love the book. I also absolutely love the BBC version. Colin Firth.
The wet shirt. Of course.
I mean, come on! But at the same time, the fact that there was the zombie element kind of liberated me. Because otherwise, I think I would have been really nervous. Because I do love the book so much, and I do want to do it justice. But something about that zombie aspect made me feel, like, free. And also, the fact that the stakes are so much higher in their lives. Because things were a little bit heightened it was liberating.
When did you first read Pride and Prejudice? I was late to the game on that one. My 30s.
Because you’re American? Wow. I reckon I read it before 15 for the first time. Early on.
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Did you have any attachment to Jane Bennet, going in, or where you a Lizzie girl?
There’s something very flattering about playing Jane Bennet. She’s always described as being very beautiful [laughs], which is nice. I was very happy to play Jane. There’s an aspect to her… Well, Liz is excellent, but there’s things about Jane where she’s the most level-headed. She’s the most sane of all the sisters. I think she’s the one that also sees people, or is more open to seeing people as they are. She wants to see the best in people, but isn’t blind to their faults, whereas Lizzie immediately jumps on them. And I she has a great burden of responsibility. For the family, as the eldest sister. And in the zombie version, to protect her sisters as well.
And the plot, in the zombie version and the non, hinges on her ultimate happiness.
That’s the thing I love the most about the books. Because they’re about the relationships between Liz and Darcy, and Jane and Bingley. This is what makes the film work. Because the focus is on the relationships, and the zombies are just a bonus. But, yeah, the plot does hinge on that. Because Lizzie would never be with Darcy if he didn’t apologize or make amends for the hurt he caused Jane. You just want Jane and Bingley to end up together, because you know she’s heartbroken. Even if the boys don’t know it at the time.
Dumb boys.
Guys, right? Always so slow.
Was there an on-set divide between the Austen stuff and the zombie stuff? In the movie, they’re pretty clearly delineated.
Yeah, yeah, it was really odd. Because some days… You go for a whole week or two thinking “I’m doing Pride and Prejudice,” and then you’d go into the fight scenes and say to yourself “Oh wait, this is not that, this is a different film.” So there was a divide at the time. Some days you could feel both. Particularly with the fight sequences because you’re still in the costumes. Because you’re still in a period film in a sense. They were kind of married, but, yeah, there were definitely days that felt like straight Austen.
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Did the director have to remind you during the straight Austen scenes that there were still zombies lurking in this world?
I think Burr kind of… His focus was that our performances be straight, and the zombies, well, the fact that they’re there shouldn’t affect our performances. Only in the sense that it’s life-and-death. Everything we’re feeling and experiencing is exactly the same, it’s just that the stakes are just a bit higher. But it’s not like we’re sitting there the whole time thinking “zombie zombie zombie zombie zombie.” Thank goodness he didn’t [highlight the gore].
The Bennets are on the outs with polite society in this universe because they studied martial arts in China as opposed to the preferred Japan. Did you have to study Chinese martial arts? Both Chinese and Japanese?
I got really into it. I wasn’t working directly prior to the job, so I probably did about three months of kung-fu training in L.A. with grandmaster Don Baird. And I really like it. Because I tend to get really anxious before a job, and to be able to channel that energy into something productive as opposed to just spinning at home, that was good. So I did about three months of that, and I’ve always done boxing and kickboxing – not always, the last five years – and when I went to London, I guess I went about a month ahead of shooting, and did training with the girls. That part was more specific choreography-based, but also weapons training and a bit of horseback riding. I really got into it.
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Who was the best fighter?
Me! [Laughs.] No, I think Lily was pretty impressive. I was pretty impressed with Lily. I was good at a high kick. There were things I could do very well, but I think Lily was my #1.
This is an odd time for actors. Time was you had to know how to sing and dance. Now you get more jobs if you know how to fight kung-fu.
I did do singing and dancing. I think if you’re lucky you get to learn all the steps AND do all the fight stuff. I think not many girls necessarily get to do these roles. And I love it. I loved stunts. I love falling. I did some in Dark Shadows, and I was on set for a long time, so we did stunt training in between, and I loved it. Any of that kind of stuff, that adrenaline rush of it all. I think that’s a bonus.
What was the first record you bought with your own money?
It was Michael Jackson. “Dangerous.” I remember the album cover. With the eyes!
Top Image: Screen Gems
Witney Seibold is a contributor to the CraveOnline Film Channel, and the co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. He also contributes to Legion of Leia and to Blumhouse. You can follow him on “The Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.
