In the new installment of the popular Die Hard action film series, Winstead plays “Lucy,” daughter of police detective John McClane (Willis), who is kidnapped as part of a diabolical terrorist plot to dismantle the entire country’s technical structure. “Of course in classic Die Hard fashion, John McClane becomes the reluctant hero,” notes Winstead, and a wild, action-packed ride ensues.
Upon learning she had scored the part, Winstead confesses she was a little surprised. After all, celebs like Jessica Simpson had come in to read for the coveted role of Lucy McClane. However, she barely had a moment to acknowledge the pressure that might accompany taking on a role in well-known film series with a dedicated following. “It was a whirlwind. I was literally cast at the last minute,” recalls Winstead. “I had to go to work basically the day after I signed up.”
So how did this rising star jump on the fast track so quickly? The answer lies somewhere between a bit of luck and a whole lot of hard earned talent. While Winstead may be labeled as Hollywood’s newest up-and-comer, the 23-year-old actress is actually no stranger to the biz. A former Broadway baby and student of the Geoffrey Ballet School, Winstead was born to entertain. “I’ve been performing since I came out of the womb,” she jokes. “I’ve been dancing and singing since I was a toddler. Acting seemed like a natural progression from that. I just started getting roles naturally because it was something I was interested in. I didn’t plan on taking it out to Hollywood.”
But to Hollywood she went, landing a role on the daytime drama Passions in 1999, followed by film roles in Sky High, Final Destination 3, and this past season’s Black Christmas. Winstead’s career hit a major high, however, when legendary director Quentin Tarantino asked her to take a role in Death Proof, his contribution to the recent delightfully campy double feature Grindhouse. Winstead, a huge fan of the director, was shocked when she learned Tarantino was, in fact, a fan of her’s. “He was so excited,” Winstead recalls upon meeting Tarantino for the first time. “He’d seen everything I’d done. My favorite director, my favorite film director of all time, to have him know who I was and to be a fan of mine was an amazing moment.” The actress’ modest nature prevents her from acknowledging that her talent and captivating screen presence may have had something to do with Tarantino’s fascination.
The experience working on Grindhouse was far more than the actress could have imagined. “It was really an unparalleled experience,” says Winstead, who credits the director’s high energy for always keeping her on her toes. “It was basically a party on set everyday. There was constantly music playing. In between takes we’d all be dancing and singing. It was amazing fun.”
Getting into the habit of being on a high-energy set shared with Hollywood A-listers was just something Winstead was going to have to get used to as she hit the ground running (literally) in Live Free or Die Hard. Luckily, this time Winstead had an edge. Having a fondness for action thrillers, she has always been fan of the Die Hard series. “I think they’re some of the best action movies ever made,” she says. “Bruce Willis just brings such a great character to life, and John McClane is someone we can all relate to and root for. He’s so much fun to watch on screen. It’s iconic the character he’s created and it’s so much fun to be part of an iconic series.”
But when she met Willis for the first time, Winstead admits her inner fan got the best of her. After all, she had grown up watching Willis emerge from devastating explosions unscathed and do away with countless evil terrorists in the previous Die Hard films – and all without so much as breaking a sweat. Winstead learned the real Bruce Willis was about as cool as his alter ego. “He’s exactly what you would imagine him to be from watching him on screen,” says Winstead. “He’s the epitome of cool! When you sit next to him it’s just so intimidating because he’s so quiet in his own way, and he’s mysterious and cool and hip.”
However, Winstead didn’t let getting a little star-struck keep her from diving into the over-the-top, can’t-believe-your-eyes, insanely crazy action scenes for which the film franchise is famous. Soon she was stunting with the best of them. “I got to throw some punches. It was fun to learn how to do a real stunt punch, and I got to head butt people,” she says. She was especially excited about the fact that Lucy McClane is “not just a damsel in distress.” Like Winstead herself, Lucy follows the McClane tradition of not letting the bad guys get the upper hand. “I’m a girl who can take care of herself and steer things out and kind of fight my way through it along the way,” she says. Funny how art imitates life.
From Tarantino to Willis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead is a force to be reckoned with, and yet you rarely see the actress traipsing about the LA party scene or dancing tabletop at a trendy club. So how exactly does she manage to get killer roles without implicating herself in some scintillating gossip scandal? Winstead seems to follow the traditional rule of thumb that hard work will get you far. “It’s nice that the roles that I’ve got, I’ve been able to get them based on my own merit,” says the star. This may seem like a noble path in a town where success seems to be largely based on who you know. But whatever path Winstead is on, there’s little question that she knows where she’s going. “I’m just completely uninterested in it [the LA party scene],” she claims. “I do feel pressure every now and then from people I meet who are like, ‘You never go out? Are you crazy? This is the best town to party in and meet people!’ Sometimes you feel like, maybe I’d meet more people and make more connections? But at the end of the day, it’s not about connections for me, it’s just about doing my job and hoping that gets me far.”
Seems like Winstead’s plan of attack is paying off. She’s already had an opportunity to work with some pretty major icons in the film industry, but she’s got her eye on a few more. “I’m always watching movies and researching people. Right now, I’m real into Paul Thomas Anderson and his films and the things that he’s done. He’s my current favorite person who I’d really love to work with.” (We hope you’re reading this, Paul).
Winstead admits, though, that she has a tendency to be a workaholic. When she’s not taking on Hollywood heavy hitters, this North Carolina native enjoys traveling and spending time with her family (she’s the youngest of five). She also manages to keep up with her dancing, and she loves an occasional retail therapy session.
“I’m definitely a vintage junkie. Everything I own is either from the 60’s, or a replica of something from the 60’s. The 60’s is kind of my era. I love everything about it --the hair, the makeup, the clothes. It was a fun time for fashion. That’s definitely my look,” explains Winstead. And while she may be sharing screen time with some of today’s hottest celebs, don’t expect to see her spending the big bucks on Rodeo Dr. like some other Hollywood starlets. “I’m a huge bargain shopper. I love Forever 21 and H&M. I’m there every weekend trying to figure out what I can mix with my vintage clothes. It’s been harder in LA to find the little hole-in-the-wall places. It’s like vintage couture! That’s not what I’m looking for.”
From perfecting her craft to bargain shopping, it’s clear that Mary Elizabeth Winstead is one rising star who is refreshingly down to earth. So into keeping it real, in fact, that her idea of the perfect Saturday night (we just had to ask) is about as charming as the actress herself.
“I’m such a homebody. I just need a good movie and good people. I love to have people over and just have drinks and play poker instead of going to a club -- doing stuff at home with people I really love.”
So if your under the belief that being an “it girl” requires big-time connections, wild nights out, and stints in rehab, keep your eye on Mary Elizabeth Winstead -- she just might prove you wrong.
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