It’s troublesome to understand that Amanda Knox was jailed for homicide virtually 20 years in the past.
The picture that Knox conjures even immediately is one in every of a younger American co-ed, clad in denims and billowy skirts, winding the traditional paths of Perugia, Italy throughout a examine overseas time period. After the brutal killing of her roommate Meredith Kercher, Knox and boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito had been vilified then jailed vilified for years for against the law they didn’t commit — whereas bloodthirsty media customers dissected their (at instances fairly odd) dynamic.
GRACE VAN PATTEN, GIUSEPPE DE DOMENICO in “The Twisted Story of Amanda Knox”
Courtesy of Disney
Grace Van Patten, a 28-year-old rising star whose delicate confidence and emotional poker face has propelled her to acclaim on the Hulu collection “Inform Me Lies” had been anxious to play Knox since 2016. That’s when Netflix launched “Amanda Knox,” a documentary that particularly examined the expectations for a way ladies behave in public areas (impressed partially, the filmmakers beforehand stated, by Hillary Clinton’s misplaced bid for the White Home). Van Patten contacted her brokers, solely simply having dipped a toe in present enterprise, and stated if the chance ever arose she’d prefer to play Knox. Almost a decade later, that decision got here — and Van Patten now stars within the Hulu authentic collection “The Twisted Story of Amanda Knox,” which premiered on Aug. 20.
A riveting tick-tock of Kercher’s slaying and Knox’s real-time response — and the intense penalties that got here afterward — play out throughout eight anxiety-riddled episodes. Van Patten caught up with Selection to debate the reality about Knox, studying Italian in lower than two months and the vital lesson she took about judging public figures.
I do know this got here collectively in a short time, with you getting the half after some previous cast dropped out. How did that really feel?
I used to be scared about it within the second, however I’m grateful, wanting again, as a result of if I had extra time — let’s say much less time was higher, as a result of it pushed me to work additional onerous. I had about two months that was full of studying Italian every single day, talking to Amanda after which my very own analysis — studying, watching and listening to every thing I probably might about her.
Courtesy of Victoria Stevens
What was your familiarity with this case earlier than touchdown the half?
I used to be round 11 on the time it turned [a news sensation]. Her identify caught with me, after which a documentary got here out on Netflix in 2016, and that was my first perception into this complete tragedy. I’m certain I used to be shielded from the small print as a child, however I keep in mind this doc vividly. It was fascinating, seeing how rather more there was to her story. She’s a reasonably distinct individual, Amanda, and I used to be at a loss for a way all of this occurred to her. The doc launched on the time I had simply began performing. I known as my brokers and stated, “If there’s each something made about Amanda Knox, that might be a dream half for me.” It’s a full circle second that this job got here up. It feels proper.
It’s outstanding how a lot work a easy pair of contact lenses does for you on this collection. You look eerily like Amanda at instances.
I actually don’t acknowledge myself, and that’s one thing I’ve by no means felt earlier than watching my work. It was good, in a method, as a result of I really feel like I can watch the present with out being imply to myself. It’s not me. I can watch it extra objectively.
Courtesy of Disney/Adrienn Szabó
Was that feeling immediate, like as early as your hair and make-up assessments?
For certain, the blue eyes actually did one thing. The haircut, a little bit contour on the nostril. Simply making an attempt to make my face really feel extra like hers with out doing an impression. I used to be extra particular together with her mannerisms, one thing small like amusing. That at all times helps get to the essence of somebody.
I’m wondering if being thrown into this half was useful for the character — Amanda, clearly, is somebody plunged into the chaos of a world crime sensation.
The factor about Amanda is, she is who she is in each single second. Studying this personally, it felt like such a disgrace that was she villainized for sure character traits and quirks. All of that used towards her in a loopy second the place any 20-year-old wouldn’t know learn how to act. I performed somebody who was very current and impulsive, absolutely who she is. So, sure, the pace in all probability helped me subconsciously.
Speak concerning the first time you met Amanda.
I keep in mind shaking. I used to be so nervous, ready on Zoom. I didn’t know what she would consider all this – or of me. Clearly, I knew she was a producer and needed to be part of the method. What I didn’t know was her degree of need to discuss her [real life experience]. When she popped up on Zoom, it was a really emotional second. I can’t clarify it, however I felt immediately linked to her and protecting. She couldn’t have been extra open or weak.
About midway via, I needed to cease and acknowledge how fucking loopy our scenario was. She’s Amanda Knox, and I’ve recognized of her and examine her ceaselessly, and he or she’s speaking to this random actress about to play her. She answered my million questions, and it felt like an immediate collaboration. She’s somebody who might very simply have a mistrust in humanity, somebody whose narrative has been created for her most her life. The truth that she was prepared to belief me felt nice.
Courtesy of Disney/Andrea Miconi
Did you get a way of what her relationship is now with that a part of her life? Does she nonetheless have nightmares? Is she healed in any method?
I don’t wish to converse for her, however from what I’ve witnessed, I’m actually impressed by how she lives now. She’s somebody who has gone via having her roommate be murdered, to being accused of it, to spending 4 years in jail, to being out of it and persevering with to be scrutinized. That’s a recipe for catastrophe, however she’s one way or the other has maintained positivity and hope and has not given up on making an attempt to take her life again. You actually see that on this present.
You’ve nice chemistry along with your love curiosity — or ill-fated love curiosity in Amanda’s case, Giuseppe De Domenico. I’m certain he helped along with your Italian?
The entire forged did, they had been encouraging and supportive. However Giuseppe, who performs Raffaele, is so unbelievable. He was simply so current and locked in and devoted. He’s simply such an attractive individual.
Courtesy of Disney/Adrienn Szabó
We’re all obsessed along with your present “Inform Me Lies,” and now with this Knox collection, your profile is getting larger. Did something in Amanda’s story really feel foreboding about your individual relationship to fame?
I don’t assume it compares to what Amanda went via, however that’s one thing that’s at all times put me off about celeb. The truth that folks get right into a job as a result of they love performing or directing or no matter it could be, and also you’re confronted with a form of scrutiny and endure the lack of a private life. You’ve zero management over what’s being stated about you.
I keep in mind capturing the primary scene the place Amanda is let loose of the jail van for her first trial date. It’s the primary time she’s seeing this sea of people who find themselves offended at her or obsessed together with her. The extras had been actually giving it on the day, and I couldn’t imagine that somebody needed to undergo this, that this was one thing that basically occurred.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
