Protecting Herself
Riley Keough, a talented actress, believes it is important to keep her personal grief separate from her acting. She discussed this approach during a conversation with Jena Malone at the “An Evening with Joey King & Riley Keough” event in Los Angeles on June 1.
Deliberate Separation
Riley, 35, explained that she consciously avoids letting her real-life emotions influence her performances. She mentioned that mixing her personal grief with her acting could be very unhealthy. This separation is crucial for her mental well-being, even if her characters experience similar tragedies.
‘Under the Bridge’ Role
In the Hulu limited series “Under the Bridge,” which premiered on April 17, Riley plays Rebecca Godfrey, a late author who wrote about the 1997 murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk. Rebecca Godfrey herself faced personal tragedy when her brother Jonathan died in an accident at a young age.
Riley Keough on Separating Personal Grief from Acting!
Personal Losses
Riley has faced significant losses in her own life. Her brother Benjamin died by suicide in 2020, and her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, passed away in 2023 due to complications after surgery. Despite these experiences, Riley strives to keep her grief from affecting her portrayal of characters like Rebecca Godfrey.
Challenges of Emotional Scenes
Riley emphasized that using her own life in her acting could drive her “insane.” She noted that while some actors might draw on personal experiences, she finds it more challenging because scenes often need to be repeated multiple times.
Character vs. Personal Grief
Focusing on her character’s mindset, Riley highlighted that Rebecca Godfrey’s way of dealing with grief involved a lot of anger and unresolved emotions. This differed significantly from Riley’s own experiences with grief, which made it easier to keep them separate.
Conclusion
Riley Keough’s approach to acting involves maintaining a clear boundary between her personal emotions and her characters’ emotions. This method helps her stay sane and healthy while delivering powerful performances on screen.
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