Talking A Wrinkle In Time with Bellamy Young
I still can’t believe that I walked the blue carpet for A Wrinkle In Time this week. It was such an amazing night. The day before the premiere we interviewed talent from the movie including Bellamy Young. While a bulk of our interview was about the upcoming Scandal/How To Get Away With Murder crossover, we did get some time to talk about her small role in A Wrinkle In Time.
About A Wrinkle In Time
From visionary director Ava DuVernay comes Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.
Meg Murry is a typical middle school student struggling with issues of self-worth who just wants to fit in. The daughter of two world-renowned physicists, she is intelligent and uniquely gifted, as is Meg’s younger brother, Charles Wallace, but she has yet to realize it for herself. Complicating matters is the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Murry, which has left Meg devastated and her mother broken-hearted. Charles Wallace introduces Meg and her fellow classmate Calvin to three celestial beings (Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Who) who have journeyed to Earth to help search for their father, and together they embark on their formidable quest. Traveling via a wrinkling of time and space known as tessering, they are transported to worlds beyond their imagination where they must confront a powerful evil force. To make it back home to Earth, Meg must face the darkness within herself in order to harness the strength necessary to defeat the darkness rapidly enveloping the Universe.
Credit: Disney
Getting A Cameo In A Wrinkle In Time
Ava DuVernay directed an episode of Scandal and worked with Bellamy Young. So when she got the project she tapped Bellamy to make a quick cameo in the movie.
Like literally Ava had directed a second season episode. And she called and she just said, “Would you like to do two days on this movie?” And first of all, if she called and said, “You want to do two days in my garden?” I’d be like, “Yes, I do, please, I’m bad at planting but I really want to be there.”
And I had loved this book so much when I was a child. And so it just made it all the better. And it was November 8th and November 9th, so it was election day. And then overnight. So the whole ride has been crazy. But now you’ve seen it. It looks so pretty. Is it so pretty? Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Okay. I’m taking your time. You have all the answers. Show me the movie!
On What Drew Her To the Role
I can’t imagine who wouldn’t want to work with Ava. Everyone we spoke with during our interviews had the most amazing things to say about her. Bellamy said she was drawn to the role by Ava and her love for the book as a child.
I mean, Ava. Right? Like, working with Ava is a dream. She’s such a visionary, and it was a joy to go. But the book meant everything to me when I was a kid. So, even the tiny little bit, just to be a part of something that might get other kids to read the book, or get excited about it, you know. There’s a whole quartet of books in this family. So, anything that engenders interest in that.
I was like, a science geek kid who was plagued with self doubt. It was like somebody read my diaries and then added some sci-fi elements to it, and they wrote a book. At every point Meg’s like, “I can’t do this,” or “I’m not enough” or “My gift is my faults? Like, I don’t know even know what am I supposed to do with that?” And to watch her journey into owning who she was? Plus it said things like “Tesseract” — so it felt like a safe, safe home, and the promise of a great future, you know, when I read the book as a kid.
Credit: Disney
On The Message, She Hopes People Take Away
Aside from the message of why representation matters, there are a few great messages in this film. We asked Bellamy to share what she hopes people take away from watching the movie.
I think perfectionism can be a plague, and I know we all — especially as women — and I don’t have the blessing of being a parent, but particularly, my friends that have kids, like it just gets so big, right? And instant, you have your dreams, and you have to compromise sometimes, and just do triage. But then your kids have their dreams, and how do you get all of that to happen, and how does it happen in the best way, and are they in the right schools, and am I doing the right thing for them? And that perfectionism all comes from a place of fear or self doubt, or inadequacy.
And I loved in the book that she always made a point of saying “alike is not equal” because alike brings everyone down individuality and equality is what we aim for. So, I hope what people take away is that being yourself is your greatest gift. Your greatest superpower is your individuality and being brave enough to explore that can instantly break you free of any of the ties It will literally free you.
Photo credit: Alex J. Berliner Copyright: © ABImages
On Her Red Carpet Look
We chatted briefly with Bellamy about her red carpet look for the Wrinkle In Time World Premiere. She didn’t give us much in the interview but her dress was beautiful.
I will tell you that we had two fittings to find it. I will tell you that the general dictum of the carpet is “ethereal”. Okay? So, I’ll tell you, I really love it, it’s from Beirut. You got something outta me. You got something “fashion” out of me.
On Working with Ava DuVernay
Bellamy shared how much she enjoyed working with Ava, but we wanted to know if she learned anything while working with the filmmaker.
It’s so easy, right, when the gift is true and enduring and really, really in the marrow of who you are. She’s such a great leader. She’s such a visionary. So generous, because why wouldn’t she be, right? Again, it’s back to the fear thing, when you’re afraid somebody can take something from you, that you’ll be like, “No, you’re wrong about that, then do it my way,” but she is like, “Huh, that’s so interesting, yeah. Let’s look at that.” Because her truth is irreducible.
Her speech and her vision and her planning and everything it informs you. I do believe that we’re just animals, and we just get each other’s energy instantly, the vibe alone is expanding. You’re in her presence, and you are more, because she is all that she is. And so, I was so happy to get to spend a little more time with her. She was amazing when she was with us. Selma was a masterpiece, like every frame was gorgeous
She’s just such a generous spirit, and such a wise mind. Like I just really think she’s changed the game. So I’m so happy to know her — she can move me around, any time, any way.
A WRINKLE IN TIME that opens in theatres everywhere March 9th, 2018!
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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