New releases, music videos and album news — indie, rap, rock and pop. Always covering Ren, Chris Webby, Sam Tompkins, bbno$, CHINCHILLA, Muse, Yungblud and more.
The 2012 role that consumed Julianne Moore’s life: “This is gonna be bad”
Julianne Moore has recalled how preparing to play Sarah Palin in HBO’s 2012 film Game Change took over her life for two months. The role mattered because Palin was a highly recognisable public figure, and Moore felt that even a small error in her voice or mannerisms could make the portrayal unconvincing.
Moore cleared her social calendar, worked with a dialect coach and repeatedly watched footage of Palin while continuing family responsibilities. She even replaced music during school runs with recordings of Palin speaking; the intensive preparation helped her win an Emmy for the performance.
In short
- Moore devoted two months solely to preparing for Sarah Palin.
- She feared audiences would reject an inaccurate portrayal.
- Her work earned an Emmy for Game Change.
Explained simply
Sarah Palin was the Republican candidate for vice-president in the 2008 US election, alongside presidential candidate John McCain. Her public profile made her voice and mannerisms familiar to many Americans.
Game Change is an HBO film about the 2008 election campaign, based on a book by journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. Julianne Moore played Palin, a demanding task because viewers could compare her portrayal with extensive recordings of Palin herself.
Moore has described preparing for the role through close study of Palin’s speech and behaviour, while also managing family life. The performance later won Moore an Emmy, one of the main US television awards.