Don’t Be Surprised if Rebecca Hall Seems to Suddenly Turn into an American

Rebecca Hall

IN CONVERSATION

Don’t Be Surprised if Rebecca Hall Seems to Suddenly Turn into an American

The London-born star of The Gift talks to Krista Smith about her busy year and the late night of drinking that introduced her to Joel Edgerton.

BY KRISTA SMITH

AUGUST 6, 2015 2:38 PM

Rebecca Hall describes her career as “trying to keep on trucking on,” but what it looks like is a whole lot more impressive than that. At 33, the London-born actress has everything from a best-picture nominee (Frost/Nixon) and a superhero blockbuster (Iron Man 3) to a trippy Johnny Depp sci-fi drama (Transcendence) on her résumé. Her new film is yet another left turn: she stars opposite Jason Bateman and Joel Edgerton in this week’s The Gift, a domestic thriller about a seemingly perfect couple whose lives are upended by a visitor from the past. Hall spoke with senior west coast editor Krista Smith about the late-night party with Edgerton that led to the role, and why she may as well just keep an American accent 24/7 these days.

The Gift review – a sly thriller of social transgressions

In an impressive and unnerving directing debut, Joel Edgerton applies the same quiet assurance and attention to detail he’s displayed in his acting projects

Mike McCahill
Thursday 6 August 2015 21.00 BST

T

he actor Joel Edgerton’s directorial debut is a tremendously sly, insinuating thriller that pushes the social transgressions of cult favourites The Cable Guy and Chuck & Buck into subtler, more shaded territory. Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall play Simon and Robyn, an upwardly mobile LA couple settling into their new modernist home in the Hills when the dishevelled Gordo (Edgerton), a long-forgotten classmate of Simon’s, shows up – and keeps showing up, leaving increasingly extravagant housewarming presents, from window cleaner to koi carp, on their doorstep.