Dana Gourrier
"The
Hateful Eight” Interview
with
Kam Williams
Dana's
Domain
New
Orleans native Dana Gourrier has created
quite a remarkable name for herself, joining forces with some of the
industry’s elite directors and actors including: Quentin Tarantino,
Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica
Lange. Since the age of 12 her true love has been acting, singing and
dancing.
She
received her BFA in Performance Art from UL Lafayette and immediately
headed to the Big Apple in higher pursuits. She continued her studies
in method acting while settling into life; residing in Spanish
Harlem, waiting tables, gigging, doing background vocals, and even
teaching theater at a community center in Brooklyn.
In
2010, Dana completed her MFA in acting from the reputable California
Institute of the Arts where she starred in an extensive list of
theatrical productions both Classical and Contemporary. Upon
graduation, she moved back home to break into the Hollywood South on
HBO’s Treme, a drama set in New Orleans months after the hurricane.
Among
Dana's 2016 film releases are Same Kind of Different as Me alongside
Greg Kinnear and Renee Zellweger with a spring 2016 release, The
Runner alongside Nicholas Cage, Midnight Special beside Kirsten Dunst
and Adam Driver and Kidnap starring Halle Berry.
Dana
previously played memorable support characters in Lee Daniel’s The
Butler and in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. Her strong
yet humble work ethic stems from always being told that she could do
anything and be anything. The support and encouragement of her family
has helped shape her into the woman she is today.
Here,
Dana discusses her latest outing as Minnie alongside Samuel Jackson,
Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kurt Russell in Quentin Tarantino’s
Western the Hateful Eight.
Kam
Williams: Hi
Dana, thanks for the interview.
Dana
Gourrier:
Thanks,
Kam.
KW:
You worked with Quentin Tarantino before on Django Unchained. What
interested you in collaborating with him again for The Hateful Eight?
DG:
After
working with him on Django, I would have jumped at any opportunity to
work with him again. There is so much to learn on a QT set and from
the man in general. And more importantly, when Quentin Tarantino
calls you up and says he's "written a part for you" in his
next film, you show up! [Laughs]
KW:
What's
Tarantino like as a director? From interviewing him, he's always
struck me as brilliant, but a little rough around the edges. Like a
sort of blue-collar genius.
DG:
He
is a genius. Period. The amount of information he retains,
specifically about film and filmmaking, is simply uncanny. This is
not an exaggeration. He was asked once, "Did you go to film
school?" His response was, "No, I went to films." As
it relates to the director/actor relationship, I can describe it as
this: he is generous and patient, but you need to show up ready for
anything, willing to go to any lengths, and beyond prepared on the
day. It feels like you have total freedom, but in the mind of the
character that HE created. He has a vision and, as an actor, I
personally, have a strong desire to help him execute that vision, to
get it right.
KW:
You
were also in The Butler which was directed by Lee Daniels, who has a
very sweet personality and I would guess a very different approach to
directing. True?.
DG:
Lee
is an awesome person. I have only ever had kind experiences with him.
He is highly intelligent and creative in his approach. He is another
director that, early on, gave me a shot in my career. I will always
be grateful for that. In my experience on The Butler, his style is
rooted in authenticity. Lee is about things being real, from hair and
make-up to the emotional life of the scene. Lee is fantastic.
KW:
Quentin
assembled quite a cast for The Hateful Eight which included Samuel L.
Jackson, Channing Tatum, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce
Dern and Michael Madsen, to name a few.
DG:
Where
do I begin?! Everyone was soooooo wonderful! Truly. Sam and I
developed an almost mentor/mentee relationship on Django. He always
coached me and more or less took me under his wing. I love that guy!
He is a dynamic individual. Kurt and JJL were always so sweet and
supportive. Tim Roth is just brilliant. He is actually the person
that taught me how to roll Minnie's Red Apple Tobacco Cigarettes.
Michael and I would often end up in the transport vans together in
the morning. The stories this man has lived are incredible. And
Channing and I decided that we were cousins somehow because of our
New Orleanian/Southern connection. I loooooove him! Couldn't have
done it without him. Demián Bichir and I would have these deep
chats. He said to me once that as a kid in Mexico City he used to
ride this bus with his mother and siblings. This particular bus was
usually packed but his mother would always say, "Get on! There
is room for us." I'll never forget one day we were in this deep
discussion about being minorities in this industry and we were just
discussing life in general. Demián said to me, "Dana! You are
immensely talented. Get on the bus! There is room for you!" It
was such a great moment. And the legend that is Bruce Dern? My
goodness! Every single day he had new insights, new love and new
wisdom to impart. He was also, quite hilarious. Truly, every single
person in our cast was wonderful to work with. What an experience!
KW:
How did
you prepare to play, Minnie, the proprietor of a frontier
haberdashery?
DG:
QT
wrote her for me, so there were concepts about her already set in
place. I read and re-read the script about 50 times for clues,
context and all information I could find. I'm a nerd, so the
detective/table work, is one of my favorite parts of the process. I
love all the aspects of preparing for a character, but Minnie was
particularly fun. I must have rolled about 60 to 100 cigarettes a day
leading up to shooting. I just really wanted to get it right.
KW:
What is your favorite dish to cook?
DG:
I'm
from NOLA, so being a better than average cook is pretty much
ingrained in me. My family and I all come from a Creole culture
specific to New Orleans, so there are some pretty great dishes and
recipes that I've learned over the years. I think my favorite dish to
cook that I make is my pan-seared parmesan crusted salmon. I usually
sauté it in a white wine, cream butter sauce and serve it with a
zucchini and squash medley.
KW:
Ling-Ju Yen asks: What
is your earliest childhood memory?
DG:
Being
fearless.
KW:
When
you look in the mirror, what do you see?
DG:
I see
a faithful, beautiful, bold, intelligent woman.
KW:
What's
the craziest thing you've ever done?
DG:
There
are many crazy things that I have done, but some in the top 10 are
moving to NY the year after 9/11 to pursue this dream and turning
down Harvard University once I learned I was accepted into their
graduate program. They both have proven to be the right decisions for
my life.
KW:
If you
could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
DG:
For
about
87 more wishes. [Laughs] But
if I only got one, it would be for joy, consistent and contagious
joy.
KW:
Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone
would?
DG:
Hmm...
I would say, "Will you marry me?" But once upon a time,
someone did ask and I couldn't bring myself to say "yes." I
loved him, fiercely. But it wasn't right and I knew it in my spirit.
So, I do want to be asked again by my someone someday, my person, my
soulmate, whoever he is. And my answer would be "yes," and
then I pray we would make beautiful babies together.
KW:
“Realtor
to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan asks: What’s
your dream locale in Los Angeles to live?
DG:
I don't
know? I'm new to town, so I'm still learning, but I am quite happy
with where I am currently.
KW:
Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic films being redone,
is there a remake you'd like to star in?
DG:
Pride
and Prejudice, and
anything with Pam Grier. [Laughs]
KW:
Larry
Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
DG:
I'd
say I have a favorite movie villain and that is certainly Ursula the
Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid.
KW:
Judyth
Piazza asks: What key quality do you believe all successful people
share?
DG:
Persistence.
Being relentless in the pursuit of their dreams.
KW:
Finally,
what’s in your wallet?
DG:
The
usual suspects: cash, cards, an I.D. and lip gloss , but also my SAG
card and a prayer card my grandmother gave me.
KW:
Thanks
again for the time, Dana, and best of luck with all your endeavors.
DG:
Thanks
so much, Kam.
To
see a trailer for The Hateful Eight, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnRbXn4-Yis
To
order The
Hateful Eight on Blu-ray, visit:
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