Summary
This interview contains spoilers for My Dead Friend Zoe.
War moviesare some of the most popular and critically acclaimed films.
NATALIE MORALES: Yes.
Can you talk a little bit about that?
And she is not a ghost.
She was Merits, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, battle buddy.
Image via Briarcliff Entertainment
This was her best friend in the army.
Going off of that, I’m sure this role had a lot of unique challenges.
MORALES: Oh, it’s so fun for me.
Image via Briarcliff Entertainment
So it brought that part out of me for sure.
Were you also surprised reading the script that this was the direction that this went?
MORALES: Very much so.
Image via Briarcliff Entertainment
It totally caught me by surprise, and I think that’s by design, right?
It could be anybody, and that’s what’s kind of most impactful about it.
After being on duty, you come home, and that’s how you die?
Image via Briarcliff Entertainment
Yeah, 100%.
That was insane to me.
I’m curious if you had any clue about that because I definitely learned a lot in this movie.
Engaged in a mysterious relationship with her dead best friend from the Army, a female Afghanistan veteran comes head to head with her Vietnam vet grandfather at the family’s ancestral lake house.
I think, however you feel about the army and the armed forces, they’re still people.
I think thats important to really put that in people’s minds.
We have that line where Zoe talks about how it’s modern colonialism in a way.
I think it toes that line really well.
And I know a lot of them.
It’s a big grey line, and people feel differently morally about all of it.
It’s impossible to get out of it when you’re there.
Yeah, 100%.
MORALES: Well, that’s a good question.
From a filmmaker’s perspective, you usually get like an earwig, right?
Those hardly ever work.
They hardly ever work right.
And youve got to not be embarrassed.you could’t be afraid of looking bad because you’regoingto look bad.
Thank you for calling me a singer-musician.
I am in no way a singer-musician.
I like to sing.
I don’t think I’mhorrible, but I am not good.
And you captured the enthusiasm, and that’s what’s important.
MORALES: Yes, I think you’re right.
I think youre right, yup.
This movie premiered at SXSW, and you will be back soon forSummer of 69.
What can you tell us about that project and your character in that?
MORALES: Ohh, I don’t know what I’m allowed to tell you.
I will tell you that Jillian Bell is a friend of mine.
We made another movie together called I’mTotally Fine, and she’s just the best.
You’re going to be amazing.
And, of course, she was amazing.
I’m so excited to see it, and, of course, it got into SXSW.
Its gonna be great.
That’s one of the great sapphic ships, in my opinion.
MORALES: Oh, thank you!
Gosh, everyone on that show was awesome.
I had such a good time doing that show, and my hair looked so good every episode.
Linda is just incredible, and I was so lucky to get to do that with her.
I had a blast.It was such a warm set, and everybody was so grateful to be there.
MORALES: I do.
What can you tease about that?
Its going to be so good, and I’m so excited about it.
Of course, all the actors are amazing, but the writing was unbelievable.
It’s going to be a really, really, really, really, really good one.
I’m so excited.
I lovePlan Bso much andLanguage Lessons.
Because you’re definitely a fresh new voice that we need more of.
Things like that happen.
They do have an effect.
Im not gonna waste it because it’s so needed for so many communities.
While they’re important and necessary and sometimes historical it can’t be the only thing.
I just exist in the world.
If I have any mission, its that.
I know that’s a very tricky subject.
And I don’t know what will take off first.
They’re all kind of in the mix, so you will know when I know at some point.
MORALES: Oh man, that’s a great question.
I have so many ideas about so many things.
I love to play characters who aren’t what people would typically cast me in.
I think that’s fun for me.
So I would love to do more things like that.I’d also really like to do a period piece.
I have one that I’m slated to direct.
I just saw thatBuffy’s coming back.
Hey, I’m available for catering or to be a PA.
I would do anything.I would love to be any part of the newBuffy.
I was so intoBuffywhen I was younger it was like my favorite show so that sounds awesome.
Like you said, I don’t want to repeat myself over and over.
I don’t do that in my real life.
I just can’t.
I just want to do everything else.
I don’t want to be known for one thing becauseI’mnot one thing.
My Dead Friend Zoeis in theaters now.
