Haley Lu Richardson on ‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’ Twist

[This story contains spoilers for Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.]

Haley Lu Richardson is a real unique. You will wrestle to seek out one other actor who’s so authentically themselves in each side of the leisure enterprise. You additionally received’t discover a extra diverse portfolio of brand name new work than hers. 

Richardson is at the moment on the large display in Gore Verbinski‘s Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, a sci-fi comedy that provides synthetic intelligence the roasting it rightly deserves. She additionally simply premiered Zi, her third impartial drama with Kogonada, at Sundance. You can even catch her alongside Emilia Clarke within the Peacock streaming sequence, Ponies, the place she and Clarke play widows who step in for his or her deceased CIA operative husbands through the late ‘70s portion of the Cold War. Last but not least, Richardson and her childhood best friend, Lily Kravetz, just put out a poetry book called I’m Sad and Horny, chronicling “the chaos of being a twenty-something girl in this world.”

In Don’t Die, the Arizona native routinely steals scenes as Ingrid, a celebration princess with electromagnetic sensitivity. It’s a formidable feat when you think about that she’s performing reverse Oscar winner Sam Rockwell and the likes of Zazie Beetz, Michael Pena and Juno Temple. Her character’s allergy to cellphones and Wi-Fi has made human connection all of the tougher, so Richardson took inspiration from a singer-songwriter who’s grow to be a defining voice for many who really feel remoted and heartbroken.

“Honestly, Phoebe [Bridgers] is a crucial part of the emotional, physical, psychological development in my life,” Richardson tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I would love to collaborate one day. I was very much inspired by Phoebe for Ingrid — her energy, her mannerisms, her stance, her hair. We had a picture of Phoebe up in the hair and makeup trailer as one of our inspirations.”

As the writer of I’m Sad and Horny, Richardson didn’t notice that Bridgers concocted a viral tweet through the pandemic that mentioned, “Finished Normal People and now I’m sad and horny …” Series co-lead, Paul Mescal, then responded, “I’m officially dead.” And in one other related accident, Bridgers shot again, “No, don’t die …”

“Oh my God, I did not know about that. I’m feeling mixed emotions right now because I’m such a Phoebe fan,” Richardson says. “Phoebe’s music makes me sad and horny, and it has really helped me accept my sadness inside. So it’s actually crazy to hear that she tweeted that. Maybe I’m just really in tune with her, or maybe she’s inspired me so much that I think like her now.”

In Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, Richardson and Rockwell’s characters have a really distinctive relationship on display, one that’s explored by way of the Q&A under in spoiler-y element. The two actors additionally acquired to share a memorable second collectively off digicam when Rockwell requested Richardson to assist him learn his now-famous The White Lotus monologue scene at some extent when he was nonetheless on the fence about accepting the job. Richardson, who starred on season two of Mike White’s smash hit HBO sequence, primarily stood-in for Walton Goggins’ character. The latter’s eventual response to the brutally trustworthy speech spawned a number of the most hilarious response shots in latest reminiscence. But it seems that Richardson might have given Rockwell the nudge he wanted to decide to season three.

“I remember sitting in his trailer when he asked, ‘Would you run this scene with me?’ I obviously know how far [creator] Mike [White] will go with his White Lotus characters, but I was shocked when I heard Sam’s big monologue,” Richardson remembers. “I was like, ‘What is Mike on?’ So I read it with Sam, and he was still deciding if he wanted to do it for sure. He was like, ‘I don’t know, man. Are people going to think I’m a creep? Is this too much?’ And I was like, ‘Sam, I think you really have to do this.’”

Below, throughout a wide-ranging dialog with THR, Richardson additionally discusses why she went “method-lite” for her Don’t Die character, in addition to why she’s nonetheless optimistic concerning the arts within the AI period.

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I’m sorry you must spend Valentine’s Day on Zoom with me, particularly when you’re in Berlin.

Well, for this interview, we could be one another’s valentines.

Deal. Between the airplane message in Silicon Valley and also you doing headstands on the Berlinale carpet, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’s advertising has reached a complete new degree.

(Laughs.) I don’t know what occurred to all of us yesterday. It’s undoubtedly a wild, batshit, unhinged film, and we’re additionally like that in loads of methods. Gore [Verbinski] and I undoubtedly are. So our energies mixed with the power of the film, and we have been simply unhinged yesterday. 

There was some peer strain? 

I’ve by no means felt extra power from the photographers on a pink carpet or press line or photograph name or no matter they’re known as than the photographers right here at [Berlinale]. You do one factor that’s wacky or untraditional, and they’re like, “Do it 20 times now! Do it again, but on your head!” I fall simply into the lure of “dance monkey,” however I had enjoyable doing it. I can’t assist who I’m. I’ve surrendered to it at 30. This is the best way I’m for higher or worse. 

I’ve been questioning why you weren’t in Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. I believed you’d be in all his motion pictures. Besides there not being an optimum function for you, is it as a result of Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die shot on the identical time? 

Did it?

Yeah, in keeping with the web, each started capturing in April 2024. 

Actually, I do bear in mind texting with Kogonada whereas we have been each filming, however nobody requested me to be in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. And it’s okay. I forgive him. 

Perhaps you might’ve performed the bride on the wedding ceremony Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell meet at, however it’s such a short half that possibly Kogonada didn’t really feel prefer it’d be value your time. 

At one level, I had despatched a headshot to Kogonada, and I feel [Columbus co-star] Rory Culkin did as effectively. Our headshots have been going to be a bit Easter egg within the scene the place [Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kevin Klein] ship Colin on his means, however I suppose he lower them out. [Writer’s Note: Richardson proceeds to have a coughing fit that becomes a running joke the rest of the interview.] Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Choke to Death. I actually began choking by myself breath and phrases. Thank you for bearing with me.

Of course. I’m guessing Zi greater than made up in your Big Bold absence?

Yes, Zi was the proper expertise to have with somebody like Kogonada, and it was additionally only a present of a inventive expertise on the whole. I don’t know if you understand concerning the nature of how it began and got here to be, however it was fairly distinctive and impartial and superb. 

All I do know is that it was a response to all of the rigamarole he skilled on Big Bold. He wished to get again to one thing pure and with out loads of fanfare. 

Well, within the decade since we met on Columbus, we’ve maintained this stunning friendship and respect for each other. Every time we meet for lunch or espresso or speak on the telephone, we’d each share tales from what we’ve been engaged on and the way we’re rising as artists and as individuals. Some of them have been part of the large machine of the business. It has its upsides and constructive challenges, however it additionally has its soul-crushing bits that undoubtedly distract from the explanation why we each actually love to inform tales. 

For the previous few years, he’s been speaking about desirous to do one thing that’s simply actually impartial and pure with a really small group. I’ve been ready for it to be the suitable time and for him to have the spark of an concept, after which he requested me to come back to Hong Kong [in October 2025]. I ended up studying loads as a result of all we had have been our instincts, and that takes an immense quantity of belief in your collaborators. It additionally actually linked me to trusting myself extra, which is tremendous worthwhile in life and particularly with performing.

I can’t wait to see it. Were you capable of learn the Don’t Die script with out your reps freely giving the most important spoiler within the film?

Yeah, nobody spoiled it for me. They have been all actually excited for me to learn it as a result of a terrific script, sadly, is uncommon to come back throughout. My mother learn it earlier than me too. She learn it the day that it was despatched to me, and she or he was like, “Haley, I’m not going to tell you anything about it, but I know you’re going to want to do it. You need to read this right away.” So I listened to my mom, and she or he was proper. Then I manifested that Gore would let me do it, and he did.

We’ll contact on the spoiler later. Does your mother normally perform as your script filter/private reader? 

My mother reads all my scripts and sends me emails titled, “Mom’s two cents.” She truly has unimaginable instincts. She’s proper 98 % of the time. It’s fairly cute and fairly useful.

Your character, Ingrid, has electromagnetic hypersensitivity. She’s allergic to expertise, particularly cell telephones and Wi-Fi. Thus, she’s a rent-a-princess for younger youngsters’ outside birthday events as a result of they often don’t have telephones but. Has this character and this film altered your display time in any respect? 

She undoubtedly did whereas we have been filming. I went method-lite and deleted Instagram for the few months we have been in South Africa. I additionally by no means introduced my telephone to work. So as an alternative of getting 4 to 6 hours of display time a day, I had possibly 15 to half-hour, and that was a extremely superb, inspiring reset. Since then, I’ve undoubtedly gone via phases the place I’m sucked into the vortex. And subsequent factor I do know, three weeks of my life goes by and a 3rd of it was spent on the telephone doing shit. 

Part of what drew me to the themes of this film and particularly to Ingrid was the truth that I’ve at all times had this consciousness/deep resistance to social media on the whole. I do love my Instagram, and it does suck me in, however I undoubtedly worth being current and residing my life a lot extra. My buddies have mentioned all through my life how unhealthy of a texter I’m. It’s as a result of after I’m hanging out with individuals, I’m not often the one that’s checking texts. But I do assume that enjoying Ingrid and the ideas that this film provokes have made me much more conscious. That’s to not say I acquired a flip telephone. I, sadly, nonetheless have an Instagram and a smartphone.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is essentially the most anti-AI film to come back out within the AI period. This expertise is being imposed on us, and it’s a risk to most walks of life, particularly inventive ones. You already had causes to fret as an actor, however because the writer of a latest poetry guide known as I’m Sad and Horny, have you ever grow to be much more against AI? 

Lily [Kravetz] did all the artwork within the guide with me, and she or he’s been my greatest good friend since we have been 11. We felt so proud upon having the guide launched as a result of it’s one thing that AI might by no means make. Whether individuals prefer it or not, we are able to at all times really feel happy with that reality. All of the issues that I’ve skilled as a human — heartbreak, pleasure, development, disgrace, coughing matches — are issues that AI might possibly attempt to replicate, however it will by no means perceive the nuances and the precise lived expertise. The means that Lily did the artwork is symbolic on such an inside degree, and solely she and I might know of those experiences. So it’s simply one thing synthetic intelligence would by no means perceive. 

But, yeah, I’ve loads of emotions about AI. Sometimes, I fall into the lure of avoidance as a result of they’re overwhelming emotions. Still, I’m a really hopeful particular person, for higher or worse, and I actually imagine strongly in my intestine that there’ll at all times be individuals who worth the irreplaceable human expertise and connection via artwork. AI will proceed to develop and get stronger, however I’ve to imagine that there’ll at all times be individuals who prioritize human expression and human … What am I attempting to say?

Human ingenuity? 

What does ingenuity imply? 

Inventiveness, creativity …

Yeah, precisely. Therefore, so long as individuals worth that, I’ll at all times have an area to do the factor I like. I’m holding onto that hope.

You’re a famous good friend to all felines, so how do you’re feeling concerning the cat imagery within the movie? 

Zazie [Beetz] and I each love cats a lot, and we love the large cat centaur/bizarre, giant glitter-spewing penis factor. We simply like it. It could be the very best character within the film. I don’t essentially assume that it makes cats look unhealthy. If something, the film makes us look unhealthy. (Laughs.) I feel Ingrid says one thing towards the top of the film about this “warped, twisted, worst version of us,” and we, sadly, are answerable for beginning all this.

I believed I had been via some unhealthy breakups, however for Ingrid to be advised by her boyfriend Tim that he’d reasonably reside in a digital actuality coffin than precise actuality along with her, simply brutal. 

Yeah, Tim is the one human she’s ever been capable of join with or be with, bodily and emotionally, in her life. So for him to completely do a 180 and abandon her in essentially the most vile, disturbing, insane means, it’s fairly tough.

Let’s get into the most important spoiler of the film. It’s revealed that Ingrid is definitely the mom of Sam Rockwell’s “The Man from the Future.” He’s attempting to safeguard this AI superintelligence proper earlier than it launches in order that it doesn’t kill your character a few years later. How would you describe the day the place you cradled Sam Rockwell in your arms as if he’s your son?

As if? He is! (Laughs.) When he disappeared in my cradled arms, the remainder of the solid was having the simplest, most enjoyable day of their careers. They have been strolling round, smiling and hugging one another, whereas I used to be having this disaster, this psychotic break and this deep panic. So I undoubtedly felt like a loopy individual that day as a result of everybody was so emotionally regulated and completely satisfied and chill, and I bodily regarded like an insane particular person. Normally, when you will have a extremely intense, emotional, loopy scene like that, the opposite individuals round you might be additionally in that headspace. So there’s this power round you you can depend on, however very similar to Ingrid within the scene, I felt completely alone and on the precise reverse web page of everybody else. 

[Major spoiler question continues.] There are loads of clues like when she desires to observe the dawn with Tim (Tom Taylor). Or when The Man from the Future goes off on her for not getting out of the best way of the falling automotive. Did you and Sam really feel such as you didn’t have to go away any added breadcrumbs as a result of the script already had sufficient clues baked into it? 

Yeah, the script already had the proper quantity of clues. The first time I learn it, I used to be simply so to study extra about Ingrid because the film progresses. She’s actually mysterious. She comes off like she doesn’t care, however it’s apparent that she deeply cares. She’s at a really essential emotional time in her life, and also you simply need to know why. 

As far as her and “The Man from the Future,” I’ve named him Derek. I really feel like I’m allowed to call him as a result of I’m his mother. There’s a bizarre relationship between Ingrid and Derek, and also you don’t know why he’s so against her occurring the mission firstly. You don’t know why he appears to care about her when he doesn’t actually care about anybody else. I then had this attention-grabbing revelation after I first learn the script and was realizing in actual time that Ingrid is his mother and she or he’s pregnant with him through the mission. I had this bizarre realization hit me the place I used to be like, “Of course, she is!” It was virtually like I already knew it instinctively. 

When we did the scene the place the bizarre creepy AI boy is revealing it to Ingrid, I felt that too as Ingrid. So there was a deep unconscious draw or connection to this surprisingly dressed, rabid man that comes into Norms. It was extra than simply, “Fuck it. I’ll risk my life to follow this crazy person because I’m depressed and heartbroken and alone in the world.”

Did you and “Derek” (Rockwell) discuss The White Lotus since he acquired the last-minute provide to affix season three when you have been filming?

First of all, I like that you just’re on board with Derek. And sure, he acquired that half provided to him after we have been in South Africa. I bear in mind sitting in his trailer when he requested, “Would you run this scene with me?” And I used to be like, “Sure!” I clearly know the way far [creator] Mike [White] will go along with his White Lotus characters, however I used to be shocked after I heard Sam’s huge monologue. I used to be like, “What is Mike on? How could this possibly fit into anything? What is happening?” So I learn it with Sam, and he was nonetheless deciding if he wished to do it for certain. He was like, “I don’t know, man. Are people going to think I’m a creep? Is this too much?” And I used to be like, “Sam, I think you really have to do this.”

So you heard his monologue for the ages earlier than Walton Goggins did. 

Yes, I’m Walton’s stand-in. (Laughs.)

I’ve beloved your whole latest solutions to questions on whether or not you’d be prepared to come back again for extra White Lotus. Your response is principally, “How is this even a question?” 

Yeah, it’s simply a type of reveals that basically hits individuals. It’s so enjoyable, and Mike is simply actually sensible. So, yeah, returning would simply be a no brainer.

As season three was airing, did you hear the fan concept about Portia probably being Carrie Coon’s character’s daughter?

Yeah, my dad despatched me some article about that, and it was actually all rooted in the truth that we had the identical haircut. It was actually that easy. I used to be like, “Yeah, that’s how genetics work. If you have the same haircut, that’s how [blood relation] works.” (Laughs.)

I remorse to tell you that I’m solely midway via Ponies, however as quickly as I heard you have been being teamed up with Emilia Clarke, I simply knew the 2 of you’d be an ideal duo. I notably love the second the place you mock her character for asking if she will be able to ask a query. That’s been a pet peeve of mine for many years.

Well, I remorse to tell you that I’m, in actual life, a type of individuals that claims, “Can I ask you something?”

Wow. 

I’m actually sorry. That’s why it was further hilarious that I mentioned that line as a result of I really have been that particular person. I’m very sorry to everybody I’ve ever carried out that to and to everybody I’ll do this to shifting ahead. It’s redundant and annoying.

A good friend of mine used to do it each time we frolicked, and regardless of repeatedly telling him how pointless it was, he saved doing it for over a decade.

And even for those who mentioned no, he’d nonetheless ask it anyway. 

Exactly!

It’s actually silly.

I’ve one final query concerning your guide. Was the title I’m Sad and Horny impressed by that well-known Phoebe Bridgers’ tweet the place she mentioned, “I’m sad and horny,” after watching the present Normal People through the pandemic?

Oh my God, Phoebe Bridgers mentioned, “I’m sad and horny”?

Yes, after which Paul Mescal responded, which led to a complete factor between them.

Oh my God, I didn’t learn about that. I’m feeling blended feelings proper now as a result of I’m such a Phoebe fan. I simply love her music a lot. Phoebe’s music makes me unhappy and sexy, and it has actually helped me settle for my unhappiness inside, which additionally makes my horniness deeper in a bizarre means. (Laughs.) Honestly, Phoebe is a vital a part of the emotional, bodily, psychological improvement in my life. So it’s truly loopy to listen to that she tweeted that. Maybe I’m simply actually in tune along with her, or possibly she’s impressed me a lot that I feel like her now. I don’t know.

I hope this instance of two nice minds pondering alike results in a team-up sometime.

I might like to collaborate with Phoebe at some point. I used to be very a lot impressed by Phoebe for Ingrid — her power, her mannerisms, her stance, her hair. We had an image of Phoebe up within the hair and make-up trailer as one among our inspirations.

Who would’ve thought that my final query a few 6-year-old Phoebe Bridgers tweet would tie your latest work collectively so effectively?

It’s your human ingenuity, as I google ingenuity. Thank you for asking nice questions and for placing up with my choking.

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Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is now enjoying in film theaters.