Young talent's star continues to rise.
Jacob Tremblay is a boy with a big talent. The 11-year-old Canadian actor first stole our hearts with his beautiful, heart-breaking performance in 2015’s Room . As a little boy who is held prisoner with his mother, he received widespread praise and won the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer in 2016.
This year, he’s back with another moving role in the emotional drama Wonder, due to open in cinemas this week. The film tells the story of Auggie, a boy with facial differences caused by a rare genetic condition. Auggie’s life changes when he goes to middle school after years of homeschooling by his parents, who are played by Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts.
With the help of Sahamongkol Film, S Weekly scored an exclusive email interview with the talented young actor, in which we talked all about his new film.
What can you tell us about your character in the film?
Jacob: Wonder is about a boy named Auggie who has Treacher Collins syndrome. It’s a genetic problem that affects the way your face develops. His parents homeschool him for years. Then they decide that maybe it’s time for public school. That’s a difficult step for Auggie to take. He just wants to be a normal kid. But it’s not easy with his condition.
Why did you decide to take the role?
Jacob: I think it’s a really interesting character to play. It’s exciting to be a part of the film’s positive message. I wanted to be the kid who helps to change the world. Auggie has to adapt to a new social environment at school. He gets a lot of tough lessons about things like bullying.
How much did you prepare for the role?
Jacob: I had to do a lot of research to understand the nature of the character. I went to a CCA retreat (Children’s Craniofacial Association), which is where families affected by these conditions get together. I met kids with facial differences like Auggie and I made a lot of new friends. I also kept a book of letters and pictures from kids with facial differences who wrote to me to tell their stories. That really helped.
The movie poster and trailer show Auggie walking around in an astronaut helmet. Why does he do that?
Jacob: It gives him comfort, because nobody can see his real face. It makes him feel normal. He’s also a big fan of astronauts.
How long did it take to put on the makeup before each shoot?
Jacob: It took about two hours - quite a long time. There was the main face piece, the neck piece, a helmet connected to an eye mechanism that pulled my lower eyelids down, a wig and contact lenses. Honestly, it was pretty uncomfortable and very itchy. But I didn’t mind.
Do you think you have anything in common with Auggie?
Jacob: Yes, we’re both huge fans of Star Wars. There’s a scene in the movie where Owen Wilson and I play with lightsabers. It was so much fun. It almost felt like we weren’t filming at all. I also like the scene where Auggie wins a medal. That was really fun because it reminded me of the end of A New Hope.
What was it like to work with two huge stars like Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson?
Jacob: They’re both such amazing actors, I learned so much from them. Julia was really nice and kind to me, and she was fantastic as Isabel. Owen is one of the funniest men alive. He made me laugh until my stomach hurt! We’re good friends.
