Tessa Thompson: 'Hedda' is finding it difficult to maintain her identity

NEW YORK, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Tessa Thompson, known for her roles in Creed, Thor, and Westworld, reveals that her character in Hedda is experiencing intense emotional unrest from the very beginning.

Now available on Prime Video, the film is Nia DaCosta's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's 1891 play Hedda Gabler. The story has been relocated from 19th-century Norway to 1950s London and follows the captivating Hedda during a particularly eventful evening at her home.

During the party, Hedda flirts with the guests, engages in tense exchanges with her husband George (Tom Bateman), and reconnects with her former lover Eileen (Nina Hoss). Eileen's career achievements unsettle George, while her romantic happiness with Thea (Imogen Poots) wounds Hedda, stirring jealousy and bitterness.

"I don't see any moment as truly quiet because in Hedda's mind, everything feels overwhelming," Thompson, 42, said in a virtual press conference. "The turmoil begins almost immediately when she hears Eileen's name. Even when she appears alone, she is constantly grappling with her sense of identity."

Thompson worked closely with DaCosta to balance Hedda's public interactions at the party with her private, personal moments. "There are very few calm, introspective scenes for Hedda," Thompson added. "That tension was both the challenge and the remarkable opportunity of playing her."

Tessa Thompson at the world premiere of Hedda during the Toronto International Film Festival, September 7. Photo by Chris Chew/UPI

Author: Sophia Brooks