With Aardman Animation’s Early Man opening in North American theaters this weekend, a few days ago I got on the phone with Maisie Williams to talk about voicing a character in the stop-motion film directed by Nick Park. During the exclusive interview she talked about how she got involved in the project, what people would be surprised to learn about the recording process, how things changed during production, and so much more. In addition, she talked about why she wanted to be part of director Peter Hutchings’ Departures with Asa Butterfield, what it was like working with director Josh Boone on The New Mutants and the new release date, and more.

If you’re not familiar with Early Man, the film takes place during the crossroads between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age and follows a young caveman named Dug (Eddie Redmayne) who gets whisked away to a Bronze Age city ruled by Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston). Dug then takes part in a soccer tournament where the future of his cavepeople is on the line. Maisie Williams plays a local soccer player recruited to help Dug’s team. For more on Early Man, read Matt Goldberg's review.

Check out what Maisie Williams had to say below.

early-man-nick-park-interview

Collider: Jumping into Early Man, how did you get involved in the project?

MAISIE WILLIAMS: They approached me a while ago and asked if I would play Goona. Originally I wasn’t sure it was something I’d be able to do. It was always something I wanted to do, I was always a big fan of animation when I was younger. Also, Aardman is based in Bristol, where I am from, so it has always been a huge part of my upbringing. So yeah, I am just really excited.

Yeah, I actually got to visit Aardman once. What people don’t realize, unless they’ve moved, is that that’s where a world famous animation company is located when you pull in that parking lot.

WILLIAMS: Exactly. It’s so discreet (laughs).

What would surprise people to learn about the recording process?

WILLIAMS: For the most part you're on your own, without anyone else. Quite often you don’t know which take they're going to use until it’s finished. It’s quite often they run into little difficulties when animating and then we try and work fast, and which line is better for whatever’s on screen. Quite often you just have to laugh in the dark, to be honest. Yeah, it was a really, really good experience and it really tested me as an actor.

I was going to say- you’ve mentioned it a number of times- I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have worked on animated films and what they sign on for, and what the finished product is can be radically different. How much did the film and your character change during development- or was it sort of your character was always the same but the dialogue was a little different?

WILLIAMS: My character changed a lot. Actually not the character, but just her role in the movie. About halfway through animating they showed it to a focus group and everyone was really thrilled to see such a confident female character, so they wanted to see more of her. When it came to the third act she had a lot more to do. So yeah, she didn’t really change very much, in fact people loved her so much that they gave her more to do.

early-man-set-photo-nick-park
Image via Lionsgate

I’m a big fan of Nick Park. What was it like working with him?

WILLIAMS: It was incredible, and such a different experience for an actor to have all your tools stripped away and be able to use your voice is a real challenge. But working with Nick, he’s very good at getting the performance that he needs, and very good at giving me line readings and helping me through the process. It’s very different as an actor, and it was something that I definitely had to work on.

I’ve spoken to a lot of people, again that have done animated movies and some say that they basically show up in their pajamas and don’t give a shit at all the way they look because you know- you’re just alone. So, I guess I have to say- did you ever dress up to record when you were recording or did you show up in pajamas like some other people have?

WILLIAMS: I didn’t take advantage of that at all. I was always very presentable (laughs).

You totally missed the boat.

WILLIAMS: Absolutely, yeah. It’s something that I’ll definitely do next time- I’ll be turning up in my onesie.

Exactly. What’s your first memory- you grew up with Aardman and obviously I’m a huge fan of what they've done. Do you remember what your first exposure was? Was it Wallace and Gromit?

early-man-dug-hognob-image
Image via Aardman, Lionsgate

WILLIAMS: Yeah, I grew up knowing Wallace and Gromit because they’re just huge characters. But, the movie that really got me was Chicken Run. The character Ginger I had always thought was very cool. Growing up, actually watching Aardman movies inspired me when I was little to make my own stop animation. So, yeah I was always a huge, huge fan of the work that they did.

Obviously, you wouldn't have borrowed anything from Aardman when you went to visit but were you given anything? Did they give you any sort of presents that you got to keep?

WILLIAMS: I didn’t get to keep a model of my character- still working on that (laughs). I got to, I don’t know, I got the gift of being in an Aardman movie, really.

I’m totally teasing, by the way, but you totally need to get a version of your character.

WILLIAMS: Yeah, I agree. It is definitely needed. But yeah, just to be able to not physically own a character but know that that character is yours is really, really cool. It’s something that I think a lot of people, a lot of actors, dream of. The work that Nick does is just so unique. It really is just a privilege to know that that character forever will be associated with me and it will be something that I am forever- I don’t know, just proud of.

early-man-goona-poster

How early on... because I’ve spoken with some people that have worked on animated movies for like 3 or 4 years before it actually gets released. Sometimes they sign on 6 months before it gets released. How long have you been working on this thing?

WILLIAMS: I was one of the lucky ones. I only worked on it for about a year. Goona actually doesn’t have a lot to say. She has a prominent part in the film but she doesn’t have a lot to say. The amount of work you put into the film is the amount of effort to the amount of times the character moves her mouth. For the most part, I’ve just been promoting the movie (laughs). The animators have been doing Goona for a very, very long time. Goona has a lot to do physically but not as much to say so, she’s in the film a lot but my job is relatively small in comparison.

Completely. You’re in a movie coming up called Departures. I saw some set photos with you in some wigs and stuff, so I have to ask you- what was it about the script that got you excited to be part of it?

WILLIAMS: I was introduced to the part years ago. It was just a really beautiful story that I really liked, and it was around the time that Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl, had come out. Also, The Fault in Our Stars and that was good. There was a real theme of movies being released where a girl who is terminally ill and then her male friend or boyfriend or whatever. It was kind of like I  was a little bit, sort of hesitant, but actually at the end of the day it is really beautiful story and I think that was something you should take into consideration. Just because there are a lot of really good movies about the same subject doesn’t mean you can’t do it yourself as well. So, it was a really beautiful story and I decided to put that in the back of my head, and I just tried to do the best job I could do. I really loved the character and I’m not going to sit and say, “It’s so far away from every movie that you see. That it’s groundbreaking or different.” I think the relationship is beautiful and the fact the friendship is impacted by this knowledge of fatality, I guess. It’s just a really interesting story. I think despite all of the similarities to other movies there is something about it that I love, and I love Skye, the character. Also, Asa as well is incredible. Although there’s a couple of boxes that were sort of grey areas, there were several more that were (inaudible).

Yeah, they keep on making movies about WWII, that doesn’t mean they are going to stop. You know what I mean, there’s a lot of stories to tell.

WILLIAMS: Exactly, and everyone’s experience in life is different, and lots of these difficult subjects get a lot of hate from people who have been through that sort of thing because the story doesn’t necessarily represent their own story- the stories of LGBTQ people and the stories of terminally ill people, and world wars. You’re never going to be able to tell everyone’s stories. So, it’s good that each film takes someone else's journey to tell- you can still make a beautiful film.

the-new-mutants-movie-image-maisie-williams
Image via 20th Century Fox

Completely. I am really looking forward to The New Mutants. I was super disappointed that they moved the release date to next year. When did Fox tell you that, “by the way your movie that you’ve spent all this time on, we’re going to release it next year now”?

WILLIAMS: Well, it was always a really quick turn around, and there was always battles of how they were going to manage it. We finished in September and they were going to release in April and there’s- it’s a mutant film, there’s a lot of effects. There’s a lot of work that goes into the movie. They really make the movie after we finish shooting, so there was always kind of a bit nervous, really. I know how long this sort of thing takes on Game of Thrones and I know the work that they want to put in is- it’s a huge job. Actually, I think it’s for the better. I think it’s good that we’ve got more time. We’re not so strapped and up against it. It give us time- it gives me time to get to know the project once its finalized. Films take a real different shape after you finish shooting, and after they have edited. Sometimes you watch a movie and with the score, etc, it’s a completely different film than the one you had in mind. I guess you only know that when you have just done the premiere or whatever. Your spending your whole life working on this film that actually you don’t know much about at all. It’s quite nice that there is the time, to you know, make it the best that one can and familiarize ourselves with it and when it comes to releasing, really push it hard.

Completely. I’ve said this again and again, that having a long edit can be very beneficial, because to make a movie happen sometimes it needs a little more finesse. I heard through the grapevine, that Fox wants to make it a little scarier, and that they might be doing a little additional photography this year. Have they asked you to do some additional...

early-man-nick-park-interview
Image via Aardman, Lionsgate

WILLIAMS: Well, it was always bizarre to me when we were shooting- when were shooting it was frightening and the scenes that we were doing were supposed to be like PG-13. I was always like are we going to get away with this? It was really scary. I feel like all of the suspense and horror has always been there, it’s just nice to have a little bit more leeway in the editing and make it as scary as it deserves to be.

Completely. You seem to be BFF’S with Sophie Turner...did she get jealous of you and Anya Taylor-Joy?

WILLIAMS: (Laughs). I don’t think so, no.

I’m totally teasing about this. What was the best part of getting to collaborate with Josh Boone?

WILLIAMS: He’s such a good director and he was so sure about the film. He’s been such a huge fan of the comics for so long that I put all of my trust in him. My character has been through very similar things that he has been through in his own life. I felt very safe with him as a director, and I felt like with him I could do the best job with this character.

Early Man opens in North American theaters this weekend.

early-man-nick-park-interview
Image via Aardman Animations
early-man-nick-park-interview
Image via Aardman