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Toni Collette: Absolutely nothing.
I was sent the script and along with the script came a little package of collated information and images.
It was more of a visual thing, how Mike saw the movie.
And they were pretty interesting images.
[laughs] I was like, Oh, whats going on here?
Then when I read the script, I just found it to be so original.
I have never in my life read anything like it.
Were you surprised to learn that there was a dark Santa out there?
Theres a dark side to everything.
Maybe it was more of a relief.
[laughs] No, no, I was surprised.
Id just never heard of it.
Whats Christmas like in Australia?
[laughs] I mean, personally, I can only talk about my Christmas.
Theres always swimming in the ocean.
Yeah, its a beautiful day.
No one has to rush off and do anything else.
I feel sorry for those people.
I mean not everybody loves their family.
Im very aware of that.
Luckily I do and I want to be with them and share the day with them.
Ive always loved it.
I think its a really special day, especially now that I have small children of my own.
It just gets better and better.
What was your way into the character of Sarah?
What did you grasp most strongly about her?
I think shes a control freak and shes just incredibly anal, very much a perfectionist.
She becomes much more grounded and strong.
Did you watch Michaels previous film,Trick or Treat?
I dont like horror films.
Youve been in a couple, including this one.
I know, but its different making them when you know whats going on.
And also, with this particular film,Krampushas got a sense of humor.
I dont think thats often the case with horror films.
I just dont need those images in my mind at night when Im trying to go to sleep.
[laughs] So she doesnt have to go through that particular stress.
I think she probably would have avoided it had Max not had his little nativity play there.
Michael used a lot of practical puppetry and practical monsters on the set.
Did that make it easier to evoke a real response?
Oh yeah, absolutely.
And Weta Workshop do the most incredible work.
Those creatures were so intricate and delicate and detailed.
I dont like the psychological ones.
These are creatures that I know really dont exist, so its easier.
There is something about the creatures thats scary and funny at the same time.
Theres a kind of giddy kid-like infusion that Mike was aiming for.
And I think he did it really successfully.
It creates a really great time.
Any scenes that were particularly physically tough to do?
I was in a harness going up the chimney.
Initially, I got in there and I was like, You know what?
Im could hang around in this all day.
This is so comfortable.
After 10 minutes I was like, What the fuck?
And also, the long snow sequence at the end, kind of trudging through the snow.
It was this weird silicon that would suction our shoes off.
It was that much of a suction.
So it was difficult to actually move through it.
It was like a workout.
It was three days of that.
[laughs]
Are you generally game, though, for that kind of stuff?
Anything youve said no to?
Not that I can think of.
I think when I first started acting I kind of needed it more.
It was a really great emotional release for me and I think I had less control.
It was just very…I mean Im still intuitive, but I think it was just all gut.
And now Im a little more creative with it.
For a long time I thought your first film wasMuriels Wedding.
Then I recently read that it was…
Spotswood.
You did that with Anthony Hopkins, Russell Crowe.
Do you remember that first experience…?
Yeah, I do.
It was just pure fun.
Im 17 years old.
I was living away from home.
I arrived, they gave me a wad of cash and said, OK. Have fun.
[laughs] I was like, What is this?
But just being on set…
I had a little bit with Tony.
Most of my stuff was with Ben Mendelsohn, who is such a wonderful human and a great actor.
It was just pure joy.
I was like a pig in shit.
It was my first movie.
It was so exciting.
And I was in Melbourne.
I dont know if youve ever been there.
Its a wonderful city.
I just loved it.
I loved our director.
I loved his wife.
Yeah, the whole experience was just so positive I wanted to do it forever.
What role do you get asked about the most?
When people stop you on the street, what do they like to talk about?
MostlyMuriels Wedding, for sure.
People just still love that movie so much.
Its such a great thing.
It was a pure experience.
The making of the movie was it.
And then, all of a sudden, it just kind of just kept opening all these doors.
So yeah, I love that people still adore it.
Its about the idea of domestic terrorism versus blaming everyone over there.
What else is coming out?Glasslandcomes out in February.
Thats an Irish film that I did at the beginning of last year.
I play his mom and Im a complete alcoholic.
Theyre just poverty stricken, living together and hes trying to save me, and its completely heartbreaking.
Krampusis out in theaters now.
