Jessie Buckley and director Maggie Gyllenhaal spoke about their visions for The Bride!, the bold reinterpretation of the classic Bride of Frankenstein.

In a recent cast interview with Blavity’s Shadow and Act, Buckley described the Bride as someone caught between existence and loss.

“I think there’s part of her that’s just existing and there’s a part of her that’s died before she’s actually died,” she said.

Jessie Buckley on the Bride’s search for autonomy

Buckley expanded on the emotional journey at the center of the film.

“And this is a woman who is, how it’s told in the story is fiercely intelligent, is really like instinctual, hungry for her mind and body to be recognized in a world that is unable to recognize her,” she said. “And until Mary Shelley really discovers her within her need and recognizes that there needs to be some sort of collision to crack the ceiling of something that is keeping the lid on the truth of our society, of life, of what is potential within a woman. Not just the projection and idea of what a woman is, but what really is a woman in a relationship to somebody that she can love and does love, but also with the world. And really it was about kind of going on a journey which broke that projection until that woman found the autonomy of the self in herself in the story.”

Buckley also addressed the dynamic between the Bride and Frank, saying both characters are deeply lonely and searching for connection.

“They’re both so hungry to love, like in all their totality, in all their monstrousness, too much. It’s like, how much of me can you really love? And they learn to really love all of each other.”

Maggie Gyllenhaal on Mary Shelley’s presence in the film

Gyllenhaal spoke about the influence of Mary Shelley on the story and involving a version of the real-life author, also played by Buckley, in it.

“Listen, Mary Shelley came into this story, and Mary Shelley would not leave. That’s just how it went. I mean, Mary Shelley just insisted on being in this movie. I don’t know why, but here she is, and she’s made it.”

Buckley also shared a personal experience from filming while eight months pregnant.

“I shot her when I was eight months pregnant. And we were on the set, and we were both like, ‘You are kind of monstrous right now. You have two beating hearts. You’re on the precipice of creation.’ I had this ginormous belly and just my head to express hope and how I wanted this little girl, our girls, to go into the world. I’ll never forget that. That was such an amazing experience to play Mary Shelley in that place.”

The Bride is in theaters March 6. Watch the full interview, also featuring Christian Bale, above.