Interview with Kodi Smit-McPhee, Star of "Let Me In"

Kodi Smit-McPhee has co-starred with two Oscar winners, Charlize Theron (Monster) and Robert Duvall (Tender Mercies) in The Road, based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, worked alongside Eric Bana (Star Trek) playing his son in Romulus, My Father, and now plays the lead in director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) Let Me In. It's a remake of the acclaimed Swedish horror film Let The Right One In. Kodi's acting accomplishments would be thoroughly impressive for any actor. That he's 14 years old makes it all the more inspiring.

I was delighted to speak with Kodi about past work, and his new movie release. I caught up with him by phone, as he was busy doing press for Let Me In at Overture Films in Los Angeles, CA. We discussed working with director Matt Reeves, how he enjoyed the Twilight movies, and how childhood bullying - a topic constantly in the news, and a core theme of Let Me In - also occurs in his native Australia.

What's most fun about acting for you?

The most fun is seeing it all come together in the end... what everyone worked so hard for. And the challenging part is probably trying to get the role. (laughs)

The audition - getting the gig, right?

Yeah!

Do your friends get excited about your movies or do you get teased about being a 'big actor'?

Not really. My friends in Australia, they grew up with me acting, so they're used to it.

Your American accent is so convincing. Is it easy or do you have to work on it a lot?

I don't really have to work on it. I do, if I kind of lose it a bit, but I learned it when I was... I think around eight. Yeah, it's kinda easy to turn on and off.

The Road looked like a really tough production with all the location shooting. What was the worst part of filming that?

Well, I think the weather was. It was kind of tough to be in, because not only was it my first time in snow, full time, but the weather was getting bad. It was real windy, and I was in it everyday.

The whole movie, the weather and the lighting is so bleak.

Yes, we didn't want the sun. Every time the sun came out, the director of photography was always angry (laughs).

Your new movie Let Me In - a remake of the Swedish film based on a novel is about vampires. Do you like to watch vampire movies?

I've seen Twilight. I've seen the second one and the last one. I think actually they're really awesome.

Do you prefer the Twilight kind of romantic vampires, or more classic, old school stuff?

I really haven't seen a lot of old school stuff like Dracula. I probably should check it out. I thought that Twilight would be a kind of girl movie, but it was cool. You know how this is Hammer's first film in like 30 years? My Dad said to me that he used to watch Hammer films, when he was younger, so that's pretty awesome.

On Let Me In - was there pressure to live up to the original's great reputation, or did you guys just try to make the best movie possible?

We all had our own take on it. Matt and me and my Dad, we didn't watch the movie. I heard Matt didn't want the cast and crew to see it, because we were all doing our own take.

How was Matt Reeves as a director - how did he help you as an actor?

He would do his stuff a few times, like over and over again, and then he'd say, "OK, now what do you think? What would you like to do in this scene?" Because I would come fully prepared. Then he can take it on, and he's in the driver's seat.

So Matt Reeves was very flexible while directing?

Yes, exactly.

What do you feel is the most interesting, or coolest thing about Let Me In?

There's the story about growing up. Then there's the story about having to kill to live, and there's the Richard Jenkin's story. So you're going back and forth between them all.

Bullying - which plagues your character Owen in Let Me In - is a big issue in America lately. Is it a big issue in Australia? Have you ever been bullied yourself?

It's still there (in Australia) - I never really got bulled that bad, but of course people annoy you and stuff at school.

You've already worked with big names like Erica Bana & Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Robert Duvall. Are there actors on your 'wish list' to work with one day?

I really like Johnny Depp, and my Dad - Andy McPhee. Actually I've not done a film with my Dad yet, only a TV movie when I was little.

Your sister acts too?

Yes, at home. And my Dad is an actor. Andy McPhee. He's in Sons of Anarchy - six episodes in season three.

What are your upcoming projects we can watch out for?

I'm doing an animated movie Paranorman - about a young boy who can see ghosts. It's a stop motion thing, so it won't be out for a few years. But it's a really cool script.