[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*]
InThunderbolts*, comedic icon turned dramatic powerhouseJulia Louis-Dreyfusreturns to the screen asValentina Allegra de Fontainefor more of the character’s political cunning and attempts at controlling the world around her. This time around, however, she is forced to confront her vulnerabilities, something Louis-Dreyfus tells us is “unacceptable” for this typically unflappable character. New to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Valentina’s assistant, Mel, played byGeraldine Viswanathan, an idealistic character whose morals are shaken by the conditions of the world around her (and her boss) as she grapples with a new taste for power.
In an interview with Collider’sPerri Nemiroff, Louis-Dreyfus and Viswanathan offer insight into their collaboration onThunderbolts*. They dig into what shaped their characters' dynamic, reflecting on the emotional complexities and grounded performances that define their roles in the MCU, and highlight how their off-screen rapport helped shaped some of the film’s most touching moments. The pair also discuss the evolution of their careers, as well as the broader themes of leadership and emotional resilience that giveThunderbolts*its surprising emotional weight, whichsets it apart from the typical Marvel release.
Geraldine Viswanathan Reveals Mel’s Pivotal Moment With Valentina
“It’s brutal.”
PERRI NEMIROFF: Julia, I was reading in our press notes that you’ve known aboutThunderbolts*for quite a while, so it was making me wonder, what is the biggest difference between how you pictured Valentina’s role when you first learned about it, and who she became when you made the film?
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh, interesting. Well, never in a million years would I have thought thatThunderbolts*, which I knew we were headed towards, was going to have this depth of storytelling, and that applies to Valentina, as well. You really get to understand from whence she came, and so that was the biggest surprise to me. Averyhappy surprise.
Geraldine, I’ll give you a similar question, but as it pertains to your work together as scene partners. I love the idea of a character growing via the person that she’s spending the most time with. What is the biggest difference between how you pictured Mel and who she became when you started working on set on that dynamic with Julia?
GERALDINE VISWANATHAN: Ooh, it really came alive once we started figuring out what exactly the dynamic is. For me, it all accumulates in that scene between Mel and Val where Val says, “Righteousness without power is just an opinion.” I kind of felt like that was the crux. That’s when it all kind of clicked for me, and I was like, “Oh, that’s what this is about.” So, I’d say just throughout the filming of it, it just started to feel more filled in and colored.
I wrote that one down, and it’s also burned in my brain now.
LOUIS-DREYFUS: I know!
VISWANATHAN: It’s brutal.
Valentina Faces Her Greatest Fear in ‘Thunderbolts*’
“She’s an open wound in that moment.”
Julia, I’ll come back to that scene that you were referencing, her encounter with The Void. I love that moment in the movie because I wasn’t expecting that to happen, or to get that kind of insight into the character. From a performance perspective, what would you say is the biggest difference between how you prepare for an emotional beat like that versus basically every other scene in the film where she’s presenting as powerful, in control and unflappable?
LOUIS-DREYFUS: Well, all that unflappability is immediately stripped away, and that’s what The Void is about, of course. It was raw, man, just to be witness to the most, I’m going to say, pivotal and life-changing moment of her life, and to see it so unexpectedly. All defenses are down.She’s an open wound in that moment, and so I played it as such. I don’t know how else to say it. She was a witness. It was happeningtoher, and she had no control over it.
I love asking this question when someone’s playing a character who, at the beginning of the movie, presents as super confident and then goes through a lot and has that foundation rocked. Going out ofThunderbolts*and into future Marvel movies, what do you think Valentina fears her greatest weakness is now?
LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh, her greatest weakness is loss of power, unfortunately. She doesn’t realize, number one, she doesn’t have it, and number two, she doesn’t necessarily need it. But for her, the loss of power is a devastating notion and unacceptable.
She’s in trouble in that respect.
LOUIS-DREYFUS: Exactly.
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I wanted to end our conversation with a question for both of you that is overly sentimental, but I have to ask it because one of my absolute favorite things aboutThunderbolts*is how it reminded me of the power of a really good hug. Can you each tell me the last hug you received that made you feel supported and like you’re able to tackle all of life’s challenges?
VISWANATHAN: Aww!
LOUIS-DREYFUS: Whoa, Jack!
VISWANATHAN: Jack?
LOUIS-DREYFUS: No, I said, “Whoa, Jack.” You know, the expression.
VISWANATHAN:Oh, I was like, “Who’s Jack?” [Laughs]
I didn’t know that expression either!
LOUIS-DREYFUS: He’sdivine!
VISWANATHAN: He gives great hugs. Maybe I’ll shout out my makeup artist, Kirin [Bhatty], here. She’s such a good hugger, and it really started off my day with a really warm embrace. That really powered me through this press day.
LOUIS-DREYFUS: Oh, that’s nice.
VISWANATHAN: Shout-out.
LOUIS-DREYFUS: I don’t want to undermine Jack. He’s divine. On a very serious note, I will say that I got a hug from a firefighter during the LA fires, and that was a very powerful hug, as you might imagine.
It’s a beautiful answer. Thank you for sharing that, and thank you for this movie. It’s super entertaining, and that emotional core is really something else. Congratulations!
