Bryce Dallas Howard

~by Paula Brunelle

Bryce Dallas Howard started in theatre, and began her career in film with her breakout role in M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller, The Village. The stuff of performance, the very fabric of cinema runs in her veins, and it is not because her father is famed actor/director/producer Ron Howard. She exudes a passion and dedication for the art form that belies the limitations of her onscreen roles. In this summer’s epic and highly anticipated Terminator Salvation, Bryce plays Kate Connor, wife of “Resistance” leader John Connor (Christian Bale), and very much the film’s second in command. As his wife and a physician, Kate is poised to call the shots in John’s absence, leaving the fate of all humanity potentially in her hands.

            The film unfolds amidst a post-apocalyptic landscape, one which Howard was quite eager to explore. “I have some sort of peculiar fascination and attraction to any kind of film that deals with the apocalypse,” she admits. “Legitimately. Literature as well. My favorite books have always been futuristic, dealing with the shattering of the structure… Like 1984, Brave New World, even The Giver. Those are absolutely my favorite books, hands down.” The apocalyptic   narrative was not, of course, the greatest incentive offered by the new film, but rather the opportunity to be a part of the legendary franchise. Recalling the day director McG called to offer her the role, Bryce notes, “It was really lovely actually. I’m a huge fan of the franchise and I’m one of those people that logs on to Dark Horizons and constantly checks the gossip, cool news… I didn’t in my wildest dreams think that there was a role for me at all.”

            For Howard, playing the role of Kate Connor was, in many ways, a dream come true. It also came at the perfect time, as the character is 8 months pregnant and filming commenced just after Bryce gave birth to her son, Theo. Having just experienced pregnancy for the first time enabled Bryce to relate to her character and bring forth a more emotionally robust performance:

“Because I had just experienced pregnancy and the character was pregnant, it was like ok, got that covered. I understand that. Also, the landscape of the world that was revealed — that was a circumstance I had either fantasized about, imagined, or        pretended I was in; it was something I was really drawn to. So those were two crucial things that, immediately upon signing, I felt excited and compelled to explore even further.”

            Regarding Bryce’s involvement in Terminator Salvation, director McG notes:

            “It was critical to find a Kate Connor that would be worthy of leading the resistance, and I thought Bryce had the elegance and the intelligence to make people believe that she could indeed call the shots if anything ever happened to John Connor. She is in keeping with the tradition of powerful female characters in the ‘Terminator’ films.”

            Post-Terminator, Bryce continues her reign as a powerful female protagonist in The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond, a resurrection of a little known play by Tennessee Williams. Bryce plays Fisher Willow, a rebellious southern debutante with a caustic tongue and no shortage of opinions, who attempts to defy social convention and overcome class boundaries in pursuit of true love. Howard describes the experience of working on Teardrop as “definitely a really profound artistic experience”. The film is intended for release later this year.

            Howard’s resume is not limited to acting. In 2006 she co-wrote and directed the short film Orchids through Glamour Reel Moments, a program that makes a donation to FilmAid International every time one of their films is viewed. “That was an awesome opportunity,” she says. “I had been wanting to direct for a little while, and I came to the conclusion that the best way to learn is to actually do it.” Though she has one non-acting project under her belt and presumably several others in the works, Bryce remains no less committed to her career as an actress. Her love for film is all encompassing: “I want to do it all”, she says. “My fascination really lies with film. I mean, I’m obsessed. I’m sold.”  

Bryce’s commitment to the art of cinema is further evidenced by her constant involvement in workshops and classes, many of them writing-based, so she may broaden and perfect her craft. “It’s very privileged of me to constantly be in a class and I love it, I feel very fortunate for it,” Bryce admits plainly. She is completely unassuming, a delightful conversationalist, and simply a pleasure to be around. “No one should ever feel as though they have completed their education.”

            In case you were wondering, Bryce has never been in one of Ron Howard’s films. The two have yet to collaborate, though they are enthusiastic about the prospect of doing so. Well aware of the advantages and potential disadvantages of such a collaboration, Bryce notes: “It would need to be organic and totally appropriate. We want to be really careful about not    forcing it, waiting for the right project to come along — cause we’ll get slammed for it, and we should get slammed for it if we do anything else.” I don’t know when this “right project” is going to come along, but when it does, I’m sure the results — like Ms. Howard herself — will be nothing short of brilliant. Until then, I’ll wait with bated breath.

 

Photography Patrick Hoelck

Stylist Johnny Wujek  

Hair David Babaii for WildAid  

Makeup Kate Lee for Chanel