Interview With India Eisley, ‘Star Of Every Breath You Take’

One of my very first double interviews was with Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy!) and India Eisley for their thriller, Look Away. I was so nervous, but they were just incredibly delightful. Their witty banter and jokes put me right at ease. To promote her latest film, Every Breath You Take, I caught up with India again (still just as delightful), and we chatted about what she liked about the film, why she wanted to become an actor, and making movies in the Covid-era.

PopHorror: Hi India! How are you?

India Eisley: I’m well, thank you. How are you?

PopHorror: I’m good, thank you. I watched Every Breath You Take last week, and I really enjoyed it. 

India Eisley: Oh, thank you!

PopHorror: It was so suspenseful. I’m really a big fan of psychological thrillers, and I really enjoyed it. I have to say, I’ve been a fan of yours for years, and I love where you’re going with your career and your growth. It’s so fun to watch you.  

India Eisley: Thank you so much!

PopHorror: Of course! What intrigued you about the film and made you want to be a part of the project?

India Eisley: When I got sent the script, I got it at the end of 2019, and Casey [Affleck], Sam [Claflin] and Michelle [Monaghan] were already attached. And obviously, I really, really wanted to work all three of them. And then, obviously I read the script. I just thought Lucy was a really interesting character and there was more to her than what was on the page. A big part of why I take a role is that I have to feel like I bring something to it, and I hadn’t really done that kind of role before. She didn’t come across to me as just a disgruntled, kind of bitchy teen daughter who hates her parents. She has some substance as to why she was so detached from people, including her family. I thought it was interesting.

PopHorror: It was interesting. You did amazingly in it! How did you prepare for your role?

India Eisley: Thank you! You know, I didn’t really do much. There wasn’t much research because I’m quite a bit older than Lucy, so I really just had to kind of remember the emotional state as a 16- 17-year-old, and how you react to things differently. So it’s more just remembering that hormonally charged age. And then also taking into account her situation, so it’s all pretty straightforward.

PopHorror: What made you want to be an actor?

India Eisley: Oh, wow. Well, I kind of grew up on sets because my mother [Olivia Hussey] is an actress, so really, I just remember being on a set. A set being my favorite place to be. I was always pretty shy and quiet and meek until I got on a set, and then I just suddenly came alive. I think just growing up watching great films and great performances because my parents really instilled that in me, and I kind of gravitated towards it on my own. But just the whole environment of being on a film set, it was like my happy place, really. It was more interesting to me than hanging out with other kids, and doing kid things. I wasn’t too interested in being a child. I think growing up on sets and watching great performances, it was always an interest for me, and I viewed it as fun.

PopHorror: Knowing who your mother is, I can only imagine the great sets you were on. I can’t even imagine. I’m not surprised that you became an actress. If you weren’t acting, what do you think you’d be doing?

India Eisley: Oh, God. I probably would have kept pursuing ballet, because for a long time, I intended on going professional with ballet, and it was a big part of my life. It still is. I’m not nearly as active as I was at some point when I was younger because work takes precedence, but before I started acting professionally, that was my love in life, really. That or interior design, but I think I’d get bored. It’s much easier having that as a hobby, I think. I think I’d be complete crap at a 9-5 job. I’d get fired very quickly.

PopHorror: What is one piece of advice that you wish someone had given to you when you first started?

India Eisley: My mom didn’t really give me like, specific advice, but it was things that she’s kind of instilled in me that helped, which I think just having a good sense of self to begin with outside of your career is very important. It’s such a fickle business. If you really place too much importance on whether it’s casting directors or other actors or just anyone, really, if you place too much importance on them paying attention to you when you’re successful, or they sniff out any kind of success, they dissipate very quickly as soon as you’re not viewed as successful. So if you don’t have a strong sense of self beneath that, then you can fall apart, and so many do. I think for longevity, it’s very important to have that to say, “I’m good on my own. All of you people waiver, and that’s fine. I take it for what it is. But underneath it all, I have myself, and that’s enough.” The other thing I think is patience because that’s something that you really can’t teach someone though. They really have to learn it on their own with age.

PopHorror: I agree!

India Eisley: It’s very hard to tell a 15-year-old, “You’ve got to exercise patience.” Things are different at that age. But patience is very important if you want a long career, so I think just keeping in mind “longevity.” If this is what you do for a living, the right things will happen for you, and no matter how depressing it can become when you feel like nothing is coming your way, it will work out. You just have to keep going.

PopHorror: I love that. I completely agree. If you lose yourself, you have nothing to fall back on.

India Eisley: Exactly! You start falling in with people that are telling you your life story, and you’re like, “Wait, I’ve known you for five minutes. Who are you?” It’s those kinds of people, and Hollywood is chock full of them. You just have to be careful, really.

PopHorror: What’s up next for you, India?

India Eisley: I haven’t done anything in Covid era. That will be an ordeal. There are a couple things that really are hinged on what happens with Covid, because so many productions are falling apart because of financing dropping out because of Covid and having to push shooting schedules and stuff. There are a couple things, but they’re not solid right now, if I’m being completely honest.

PopHorror: Seems to be the story with a lot of people right now, and that’s okay. I think it also depends on location. Some places are more open than others.

India Eisley: I think it’s really just thrown everyone for a loop. It’s thrown the entire entertainment industry—including music especially—it’s thrown everyone and performances into turmoil, really. We’re all just kind of taking it day by day. 

PopHorror: It’s the first time any of us have ever been a part of something like this, and nobody knows the right thing to do, and nobody knows what’s going to be the best thing. 

India Eisley: Just staying in the moment, really.

PopHorror: I’ve been a big fan since The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and I have really loved seeing you grow and evolve as an actor. I’m really excited to see what’s coming once you get back to work. I love the direction that you’re taking.

India Eisley Thank you so much! That’s really kind of you to say.

Thank you so much, India, for taking the time to speak with us. Be sure to catch Every Breath You Take, in theaters and On Demand Now!