Original-Cin Q&A: Sophie Nélisse on Playing a Holocaust Heroine in Irena's Vow
Quebec’s own Sophie Nélisse tackles one heroic woman’s journey during the Holocaust in Irena’s Vow.
Based on the Broadway play, Irena’s Vow is the true account of Irena Gut Opdyke, a Polish nurse who helped shelter and protect Jews during the Holocaust by hiding them in the cellar of the home where she was employed as a housekeeper by Nazi officer Eduard Rügemer.
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Sophie Nélisse about taking on this role and how it inspired her on a personal level.
CLICK HERE to read Liz Braun’s review of Irena’s Vow.
Sophie Nélisse plays a Polish housekeeper hiding Jews in a Nazi officer’s house in Irena’s Vow.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Irena’s Vow made its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall. What was that like for you representing this film here in Toronto?
SOPHIE NÉLISSE: It was definitely very special. I always love Toronto because I come from Montreal. I'm always very proud of anything I am a part of that is in way affiliated with Canada. I also think Toronto has an amazing selection of movies and always presents really great quality projects. So it felt really special to be honored and recognized by that festival.
It was a very special premiere as well because Jeanne, Irena's daughter was there. And Roman, the baby that was born during the war also attended. He was the child of the Jewish couple that Irena saved. So that was a very emotional moment for everyone.
O-C: Did you have access to Irena’s family during the shoot?
NÉLISSE: To be honest, I was not actually put in contact with them for a while. I was more in tune with Dan Gordon who was friends with Irena and wrote the play. I communicated more with him and he told me about Irena and how they met and about their relationship. I was put in contact with Irena’s daughter a little later on, she was part of the post production process. I met her for the first time at TIFF actually.
O-C: How did Irena’s story get on your radar? What an honor to play a woman like this. She was quite a hero to put her own life at risk for these people and to hide them from the Nazis. How daunting was that for you to take this on?
NÉLISSE: I had such big shoes to fill, which was very overwhelming because she lived such an incredible life. I knew that people that knew her were going to watch this movie and I I just wanted to live up to the expectations.
At first, I was a bit nervous, but to be honest I felt really comfortable. I felt really supported in this project because I knew that (director) Louise Archambault and I had the same vision for the character. I also found a fair amount of archives about Irena's life, and some interviews of her speaking. I also had a dialect coach who helped me with the Polish accent so I was in good hands. But I definitely felt a lot of pressure taking on this project.
O-C: Where did you even begin?
NÉLISSE: I started with doing a little bit of research. But of course, it's also based on a play so that was very helpful. I kind of base myself off of the script because at the end of the day, that's what people are going to watch. I definitely think that watching the archives that I found of her and the interviews of her speaking helped me. The first thing that really struck me was how full of life she was.
She felt so warm, so kind and so nurturing. I think that's what Louise and I really wanted to showcase in the movie. We obviously tell her story and all of the atrocities that happened to her. But at the end of the day, we really wanted to show a bright side to her, and we really wanted to inspire a lot of hope with this movie.
O-C: How did you connect with Sophie, especially being so close in age. Did playing a young woman like this change you in any way or make you think about what you can do to exude good in the world?
NÉLISSE: That’s exactly it. I think putting out good in the world is really what I resonated with while reading the first draft of the script. And I think Irena was such a great example of that.
I think one thing she really taught me was to think about kindness. I used to do it before but now it's just a constant reminder. After making this film, it lives with me every day how important it is to do even a little action.
I think Irena did so many heroic things that I don't know that I could ever accomplish, but I think it's a constant reminder that a little goes a long way. It could be smiling at someone or complimenting them or helping them in a small way. It’s important to look around and try to go out of your way to help people. I think those little actions can have a huge ripple effect and end up making really an impact and a difference.
O-C: The film was shot mainly in Lublin, next to the Ukrainian border. What was that experience like?
NÉLISSE: It was definitely very intense. It was a weird context to be shooting there, but very emotional. It also helped me at the same time because we felt the ramifications of the war being so close to us. There were refugees and soldiers at our hotel so it definitely helps me to feel closer to Irena's story. It was also a reminder of why we had to do this movie and why stories like this are still important to be told.
Shooting in Poland was another life-changing experience. Our crew did an incredible job with the set to make them look so realistic. Just being around swastika flags, SS uniforms and rifle rain machinery helped me tap into the emotions. It made it very real.
O-C: Having grown up in Quebec, how much were you taught about the Holocaust in school?
NÉLISSE: Not much, actually. I remember talking about it when I did promotion for The Book Thief. It blew my mind because I had to do my own research for the character and that's when I started watching all the movies about the Holocaust, like Schindler's List and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
We were never really taught this in school and it is something that needs to keep being told. It really shocked me that it’s practically ignored in the school curriculum. I think kids are the voice of the next generation and in order for history not to repeat itself, I think we need to educate people about it. I hope that Irena’s Vow will reach a younger generation and start that conversation.