Jena Malone Explores Deep American Roots... in Romania

You know, all the actors really brought their stuff. So sorry. I guess I guess she's done. All right, am I done too? So that's it. Yes, Georgie's not into Westerns, I'm afraid. I'm Oliver Trevena, here at the Young Hollywood Studio with the lovely Jenna Malone.

Thank you. Thanks for having me.

Hatfield and McCoy. Yeah. It's an amazing show. It's history channel. It's going to be on Memorial Day. Um, three part mini series. It's like an epic three night event for television. It is the only way you should spend your three nights. Is watching this show. Um, I've had the pleasure of seeing it early. That's one of the perks of the job and it's amazing. Yeah, You're great. You're thank you. It's the Hatfields and McCoys. This family feud. Yes. And you are Nancy McCoy.

I am Nancy McCoy. Um Hatfields and McCoys have been, you know, sort of part of our folklore and our myth of Americana for forever. I mean, I feel like so many people have referenced it from like the Looney Tunes to uh different poets and I feel like it's taught in our classes, but we don't really know what really happened. I feel like we're more obsessed with the myth of it. Instead of the logistics of what really went down. And so it was really interesting to kind of, you know, crawl into the sort of deep rooted, you know, American history and sort of pull out the facts and see where these families really stood, you know, between this crazy blood fueled. It was it's hardcore. It's really insane. I mean, and the fact that the whole thing started over a pig. You know, I mean, literally it's so it's so insane. And it's like generations of bloodshed after that, you know?

Pigs. Pigs absolutely dominate. Just share the pig. How about that? You feel the need to bring up God one more time. I'm sorry, he's sitting on. You won't be making it right home. Obviously, Kevin Costner, Hatfield, Bill Paxton, McCoy. It's not a bad cast to go into, is it?

Amazing. It's kind of an incredible cast. I mean, we had like, it was like an 80 member cast living in Romania for four months. And I think having, you know, Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton as sort of the two patriarchs really set a good tone. You know, all the actors really brought their stuff, so sorry, Georgie. I guess I guess she's done. All right, am I done too? So that's it.

Yes, Georgie's not into Westerns, I'm afraid. Not into not into the whole Hatfield and McCoy. Um, but when you when you get attached to a project like this, you you knew they were on board first?

I did, yeah. Um, Kevin was producing it, obviously. Bill was involved. Um, I think that's the only two cast members that they really had. Um, but then they were just trying to sort of round out these really sort of intense families, so.

And that must have been exciting working with them both.

It was. Yeah. Kevin's amazing. I mean, you know, Kevin Reynolds directed the film, who had worked with Kevin before. And um, what was amazing is that there were so many um weather changes and just crazy Romanian terrain and crazy horses that we kind of got behind schedule a little bit, because obviously we're trying to shoot, you know, a six-hour film, right, in four months, which is just very ambitious and kind of unheard of. Um, so we ran behind and of course Kevin Costner, you know, Academy Award winning director is like, oh, I'll step up and start doing second unit. So there's like, you know, like on one level we're like being directed by this amazing director Kevin Reynolds and then, you know, you go over to B unit, you're like, oh, um, hi Kevin. My and he's like directing you in a scene. It was kind of amazing. I feel like it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Kevin Costner stepping up to the challenge. I've got to love that. Now, your your character is quite amazing, quite sassy and naughty really, aren't you?

She is. I mean, she's definitely, you know, she's got some uh some spunk, but I I you know, growing up in that time. Hello. Um, growing up in that time. You know, the things that she was brought up with was blood lust, revenge. Um, you know, and these are the things that as, you know, you are becoming an adolescent, these are the things that seem important to you. So those are the things that she learned the most about. These are the things she's well-educated in. Whereas nowadays, like, you know, my idea of revenge or bloodlust is so, you know, it's like, you know, having more Instagram followers than my best friend. Like, you know what I mean? It means nothing, you know, I mean like, whereas for her, it was a completely different world. So it's not necessarily talking about, you know, sass or spunk or evil or whatever with her intentions, but she was doing what she knew how to do best and how she was raised. Okay. And really what she thought was best for her family. Right.

You're quite a good way of summing up your character very well. Wow. You know, you got to you got to love her. She's got her now. You've just won it. Really good. That was really good. In the bank. Um, but you do look you I can't I don't know how much I can give away, but you like to keep it in the family. That's what I thought, right?

Yeah. Totally. Well, I mean, you know, I I would live and die for the McCoys. Right. Man, it did this to my face, worse than that, killed my brother and my pa. Jim Vails is on the loose. Soon or later, we gonna get every damn one. Not just get him. Kill him.

You're a little bit of a musician as well, aren't you? You still delving into that world.

Yeah, I delve. I mean, I I find that it's a beautiful thing to be able to do when I'm not consumed with acting. It's such a beautiful way to sort of tap into storytelling and, you know, I and I think a little bit as an actor you get like, you know, you're like, oh, I want more, you know, sort of control over every little minute detail. And with music, I get to sort of be the director and the, you know, key grip and the best boy and I get to sort of be every part, which is a really it's good practice, you know?

Right. You're in control. You like being in control. Typical woman. Oh, well. Like, to control everything. Um, but thank you. Yes, thank you so much. Um, Georgie obviously is become a fan.

I know. Does she do any tricks? Should we do something? Yes. Um, sit. Score. I don't really think she can do much to be honest. She just looks good.

Well, she just likes to cuddle. Which is halfway there. She likes to cuddle. She's a good cuddler. Yeah. She's a good cuddler. Um, Jenna, thank you for stopping in.

Yeah, thanks so much. Hatfield and McCoys, Memorial Day. Three part, watch it. What else would you do? Just watch it.