- [Lily] To prepare Tom, our director, encouraged us to look back at the novel because it was all just based on the writing and the drama that Victor Hugo had written.
So, he didn't really stress watching any of the other renditions of it, but to just go back to the material and figure out certain moments that we were gonna really try to bring to life.
It was really wonderful to be able to show a different side of Fantine because so often we associate with just the demise portion of her life story.
Tom really wanted me to have input on how we see her at the beginning.
- Look at blondie over there, he looks as if he wants to eat you Fantine.
- I think he looks nice.
(laughing) - Blondie it's your lucky night.
- [Lily] So, for me to be able to partake in a story that is so revered and iconic but have the twist on it that I get to insert my own side of her that people haven't seen before was a really interesting way of re-telling this story.
Its this beautiful marriage of honoring what we know and then bringing it to a different place.
To be able to take a character further into their backstory and show people that creates a bigger amount of empathy for them.
(kissing) You really get to see Fantine at her youngest, most vibrant, which is a perfect comparison then to when she is at her worst.
(whimpering) - I've been a sinner.
(slow sad music)
