TIFF 2019: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Goldfinch’s Aimée Laurence

Aimée Laurence is one of Hollywood’s most exciting young actors. She’s best known for her work in Hulu’s original series, The Path, and guest appearances in Marvel’s Iron Fist, HBO’s The Leftovers, and NBC’s The Blacklist.

She can now be seen in The Goldfinch, which hit theaters today. Adapted from Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize winning and New York Times best-selling novel, The Goldfinch follows a young boy who’s taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Aimée plays Young Pippa and joins a star-studded cast, which includes Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Jeffrey Wright, and Sarah Paulson.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Aimée ahead of the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

PC: Tell us about The Goldfinch, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Aimée: The Goldfinch is an emotional story that different audiences can relate to. My character, Pippa, was at the Met at the time of the bombing and lost her grandfather, just like Theo lost his mother. That trauma is what connects them. I was drawn to this role because Pippa is a young girl who is going through physical and emotional pain, which are very challenging, but also compelling and intriguing emotions to play.

PC: You’re best known for your roles in The Path and Chicago P.D. How did those experiences help prepare you for The Goldfinch?
Aimée: Playing a series regular on The Path for many years really helped me to understand how to live the life of a character over time, so it was easy for me to imagine what Pippa’s life was like and settle into that. Most of the roles I’ve played have been innocent children who are in bad situations that a child should not be in and going through things a child never should. Those roles and my role in The Goldfinch are similar, but my role in The Goldfinch takes it to another level of pain.

PC: You’re one of two actors portraying Pippa. What is it like sharing a character with another actor? What is that process like? How did your decision inform Ashleigh’s choices?
Aimée: It was very interesting to share a role with another actress, and Ashleigh is really brilliant. I think we both helped each other a lot in the process of playing Pippa.

PC: Pippa experiences a traumatic event in her life. How did you prepare to tackle all the emotions following that incident?
Aimée: Of course, I have never gone through anything as traumatic as Pippa does, so I had to pull emotions from various experiences. I think I began dealing with the physical trauma, pain, and limitations of being ill and then the emotion behind that fell into place.

PC: With The Goldfinch premiering at TIFF, what do you hope audiences walk away with?
Aimée: I hope everyone who sees this movie walks away with more knowledge of empathizing and acknowledging everyone’s specific pain. I think this movie did a really good job portraying that across generations.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Aimée: Gossip Girl

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Aimée: 13 Going on 30 or any romantic comedy!

PC: Favorite book?
Aimée: The Selection series

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Aimée: Dear Evan Hansen

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Aimée: A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. I really enjoy rap songs!

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Aimée: The Society

PC: Hidden talent?
Aimée: If I actually try, I can be pretty good at sketching people.

Keep up with Aimée by following her on Instagram, and catch The Goldfinch is in theaters today.