When Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi described for the film “Wuthering Heights” as a mutual obsession and enamoration with each other, audiences found this to be quite . This became even more intensified when Robbie said she felt like “a kid without her blanket” when Elordi was not present. Although their dynamic mirrors the relationship of the characters they play in the film, this type of co-star relationship can become excessive, slightly inappropriate and overwhelming. Their press tour reintroduced a larger conversation of castmates appearing too close on press tours, and the intensity of said closeness off-screen.
The idea of castmates becoming close with each other is not a new concept, dating back to the golden age of Hollywood, where “showmances” grew to be popular. of the words “show” and “romance,” these occur when actors engage in a romance for the duration of the show/film. Castmates would start to date just before the film’s release or would be caught in an affair. An example from that era is Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s affair that began during production of the 1963 release of “Cleopatra,” in which they starred as Cleopatra and Mark Antony, respectively. Both actors were in committed relationships before the start of the film, which created an off-screen scandal that caused global headlines, overall bringing more attention to the film. While this scandal could be seen as a public relations tactic, their romance was real, and they divorced their prior spouses and married each other after the release of “Cleopatra,” then divorced each other and remarried each other again. The journey of Burton and Taylor has similarities with the real romance of historical figures Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s relationship, further establishing off-screen behaviors of actors mimicking their characters, whether intentional or not.
Another recent example of actors extending their on-screen characters’ relationships into press tours is Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, co-stars in “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.” Their off-screen relationship was seen by audiences to be aggressively co-dependent, with the pair constantly crying, which caused about the intensity of their dynamic. Additionally, the way they looked and acted throughout various interviews with clips circulating online about the authenticity of their seemingly close friendship. Given that the characters of the films they star in are best friends, it would be natural for Grande and Erivo to extend that friendship during interviews to strengthen how their characters are viewed in the film. However, when the dynamic off-screen starts to feel uncomfortable, it does more harm than good for the film's promotion. Audiences will start to believe the relationship put on by the actors is merely a performance and that they are essentially overdoing it. Furthermore, audiences will not feel drawn to see the film because of the way the press tours made them feel; the same press tours that are supposed to draw them into the world of the film.
Not every press tour or public relations effort to promote a film will have co-stars acting exceedingly obsessed with each other. At the 98th Academy Awards, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya made a surprise appearance together the Oscar for Best Director. By keeping the interactions subtle, they were able to spark conversations online about the upcoming films they are set to star in together this year, such as “The Drama” and “Dune: Part Three.” While these movies have yet to be released, their dynamic on the stage felt less exaggerated, more natural and professionally portrayed the relationship that their on-screen characters could potentially have.
The behaviors that actors portray off-screen are rarely accidental, especially as it relates to promoting an upcoming release. Press tours become an extension of the film, serving as a live trailer where actors can sell the narrative of their character to the audience. Although the relationships that co-stars forge when filming can serve as long-lasting friendships past the film's release, the line between coworker and friend can become blurred depending on how the actors interact with their co-stars. Even if the relationships were public relations stunts, they could still be considered effective if they created online discourse, causing the upcoming release to be talked about on a larger scale, whether it be positively or negatively. The way that actors present themselves to an audience is the first way that the audience is able to get a sense of the new character and differentiate them from past works.
Off-screen relationships of actors throughout the duration of their press tours ultimately help shape the narrative of the upcoming release and bring audiences into its world. Although some relationships may be genuine, such as Burton and Taylor's “Cleopatra” romance, it can feel exhausting to see an obsessive dynamic, such as with Robbie-Elordi’s and Grande-Erivo’s relationships. The actors during their press tours have to be intentional as to how they want themselves and their characters to be perceived. When the chemistry shown makes audiences uncomfortable, it draws audiences away from the story and more into the actors themselves. This is not to say that actors must not show emotions towards each other, but only to find the balance so that promotion during press tours leads back to the story and not the lives of the actors.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 大象传媒 University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 大象传媒 University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.