Appearing in a film that’s won 43 awards and counting isn’t bad going. But it’s even more impressive when it’s your first film, you’re the two leading actors and, what’s more, you’re only 13-years-old. But that’s how it was for Lina Leandersson, LWLies cover star of the enthralling Swedish vampire film Let The Right One In, and Kare Hedebrant, who plays her bullied best friend, Oskar.
LWLies: When did you first decide that you wanted to be an actor?
Leandersson: Ever since I was little, my biggest dream was to become an actress.
Hedebrant: I haven’t decided yet. I want to try as many professions as I can. I never decided to be an actor.
LWLies:What else might you be interested in?
Hedebrant: Maybe something with the environment.
LWLies:Being outdoors and protecting the environment?
Hedebrant: Yeah, well, that sounds kind of Greenpeace but something like that.
LWLies: Are you the sort of person who prefers to be outdoors rather than in playing computer games?
Hedebrant: This time of year it’s computer games mostly, but in the summer I like to go out with my friends.
LWLies: Now that you’ve had an experience of being an actor, do you think you’d like to do it again?
Hedebrant: Definitely, definitely.
LWLies: Lina, how did you get started?
Leandersson: I have always liked to dance and play theatre in kindergarten and in school. I have been in drama courses and loved to be in scenea. So I started looking for adverts on TV or film roles on the internet.
LWLies: What do your mum and dad think about it?
Leandersson: They think it’s exciting and fun that I am do something I love.
LWLies: How did you get the role of Eli?
Leandersson: I saw an ad that they were looking for a girl or a boy of 12-years-old. I sent a short video of myself to Maggie Widstrand who was in charge of casting. She called and wanted to see me. Three auditions and then I got the role.
LWLies: What about you, Kare? How did you get the role of Oskar?
Hedebrant: They came to my school and we all gathered in the assembly hall. We lined up and they recorded a tape with us where we talked about ourselves, and they chose me for the next audition.
LWLies: Have you read the book? What did you think of it? Were you scared?
Hedebrant: No, I suppose if I did now it would be kind of boring now that I know the whole story.
Leandersson: I read the book after we had filmed but then I was only 11 so I didn’t understand everything. Now that I am a little older, I intend to read it again.
LWLies: Do you like scary films? What are some of your favourites?
Leandersson: I love scary movies. My favourites movies are Atonement, American History X and The Sixth Sense.
Hedebrant: I can’t come up with any right now… The Shining.
LWLies: Were you nervous about being in a scary film yourself, or were you excited?
Leandersson: I thought it would be very exciting to be in a scary movie.
Hedebrant: It wasn’t scary to record it, and now when I watch horror movies, I can imagine the camera.
LWLies: Did your mum and dad read the book? What did they think about you acting in a film that was so grown up?
Hedebrant: My sister and my mum did but I don’t think my father did.
Leandersson: They have read the book and thought it was good. They were informed and read the script, so they knew that the worst things in the book were removed from the film.
LWLies: Lina, what do you think of Eli? Do you like her, and are there ways in which the two of you are similar?
Leandersson: I like Eli very much, she is incredibly special, but very lonely. She gives Oscar force and courage to dare to fight back against the mob. There are almost no similarities between me and Eli. That was what made it so fun to be someone else for a while that is not similar to me.
LWLies: What was it like being on a film set for the first time?
Leandersson: It was wonderful. I knew nothing about how to make a film. I learned so much every day; it was like going to a school but a lot more fun. Everyone in the film set was so kind.
LWLies: What is your favourite memory and what is your least favourite memory of your time on set?
Leandersson: My least favourite memory was the cold. We filmed in northern Sweden, where it’s very cold in the winter and I had thin clothes on. The best memory but most difficult was when Eli would become a vampire.
LWLies: How did you fit in all your school work? What is your best subject?
Leandersson: My teacher gave me homework and we sent e-mail to each other. I had a governess who helped me with homework in Luleå. I and Kåre lived with her when we were filming. In Stockholm, I lived with my grandmother and grandfather, who helped me. It went very well with my schoolwork. My best school subject is history. It’s interesting to know how people lived and died in the past.
LWLies: In real life, what would are you most afraid of?
Leandersson: I am afraid of clowns. I hate their empty eyes and fake smiles.
LWLies: What kind of advice did Tomas Alfredson give you during filming to help with your performance?
Hedebrant: Just how to say the words in the right way, with the right feeling.
Leandersson: Tomas did not want me to read the book or script. He told the story and I had never heard anything like it. I got stuck directly to the story. Because I could not read the script we went through each scene we would do the same day. Tomas is a good teller. I listened very carefully.
LWLies: What advice would you give to any children who are victims of bullying?
Leandersson: The most important, I think, is to tell their parents and teachers. Fight and never listen to what the mob says. They only feel more powerful. The mob are really nothing, they are just cowardly and afraid inside. But you have to talk to your parents. You need support and assistance.
LWLies: What did you think of the film?
Leandersson: I loved the movie. It is so special – a dramatic, scary movie with children in leading roles. It’s frightening yet so fantastically beautiful. It was the best thing in my life to do this movie.
"now when I watch horror movies, I can imagine the camera."
Brilliant – welcome to the world of horror connoisseurship.
Great interview!
Written by Anton Bitel on April 10th, 2009 at 09:11
I am afraid of clowns. I hate their empty eyes and fake smiles. – These guys are awesome, brilliant interview.
Written by Jamie Isbell on April 10th, 2009 at 10:10
"It is so special – a dramatic, scary movie with children in leading roles. It’s frightening yet so fantastically beautiful"
Couldn't have said it better myself. Excellent interview.
Written by decltype on April 10th, 2009 at 11:03
ya mayn dey r lyke so cul day r lyke awesum!
Written by Garrett Hynes on May 13th, 2009 at 19:04
"I am afraid of clowns. I hate their empty eyes and fake smiles."
I never thought of it that way, but she's right!
Loved this movie, and loved this interview :)
Written by Danny on May 27th, 2009 at 09:19
A brilliant movie, these two are special, Lina in particular. The film was amazing, the best of its genre, I really hope that it retains the credit for bringing the book on screen, and that the remake is a flop, compared to this, it will be. He is a very hansom actor, and she is lovely, I know no one else that looks like her. Great film, great acting, great interview, great Kare Hedebrant and especially great LINA LEANDERSSON! I hope that they act again and get the credit that they deserve.
Written by Benjamin on May 30th, 2009 at 14:18
Kare is Kool
Written by jibnvhj on May 30th, 2009 at 23:20
Lina Leandersson has created a character that will become a classic – I think she's a superb actress, and my best wishes for her future.
Written by Carlogratto on May 31st, 2009 at 00:42
fantastic movie. a breath of fresh air in a throughly overdone genre. much, much better than the overrated twilight. having the vampire be such a young girl was a stroke of genius. loved that the characters became close friends who care so deeply about each other without any conventional romantic baggage. my only real concern is that the English-language remake will be terrible and no one will want to see this version or read the book.
Written by vic5014 on June 2nd, 2009 at 00:52
I am a major fan of Vampire films/books – Twilight Saga and the Saga of Darren Shan being 2 of my faves sets of books and Twilight being one of my fave films but this was so refreshing.
To see a film that had none of the Hollywood hype and very little in the way of Special FX still manage to give you thrills, some scares and yet be tender enough to successfully convey the innocence of young love and friendship is amazingand what's more it doesn't rely on the stereotypical vampiric traits to achieve all that either. Both lead actors have done an amazing job in this movie and I wish instead of making a re-make they had just decided to re-market it to get it out to a bigger audience. I actually have no interest in seeing the re-make as in my eyes nothing can beat the original.
I'm going to loook for the book when I am out shopping tomorrow.
Written by Toni on June 11th, 2009 at 16:58
THEESE KIDS ARE SO CUTE
Written by HILLBILLY on June 22nd, 2009 at 23:36
These kids are both truly great. The mere knowledge that such dear people exist can ease the pain of being human and put a smile (and not a fake one!) even on the face of a misanthropist like me.
Written by TAPTRVE on June 23rd, 2009 at 13:07
Lina!! I LOVE YOU!!!
Written by phil on June 25th, 2009 at 20:10
Lina, i gonna go from mexico to sweden for you! i love you!!!!!
Written by pepe on July 8th, 2009 at 00:10
There simply has to be a sequel to this story ….with the same crew . Lina is a natural , a gift that she should exploid to her utmost , beauty , acting , dramatizing …the top of her lead ..For sure she will perform in some pretty heavy blockbusters and make cinema's worldwide as rich as the depth of the sea
Written by Walter on July 18th, 2009 at 20:09
The music in this film was so excellent! It gave me a wonderful feeling… Oskar was such a special role to me that i love him so much. I like this film!
Written by suzume on August 1st, 2009 at 08:11
The music in this film was so excellent! It gave me a wonderful feeling… Oskar was such a special role to me that i love him so much. I like this film!
Written by suzume on August 1st, 2009 at 08:11
The two leading actors were so cute! I was moved by the and love between Oskar and Eli deeply.
It was really a particular film that I've ever seen. It gave me an unusual feeling.
Written by Ash666 on August 1st, 2009 at 12:04
Yeah I agree with you but I dont think the English version is going to be that good because it is directed by the director of Cloverfield! :(
Written by Dan34 on August 12th, 2009 at 21:08
the movie made twilight look like a bunch of ***. Lina stole the show with her portrayal as Eli. Such a high level of maturity and insight- loved the part about clowns. I would never have considered watching a swiss movie before but if this girl is in it I would be persuaded to again. Best movie in ages
Written by kedwilkins on August 13th, 2009 at 11:49
beautiful movie congrats to the people who put this movie together they are a talented group and wow what sad touching portrayal by a beautiful young actress .her little heart shaped face is just exquisite we are sure to see her many more times in the future.the music score was superbly woven into the story in a way that it added to the script just tremendous.
Written by jeff on August 15th, 2009 at 04:48
I LOVE YOU LINA!!!!!!!
Written by KIERAN on August 20th, 2009 at 23:41
This is starting to get just a little bit creepy…
Written by Anton Bitel on August 21st, 2009 at 10:01
Agreed. Good call on redacting the last comment (if that's what happened).
Written by decltype on August 21st, 2009 at 10:56
By far a good Interview, the movies was great and so was the book i hope for the best for Lina Leandersson and Kare Hedebrant
Written by Tyler R on September 8th, 2009 at 03:44
The movie was just amazing, it was simply beautiful to see love and friendship portrayed so touchingly, it kinda renewed my hope and faith again. This interview is really well done too, and her comments (ie, the clown) make me think she is just as intelligent as what she portrayed on screen
Written by matt j on September 23rd, 2009 at 17:57
How many people love Lina? Me too… We shoud go to Sweden, I'm ready too, from Italy to go there…
Written by Fby on September 30th, 2009 at 07:34
you've all cone completly nuts. think about it yust a litle bit, it's crazy
Written by markos on January 8th, 2010 at 14:08
i watched the movie twice in one night.
serious, i would follow her also, with all consequences. great interview, thx
p.s.: i didnt understand why they want to do a remake 2k10. this movie doesnt need to be blowed up by hollywood sfx and co. , its perfect as it is !!
Written by unikat73 at aol com on February 16th, 2010 at 01:55
Let The Right One In deserves more than what it has gotten. The movie is a one of a kind romance, about an atmosphere, a universe between two beings.. a love we all want to exist. The soundtrack alone is breathtaking, " Eli's Theme " beautifully captures the essence of Eli/Lina Leandersson. Lina Leandersson deserves the best and im hopeful she will do great things, she is phenomenal.
Written by sicksense22 on February 27th, 2010 at 12:15
I think this movie approaches several issues and by doing so through the eyes of children. How they per-
ceive divorce, death, sex, violence, peer pressure. The adults seem incapable in their eyes and perhaps they are. So instead we get a fresh look at the inescapable gauntlets of adulthood. The book delves more into the desparation of the antagonists than the movie which is equally as compelling. I think the socialistcommunist backdrop aided here. Everyone was mulling around bored with life, torturing each other or ignoring one another and then in pops Eli and her "attendant" to stir up the brew. Everyone is alive for the first time as the town is stood on its head. And we still get our love story with the happy ending to boot.
Written by CARL on March 4th, 2010 at 16:03
Also I thought it was clever how they side-stepped that whole "can vampires have sex?" thing by conveniently
castrating Eli. A bit contrived. It really didn't fit in but worth overlooking.
Written by CARL on March 4th, 2010 at 16:10