LARUICCI X PHOTOBOOK MAGAZINE
Brianna Hildebrand Is Deadpool’s Not-So-Secret Weapon
Her third turn as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in the global smash Deadpool And Wolverine solidifies the Texas native as a Hollywood star on the rise.
By Richard Pérez-Feria | Photography by Mike Ruiz
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about actor Brianna Hildebrand reprising her character Negasonic Teenage Warhead for a third time in the latest—and by far the largest—film in the superhero trilogy Deadpool And Wolverine starring mega movie stars (and BFFs) Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is this: How much fun is she having? I mean, to get to pal around with Reynolds, among the funniest movie hunks in recent Hollywood memory, and the charming and multi-faceted Aussie, Jackman, is nothing short of a dream assignment. There are worse things an actor can do than to hang with these megastars for several months in the year’s biggest blockbuster.
“I’m so happy to be asked back for this installment,” Hildebrand says of her super serious, too-cool-for-school role. “I love doing stunts, so I was excited to have everyone see the film and check out all the action. And, yes, Ryan [Reynolds] is so funny, and he got me to crack a few times, but mostly I took it as a challenge to remain serious during the silliness and I harkened back to growing up with three older brothers.”
As Deadpool fans are acutely aware, Hildebrand’s character is a teenage member of the X-Men with the mutant power to detonate atomic bursts from her body. Audiences also learned in the first two installments of the hit franchise that Negasonic Teenage Warhead gained superhuman healing powers in a secret experiment. Now I ask you: Who wouldn’t want that role?
Previously, Hildebrand co-starred with John Cena (another amusing, studly actor) in Playing With Fire as well as the dark comedy, Tragedy Girls, with Alexandra Shipp. She starred in the independent film First Girl I Loved, written and directed by Kerem Sanga, which won an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
But the big screen is hardly the only place Hildebrand slays the game. On television, she starred in all three seasons of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix series Trinkets based on the young adult novel by Kristen ‘Kiwi’ Smith. The show’s plot followed three teenage girls from different corners of the high school cafeteria who find themselves in the same mandated Shoplifter’s Anonymous meeting. Her additional small screen credits include star turns on the hit series’ Lucifer (with yet another handsome and dryly funny leading man, Tom Ellis) and The Exorcist.
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It must be said that the two of your co-stars in your first films—superstars John Cena and Ryan Reynolds—are both funny and talented. Not too shabby a start in Hollywood, right?
Absolutely. John and Ryan are both people I watched on TV growing up! In some ways, it feels like I manifested working with them. They’re both equally hardworking and levelheaded guys. I feel almost like I manifested working with them in some weird way.
Can you tell us some of the subtext you instill in your Deadpool character, Negasonic Teenage Warhead? We know she’s serious and totes cool, what else is lying beneath the surface?
Negasonic has a very vulnerable and sensitive inner self that her attitude and style act as a sort of armor for. She’s extremely independent and harsh because she’s been forced to be from a young age and she’s passionate about protecting the underdogs because she herself has felt like one before. Everyone has an inner child and discovering a new character’s is the most exciting part for me!
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Tell us about the single best day you’ve had on the Deadpool And Wolverine set.
I really wasn’t there for many days but just being able to catch up with everyone and see everyone again was very fun. It had been so long and everyone had grown up so much. Laughing around the table over pizza at work was a dream.
Has there been a role either you’ve missed out on or didn’t read for that in retrospect you felt you’d be perfect for?
Of course there are many roles that I audition for regularly that I would love to be chosen for. And I've always loved the idea of playing Snow White. That being said, I auditioned for a musical a few years ago and I hadn’t auditioned for many prior to that. It made me realize how much fun I might have actually working on one!
Who’s your acting Holy Grail? Meaning, the best actor currently working is whom? For so many of us, it’s Meryl Streep, but there are so many incredible options to choose from today.
Oh man... This feels like such an unfair question because there are so many amazing working actors today. Honestly, almost every actor I’ve ever worked with has inspired me in some way. So as far as people I don’t know, I’ll watch anything Juliette Lewis, Natalie Portman or Nicole Kidman are in. I love Joaquin Phoenix’s work too. I could go on!
How incredible a project was it to write, sing and produce your debut album? Do you think your fans who know you from film and television roles will be surprised by your musical chops?
It was honestly an intimidating experience because it felt so new to me and I was very young at the time. I’m not sure I would call it a debut album because it never really debuted since I felt like I hadn’t really discovered my sound yet. I had a lot of help from a lot of great people along the way though and I’m grateful for that. That being said, I do sing in a few of my roles! So maybe some fans would be surprised. I guess that depends on what they’ve seen.
Tell me a dream acting gig: What is it about and who are your co-stars? The first person you’re thanking moments after winning an Oscar is...
This is a hard one. Maybe like a My Fair Lady movie remake featuring everyone I mentioned above... I don’t know. A girl can dream. And probably God first. Then my dad.
Source: https://www.photobookmagazine.com/features/brianna-hildebrand-is-deadpools-not-so-secret-weapon
Credits:
Talent: Brianna Hildebrand
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer: Mike Ruiz
Interview by Richard Pérez-Feria
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Hair by Matthew Monzon
Makeup by Gianpaolo Ceciliato using NARS Cosmetics for https://www.traceymattingly.com
Fashion Market Assistant: Romi Bachar
Fashion Stylist Intern: Atėnė Asakavičiūtė, Georgia Wallace, Ava Spencer
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine