Bryce Dallas Howard Based Her Performance as ‘Victoria’ on Rachelle LeFevre’s Portrayal of the Vampire

74 Comments December 19, 2009 by LMCullen Filed Under: Bryce Dallas Howard, Victoria

MTV’s Larry Carroll has a new interview with Victoria replacement Bryce Dallas Howard. In the interview they discuss the character Victoria, and how Bryce aimed to stay true to Rachelle LeFevre’s Victoria -

MTV: It’s no secret that you entered the franchise under less-than-ideal circumstances. What kinds of things did the other actors say and do in those early days?

Bryce Dallas Howard: What’s so great about that group of people is that they feel so genuinely blessed by this experience. Just by the response of the fans. But they’ve remained so grounded, and their friendships are genuine. I just felt really, really fortunate to get to meet all these wonderful people.

MTV: Tell us about your take on Victoria, as opposed to Rachelle’s. What will be different? What will stay the same?

Howard: Victoria is a wonderful character. … It’s awfully juicy to play a villain. To play someone that’s just evil; Victoria is evil. And I think with “Eclipse,” it ends with quite a huge battle, a big spectacle, and it’s very scary. It’s a very, very scary book and very terrifying set of circumstances, and I think the Cullens are in jeopardy in a way that they never really have been before. It was a really, really exciting world to be a part of, because it was so scary and the stakes were so high.

MTV: Would you say you studied Rachelle’s performance, to factor it into your own?

Howard: Well, I have seen “Twilight” innumerable times, innumerable. And yes, of course, I saw “New Moon” before doing “Eclipse,” because the continuity of the character is critical, and Rachelle had done a really exquisite job creating Victoria. It was really important to base all of my work on that. She set a very high bar, and I wanted to reach for that.

MTV: In your mind, what were the critical elements of Victoria that needed to be maintained from the book to the script to Rachelle to yourself?

Howard: Well, the visual continuity of the character Victoria is really important, because such a distinctive character had been created, one that the fans and audience really connected to. She’s described perfectly in the book. And that’s really important to everybody, that there’s an authenticity to bringing these characters to life that’s not really an interpretation, just a true representation of what’s been written on the page.

I will say one thing about Bryce: She is very cautious in her interviews. It sucks that Rachelle was replaced (everyone knows how I feel about that) BUT t the replacement was going to happen (as Summit wanted this), so lets be happy that it IS someone who is decent. She seems friendly, caring, and pretty down-to-Earth. I really want to give her a chance.

You can check out the rest of the interview over at MTV.com!

Tags: Bryce Dallas Howard, Victoria

Category: Bryce Dallas Howard, Victoria

My_brand_of_Leg_Hitch

Here here (or is it hear hear?) I agree. It's too early to judge her work as Victoria, we haven't seen any of it.

It sucks that Summit and Rachelle couldn't work this out, but the didn't and the movie was made, and a Victoria of some sort was needed so… BDH is it. I think it'll be ok. We're all just attached to Rachelle, because she rocks; but that doesn't mean BDH sucks, or will suck as Victoria.

BTW, nice name! ch ch ch ch CHERRY BOMB!
My_brand_of_Leg_Hitch

Welcome again and you'll love it here. Nice to meet you wolfiexx
karen

It would have been so amazing to see Rachelle fight in the vampire battle against the Cullens with Riley. It would have been so amazing to see Rpatz rip her head off like in the book. Bryce, not so amazing…. boring….. sorry but I'm not alone in that thought.
Miami Coven Cherry Bomb

Yeah you would had said the same thing about anyone else who replaced Rachelle, let me ask you this, if Rachelle cared so much about the franchise, why the Hale, did she take another job knowing, that Eclipse was going to start filming days before her new movie began? 10 days? so everyone had to wait for Miss Rachelle than? I don't think so both Rob, Kristen and Taylor had projects that did not interfer with their Twilight duties, each filmed their movies during the summer but oh not Rachelle, if she had been dedicated as some “fans” claimed than she should had turned down the other filmed and finished her Twilight duties, she didn't well that is too bad. The company was not going to bleed out money waiting for her.
karen

Excellant point, if it is true. Rachelle comes across as too intelligent to have played Summit that friviously. It seems Summit really went after Bryce for some reason. Rachelle was genuinely shocked over the dismissal of her so I believe she was respecting the job greatly and got low balled anyway. But ur are probably right I may say any other red head is boring other than Rachelle cause I cant think of any big name that would be good. I understand that an unknown name would have been too big a risk. We will never know all the facts but Rachelle was amazing and it is a great loss.
wolfiexx

i think so too!

and nice to meet you too!
rpattzgirl

Who cares? As long as she gets her head ripped off by Edward it don't matter to me who it is…

yes I liked RL too, but really, she's not the focal point of the movie or the saga for that matter..
It's Bella, Edward & Jacob…so lets just wait and see Eclipse and see what happens…if BDH sucks, then we all have reason to complain.
TeamRotation (Meg1)

I'm hit and miss with Bryce's acting. Saw her in The Village first.. and I liked her in that. Lady in the Water was a weird movie, so maybe that's why I thought she was only okay. Spiderman 3.. didn't particularly care for her in that.

I think she sounds rather intelligent, though and according to Kristen she can be fierce in this role, so that's a plus on her side! I will miss Rachelle of course.. she really just had the looks and the personality, I think, but I'm certainly willing to give Bryce a chance.. and not just b/c I don't have a choice. haha.
ICE_Can_Burn *Team Sethward*

in a way i completely agree with u…i remember when this first happened and the first thing that i thought was 'why would she plan another project so close to the twilight filming schedule? Was this something planned way in advanced? Or did she not believe that the series would create this kind of buzz for ALL the actors involved…Is she a principal in the new movie shes in? Cuz if we find out that she's a lil conceited that couldve played a part…Also in a way I get Summit…they figure if our principals are ready to go and they committed why cant u?' I dont know…I would love to hear the full REAL story…from an objective POV…but i dont think its possible…So while I LUV rachelle as Victoria (her intensity is phenomenal) I think we should all be fair and give bryce a shot…its hard when youre playing such a 'well described' character who came to life on another actors performance…filling those shoes is gonna be hard…but I think of it this way…we give her a chance its only fair…if shes great…than we get to see Victoria go out in a blaze of purple smoke…being the bada$$ that she is…if she sucks?…well who cares…Edward is gonna chase her down and pop her head off so quick her hair trembles on the ground…so no worries…for the ppl that hate her performance…she wont make it to BD…lol
Mandelina

Hmmm…there's ONE thing that bugs me though. The fact that Bryce turned down Twilight to begin with, but now wants a piece of the cake when it's this big success! The difference between her and Rachelle is that Rachelle was IN LOVE with her work and soooo grateful for the fans etc. I would miss Rachelle either way, but I would have had more respect for Bryce if I hadn't known this fact about her.
Mandelina

Hmmm…there's ONE thing that bugs me though. The fact that Bryce turned down Twilight to begin with, and now she wants a piece of the cake when it's this big success! I would miss Rachelle either way, but I would have had more respect for Bryce if I hadn't known this about her.
Majnona (H.N)

I don't think I will ever get over the fact that she replaced Rachelle
tlg_BELLERisALIVE_epicpotty

AHHHHH i am at work and all i have is disqus and i am stuck here until 11 lol…. maybe you will see this!
JenJen81

I'm NOT watching the dang movies for flippen Victoria. I DIDN”T read the books for flippen Victoria. Give me my ROMANCE between Edward and Bella and I will be a very happy girl. This is not worth the sweat off my back.
“Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.”
http://twitter.com/_Roxie_ Maria Jackson

Wow, she didn't even answer the first two questions! She's being a little TOO cautious
TotallyTeamEdward

I agree. But i swear that girl is my lookalike!!!!! Seriously!!!!!! I woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and thought
'Heeeeeeeeeyy… I look like B.Dallas Howard!!!!!!!!!!!' LOL
TotallyTeamEdward

Oh, and there are lotsa cool polls 4 u guys 2 check out, look on j-14.com, go to where it says 'polls' and click on it. Then click on 'newest.' Look for the username 'misscullengirl' and check out my polls!!!!

….. plz
robfan1st

She's a good actress…she'll do a good job playing Victoria.

However…I still can't get the image of Victoria running through the woods and the wolves chasing after her…while Hearing Damage plays…Rachelle rocked.
*PB*TeamStopTheHateOnBDH*

LoL, I just saw this! Now you're at church and I'm about to venture out to the stores again. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
*PB*TeamStopTheHateOnBDH*

Bryce had just had a baby when they were casting Twilight, that is why she originally turned it down.

Lets not be so quick to take crazy lady CH's words to heart.
*PB*TeamStopTheHateOnBDH*

LoL, I just saw this! Now you're at church and I'm about to venture out to the stores again. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
*PB*TeamStopTheHateOnBDH*

Bryce had just had a baby when they were casting Twilight, that is why she originally turned it down.

Lets not be so quick to take crazy lady CH's words to heart.
kia11614

I don't like her SHE IS UGLY
kia11614

j-14.com ????