Drive-Away Dolls Stars On Championing LGBTQ Characters In A Raunchy Comedy

Drive-Away Dolls is a raunchy road trip comedy centered around best friends Jamie and Marian. Jamie is a free spirit who lacks inhibitions, while Marian is more reserved and could do with a bit of recklessness. The duo set off on a spontaneous road trip to Tallahassee, but when they accidentally run afoul of inept criminals, they set off on a wild adventure to escape danger.

Drive-Away Dolls is directed by Ethan Coen who also co-wrote the script with Tricia Cooke. Drive-Away Dolls stars a powerhouse cast led by Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, and Matt Damon. Coen and Cooke also serve as producers, along with Robert Graf, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner.

Screen Rant interviewed Drive-Away Dolls stars Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Beanie Feldstein. Feldstein explains why this movie is so important and it was so meaningful for her to play Sukie. Qualley and Viswanathan joked about creating their chemistry and Viswanathan shared her excitement about joining the MCU in Thunderbolts.

Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan & Beanie Feldstein Talk Drive-Away Dolls

Screen Rant: Drive Away Dolls feels like a throwback in a lot of ways and that wall dildo scene had me rolling. Margaret, first question for you. Can you talk about being a part of a movie that the creators have been working on for over a decade and basically had to wait for the world to catch up to the movie? And what were your first thoughts on reading this fantastic script by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cook?

Margaret Qualley: I was blown away. I love the script so much. I auditioned for both parts. I auditioned for Mary and didn’t get it. Tried again, got Jamie. So I was so excited to be a part of this movie, and I’m just a huge fan. It was one of the most special movie experiences of my life.

That’s incredible. Now, Geraldine, can you talk about Marian’s journey of self-exploration, where you see her go throughout the course of the film? And what excited you the most about creating the chemistry and dynamics between Jamie and Marian, with Margaret?

Geraldine Viswanathan: Ooh. I mean, it was very, what’s not to love here?

Margaret Qualley: What excited you?

Geraldine Viswanathan: Working with Margaret was just so fun and easy, and it all just came very naturally to us, I think .

Margaret Qualley: Some of the best times of your life.

Geraldine Viswanathan: Yeah, kind of.

Margaret Qualley: Some of those moments that you’ll just never, never forget.

Geraldine Viswanathan: And take with me.

Margaret Qualley: Everywhere you go.

Geraldine Viswanathan: Everywhere I go and yeah. Really, really special. I love their dynamic. I think they have something to learn from each other. They go on a little journey together and Jamie kind of shakes her loose as a good friend does, and maybe more.

Beanie, you play the badass Cop Sukie who’s going through a breakup with Jamie. You’re a part of the LGBTQ community, and this is an LGBTQ character written by an LGBTQ writer, and that’s way more rare than it should be. What does being a part of this project mean for you, and what attracted you to Sukie?

Beanie Feldstein: So many things. Yes, I completely agree. I think the genius of having three queer women be the center of this film and have the movie be entirely about their sexuality and not at all about their sexuality at the same time. I mean their own desires, but not about being gay or being queer. I think that that is really just so rare. It’s so rare that you get to see queer people just have fun and silliness and raunch on screen.

Normally the stories are very message focused or dense or dramatic, which is very important. But sometimes we also have fun and let loose and go on wild rides, and that’s important to showcase as well. It’s actually the first queer character I’ve ever played, and that was really exciting for me and really moving. And to play such an impossibly angry human being was incredibly fun and empowering.

That is incredible. Now, Geraldine, switching gears for a second. You’ll be joining the Marvel Universe soon with Thunderbolts. What can fans expect from that film, and what did you take from this project that you would like to take into that experience?

Geraldine Viswanathan: Ooh, well, there’s not much that I can say. It all came together very quickly, but I’m so excited to join the universe. I’m joining such a cool cast and movie. I’m really, really, really looking forward to it. And what am I taking from this? I don’t know. I think I, oh God, just bringing … I don’t know. I’m going to get all the dumb questions out of the way, straight out the gate or something.

Margaret Qualley: What?.

Geraldine Viswanathan: I feel like, no, just in preparing for it, I feel like I’m just going to go to sleep right now.

Margare Qualleyt: Look at my little superhero.

This comedy caper follows Jamie, an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.

Source: Screen Rant Plus