Natalie Dormer on the Role of Cressida

Natalie Dormer talked with ScreenRant about her role as Cressida in Mockingjay Part 1.

So the first thing I thought was very interesting about your character in this film was even though she exists in the source material, I think one of the most pivotal things about how we receive her onscreen has to do with your mannerisms about how you approach all these things – like the propaganda films. I know in our culture right now it’s such a…I mean you have a film like Nightcrawler that kind of looks at the darker side of when everybody is taking a camera and filming these tragedies. It was very pivotal to see how you depicted that, because the wrong way you could slide into something like you’re a TMZ producer or something like that. Can you just talk about where you drew inspiration from for this character, and how to kind of depict her onscreen in the right way?
Natalie Dormer:  Sure. There is a moral line to walk when you have that responsibility of packaging and spinning a message. The interesting thing to know about Cressida is she has a genuine political conviction to overthrow tyrannical, repressive government of Snow.
So it’s almost irrelevant to her to begin with whether Katniss Everdeen wants to be or can be the Mockingjay. The revolution needs a Mockingjay. And so, Cressida wants to do that for her home. She wants to do that for the populous.
If you are asking me about general spin:  it’s everywhere. A camera never gets pointed anywhere without a subjective angle being taken. It’s, at its height, most important when there is a war cause going on. I drew a lot of my inspiration from just watching a lot of footage. There is a lot of stuff happening around the world right now that we see on the news. And even the way that it’s portrayed in London, where I’m from, in contrast to how it’s portrayed here in The States, or in France, or in German news, where we also shotMockingjay. Even if you are talking about Western democracies, there is still an angle and a position taken that is reflective of that country’s interests, of that populous’s interests.
So, for me, I love those big themes that don’t talk down to an adolescent audience to think about that stuff, because anyone with a smartphone now can take a video and send a message out. So we all have to be responsible and think about what we are doing.
That was a really, really long answer to your question, but I hope you can cut that into some sense.

VIDEO: 'The Hanging Tree' Official TV SPOT

Lionsgate put together this beautiful little tv spot featuring Jennifer Lawrence's rendition of 'The Hanging Tree'. You can watch the tv spot below the break!

'Hanging Tree' #4 Single

The Hanging Tree, performed by Jennifer Lawrence and tuned by the Lumineers for the Mockingjay score, has charted as #4 on the itunes singles chart!

Mockingjay Part 1 - Staff Review

In summary, the first edition of Mockingjay wasn't nearly as exciting as Catching Fire, but it wasn't as poorly constructed as the first movie. With the portion of the source material that was given, Francis Lawrence certainly did his job.

There were some distinct inconsistencies in regards to the book. Coin was portrayed in a far too sympathetic light, it didn't carry the same 'texture' as the first portion of the book. Effie, however, was a welcome diversion. 

Jennifer Lawrence's acting has greatly improved. She carried herself beautifully as Katniss. Her rendition of the Hanging Tree was truly breathtaking. Josh Hutcherson's scenes were heartbreaking. Natalie Dormer played Cressida in a brilliant light. The dream sequence (in which Katniss imagines Peeta in Thirteen) was so adorably tragic.

There were some slow moments, of course, and it probably would have been better for the movie to end with Peeta's hands around Katniss's neck, like the chapter did in the books, but it was an overall decent adaption. 

That being said, the movie definitely left me with an empty feeling. Although, I suppose that was the point.

(P.S.) There was some bad-ass tree climbing in this film.

VIDEOS: Mockingjay Interviews

You can watch some new Mockingjay Part One interviews below the break. This includes a cute cast interview (Josh, Jen, & Liam) and Elisbath Banks discussing her role as Effie Trinket.

Get More: Movie Trailers, Celebrity News

MASTERPOST: New Mockingjay TV Spots

Lionsgate has released a slew of new tv spots including never before seen clips. You can watch all of them below the break.

Mockingjay Premiere (Livestream)

You can livestream the Mockingjay premiere below thanks to Yahoo!

(SPOILERS) Mockingjay B-Roll Footage

The great people at Quarter Quell posted some great Mockingjay B-Roll footage. Spoilers! Watch at your own risk.

New Clip 'Katniss Meeting the Crew'

Moviepilot has released this exclusive clip titled 'Katniss Meeting the Crew'. Jennifer looks gorgeous. Also, our first real look at Natalie Dormer in Mockingjay. Watch in HD here.

eTalk to Air Exclusive Mockingjay Interviews

Canadian program eTalk will be airing some new Mockingjay Part 1 interviews starting tomorrow. They've even put out some sneak peaks of the cast interviews!

Beautiful New Still of Katniss Hunting

This beautiful still of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss has been released. She appears to be hunting, so it must be from the trips above ground (possibly with Gale) during her time in District 13?

More Mockingjay Stills (Prim, Finnick, etc.)

Lionsgate has released even more Mockingjay stills. These new photos include shots of Katniss, Finnick, and even Prim!

Watch 'Teens React' to Mockingjay Part One

The popular youtube series 'Teens React' has posted this adorable video of their cast reacting to the Mockingjay Part One trailer. Watch below the break. 

New Mockingjay Stills

Check out these new Mockingjay stills! Doesn't President Snow look so...regal?