Ahead of its April 12th release, Simone Joy Jones and Nicole Richie, stars of the new “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead,” discuss the film.
Interview: Simone Joy Jones and Nicole Richie “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead”
Nicole Richie and Simone Joy Jones star in the reimagining of the beloved 1991 comedy of the same name. The film follows 17-year-old Tanya Crandell (Jones) whose summer dreams of Europe are dashed when her mom jets off to Thailand. Stuck at home with her siblings, Tanya lands a job with the ambitious Rose (Richie) while navigating a blossoming romance – all amidst the unexpected death of her babysitter. In this interview, they discuss their approach to the characters and the film’s themes.
Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead: A Fresh Take on a Classic
Richie, a big fan of the original, talks about bringing her own spin to the iconic role of Rose. She acknowledges the character’s established status and focuses on capturing her spirit while infusing it with her own take. Richie highlights the challenges of juggling business ownership, relationships, and employee management, all while being observed by a teenager.
“Well, I can’t do I can’t take Rose and just do it better. That was impossible. I am also a diehard of the original, and Rose is an icon. So, you know, it was really just thinking about what I could bring to that character and really keep the spirit of her, but bring myself into that and like, you know, put myself in a position of being a business owner and just trying to, you know, to run my business, to keep my business afloat, to try and be in some sort of a relationship and be kind to your employees and to be nurturing to them, and just, you know, really take all of that on and then also do all of that and know that the audience is watching you under Tanya’s lens. And just like what a teenager would think of someone that’s just like in their head all the time.”
Jones, new to the story, discusses her research process. She delved into the original film before her audition and fell in love with it. She emphasizes the excitement of landing the lead role, especially considering the talent already attached to the project.
“I’m an actor who researches everything that I could ever touch,” Simone Joy Jones said. “You put your all into auditions. That’s like your full-time job before you have a job. So I was like, I need the script. And so once I found the script, I was like, my God, there’s this whole other world that happens.
“And so before I was cast, I definitely watched the movie and I fell in love with it as I hear so many people do. That just got me so excited. You know, it’s like when you have, my gosh, when you’re an actor, you are the last, like, piece of the puzzle that they put in. And so even when you have all of the pieces, there’s like, there’s a there’s a original audition and then there’s a callback, there’s a callback, and then you fall in love with it to the point where you’re like, I hope I get it. You first. You’re like, whatever. Maybe I’ll get it. That’s such a cool thing. And then you watch it again.
“You’re like, Wow, that would be so cool. Christina Applegate did such a great job. Like, my gosh, Nicole Richie is a part of it. I hope to get it and then to really get it. It was just such a surreal experience and it was just so beautiful to be a part of.”
Fashion takes center stage in the film
Both actresses had a say in their characters’ wardrobes. Richie describes Rose’s style as powerful and colorful, reflecting her personality and drive. Jones, referencing the iconic looks of the original, talks about capturing a similar effortless and cool vibe for Tanya, while incorporating the theme of thrifting to create unique outfits.
“I definitely had a hand in what Rose was going to wear,” Richie said. “You know, again, I was thinking about this being viewed, you know, from a teenager’s perspective. And so, you know, I think that when teenagers look at adults, they’re like, wow, they’re in such adult clothes. And like, what does that mean? So it you know, for Rose, it’s power suits, it’s strong colors. It’s like the blues and the reds and the greens. You know, it just felt like very much an extension of just who she is as a person and trying to keep her energy at a level ten. And so that’s kind of where we went with her wardrobe.
Jones stated, “For Tanya, the original has such iconic looks for fashion that you’re like it, It’s just so effortless and cool. And so it was really important to me working with the costume designer of like, how do we capture some of that feeling, you know? But it’s really different with Tanya in this movie because everything is thrift. Also, everything for Tanya’s looks are thrift, and that’s kind of a theme of the movie of just making and taking what’s there and marrying it off of what you think you should be. And so I love having this idea that everything is through Tanya’s lens of like, yeah, yeah. With that and that and that. Okay, I’m a Boston league, okay? I’m, I’m an assistant now. I’m like, yeah, I can move my legs and do the QED report in that. That’d be great.”
With its focus on family, responsibility, and personal style, “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” promises to be a fun and relatable film for a new generation.
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