The Verge: Portia Doubleday

How did you develop your collaboration with Michael Cera?

Michael's pretty cool. He was really patient, and he knew that obviously it was going to be rough at some points. We acted a lot off his style. I mean, he played three different characters. I'd seen some of Michael's films, and I think what's really important in this one is that he has a lot of raw moments that differentiate this from the others. Especially in the end when he says [to Sheeni], "I've done all these things for you." That was when I felt really, really comfortable. Just how raw and real that was made it easy to work with, I guess. There were moments when Miguel was telling me, "Do less! Pull back!" Because I'm very "big," and Michael just isn't. But because Michael is that way, it made it easier -- not to imitate what he does, but get to a place where there's some emotional equality between our characters. I got used to it and adapted to it as the film progressed.

What did that adaptation entail? What did "pulling back" mean for you?

Well, I don't want to contort my eyebrows anymore. Miguel was two seconds away from taping them down. I just always looked concerned. [Doubleday furrows her brow.] "What is this situation? What's going on?"

That's so funny, because your character here is often so cool and unaffected.

I know! I had to struggle with that. This has completely reformed my life -- and not because this is a movie, and I'm acting in it. But because Miguel and Michael worked with me into the night, every night -- well, most nights -- rehearsing. And they're such inspirational artists. Michael has a lot to offer. He wrote a lot, and I was mesmerized by it. I hope someday I can do one-half of what I saw them do.

He wrote a lot?

Miguel and Michael collaborated on a lot of the scenes and rewriting some stuff. [Michael] knew the book and the style pretty well, so it was very easy for him to write some things. But overall, when you're around people who are geniuses at what they do, you just sit there as a sponge.

What there ever a time when Miguel had to ask you to do more? Or push forward, so to speak?

[Shakes head.] It was really hard not to laugh. Michael's advice was, "Just think in your head, 'This is not funny.'"And that just made me laugh harder.

What's next?

Well, I quit school, which my father in particular wasn't especially happy about. But I realized after this experience that there's so much I need to know. It isn't a matter of doing another film; it's a matter of being prepared to do another film. All the classes I missed, I went back and finished them all. My theater teacher gave me a D because I missed his class to film a movie. I had straight A's and a D. It's the only D I've gotten in my entire life! It's like, "I'll come and share with the class!" Anyway, I enrolled in some classes for this semester. I'll be doing school for a while, but acting is what I want to do for the rest of my life. If an amazing project comes along that I'm obsessed with then... [Shrugs] Just as long as I can be creative and continue to educate myself, I'm fine. I'm good.

[Portia Doubleday photo: Jim Ross/Getty Images]

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