Why Mia Goth Was Terrified Filming Slashing Movie Pearl

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Mia Goth, who stars in Pearl, was reportedly terrified while shooting the slasher film.

But it wasn’t the plot or the horrific scenes that made her scared. It was actually her monologue that frightened her while in production.

Mia Goth as Pearl in the 2022 slasher film PearlMia Goth as Pearl in the 2022 slasher film Pearl (Credit: A24)

She told W Magazine that she was “really terrified to shoot that because [she] never went to film school.” The English actress, whose real name is Mia Gypsy Mello da Silva Goth, added that she “didn’t have any tools to gear [herself] up to something like that.”

The monologue in question is where she admits the terrible things she’s done to her sister-in-law. It’s a remarkable performance that straddles the line between emotional and horrifying.

Mia Goth also stars as Maxine / Pearl in the 2022 slasher film X, which was secretly shot back-to-back with the prequel film PearlMia Goth also stars as Maxine / Pearl in the 2022 slasher film X, which was secretly shot back-to-back with the prequel film Pearl (Credit: A24)

To prepare, Mia and director Ti West turned to Michael Fassbender’s monologue in Steve McQueen’s Hunger. They wrote their own version and shot the scene at the end, which “was a great move,” according to Mia.

She explained that “the emotional turbulence Pearl had gone through up until that point, and the intensity of what that shoot required from everyone, helped and informed the monologue that came that day.”

Pearl is the prequel to X, which follows aspiring porn star Maxine Minx and her friends as they try to shoot an adult film.

Mia Goth as Pearl in the 2022 slasher film PearlMia Goth as Pearl in the 2022 slasher film Pearl (Credit: A24)

In Pearl, Mia Goth plays a rebellious young woman with German immigrant parents and a husband serving in World War I. She longs to be in the movies, but she is also mentally unstable with murderous tendencies. This film serves as the origin story of the villain in X.

During the Toronto International Film Festival, it was announced that MaXXXine, a sequel to X, is already in production. Mia Goth is set to play the final girl in the last film of the series.

The 28-year-old actress is having a pretty good year. Her latest film, Pearl, premiered at the Venice Film Festival to positive reviews.

She also rekindled her relationship with Transformers actor Shia LaBeouf, who credits her for saving his life. The couple are raising a baby daughter named Isabel, who was born in March 2022.

Mia Goth is back with on-again, off-again partner Shia LaBeouf, who credits her for saving his lifeMia Goth is back with on-again, off-again partner Shia LaBeouf, who credits her for saving his life (Credit: INFphoto)

Mia Goth seems committed to her “Italian mourning widow” aesthetic for her Pearl promotional tour. During this year’s Venice Film Festival, she was clad in head-to-toe black with pieces from Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda.

The X actress attended the photocall looking every bit the black widow in a black corset dress. Mia accessorized with a headscarf, sheer gloves, and stockings.

She completed her look with black pointy-toe pumps and Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, which are perfect for hiding the day’s sins.

Mia Goth looking like an Italian black widow in a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda corset dress and pointy-toe pumpsMia Goth looking like an Italian black widow in a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda corset dress and pointy-toe pumps (Credit: Alberto Terenghi / IPA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

As for the premiere, Mia turned to the same designer and donned a beautiful black velvet gown with cut-out detailing. She kept the sheer gloves and swept her hair up in a sleek updo for a fierce look.

Mia Goth wearing a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda black velvet gown at the 79th Venice Film Festival premiere of PearlMia Goth wearing a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda black velvet gown at the 79th Venice Film Festival premiere of Pearl on September 3, 2022 (Credit: Aurore Marechal / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

For this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Mia Goth amped up the drama. She wore another Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda creation, which was perfect for the theme she’s going for during the promotional circuit.

Mia Goth wearing a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda black lace dress with a lace veil at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival premiere of PearlMia Goth wearing a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda black lace dress and pointy-toe pumps at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Pearl on September 12, 2022 (Credit: Captive Camera / Cover Images)

Her black lace dress was worn over a black silk bodysuit and styled with a dramatic lace veil. Her beauty look consisted of blonde eyebrows and dark red lips for more drama.

A dark red manicure, black stockings, and a black pointy-toe pumps rounded out her “Italian widow” look.

Mia Goth amped up the drama with a black lace veilMia Goth amped up the drama with a black lace veil (Credit: Captive Camera / Cover Images)

Watch the film’s trailer for a tease of Mia Goth’s remarkable performance as Pearl.