Interview: Julia Stiles Returns to Discuss Her Directorial Debut ‘Wish You Were Here’

Julia Stiles is an actress I’ve always enjoyed, so when I knew she was making her filmmaking debut, I was very curious. Wish You Were Here could have been a film she starred in once upon a time, but now, it’s a showcase for her abilities as a director. The movie is very solid, with Stiles showing that she’s much more than just an actress. I spoke to her previously here, but today, we’re talking about her writing and directing debut.

In my review of the film (here), I had the following to say about Stiles’ writing and directing:

Julia Stiles writes and directs this adaptation of the Renée Carlino novel with supreme confidence. She knows how much the book means to her and is determined to have that rub off on viewers. The film manages to be very cute when it’s putting the charm on, while never feeling overly manipulative when the heavy drama kicks in. Stiles clearly was paying attention over the years. Whatever she makes next, count me in.

Below, you can see my conversation with Stiles. I was very keen to hear about why this was the time to make her filmmaking debut, which she was happy to get into. We really got along, so the conversation flows well, as you’ll find out. Stiles has a real future behind the camera, so this is more than just a calling card, but even in terms of that, shows off her directing chops. She’s got the goods. Wish You Were Here is out now, so if you give it a shot, you’ll see what I mean.

Here now is my interview with Wish You Were Here filmmaker Julia Stiles. Enjoy:

Wish You Were Here is in theaters now!