Sofia Coppola has explained why casting young actresses was key to The Virgin Suicides (1999), at a time when teenage roles were often played by women in their late twenties or thirties.
Speaking at a BFI London Film Festival session on Thursday (9 October), the Oscar-winning director said casting actresses closer to their characters’ ages made the film more relatable.
Asked about the film’s famous line, “You’ve never been a 13-year-old girl”, Coppola reflected on the scene’s lasting impact and the importance of having young actresses portray the teenage characters.
Coppola also directed Lost in Translation (2003) and Marie Antoinette (2006), which marks its 20th anniversary this year.
