Interview: Hunter Schafer Talks Playing Tigris & Her New Movie, ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’
Hunter Schafer stars in Lionsgate’s new movie, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Playing Coriolanus Snow’s cousin, Tigris, we got the chance to hear from the star regarding her new movie.
During the chat, Schafer talked if she was a fan of the series prior to joining the movie, playing Tigris, how she would win The Hunger Games, and so much more. Check out what she had to say below.
On a scale of one to ten, how big of a fan she was of the original books and movies: “I would say probably a nine to a 10 as far as fandom-ness goes. I read the books in middle school and was deeply obsessed, and then saw the first movie and got obsessed with the costumes. And I made my own literally Capitol person costume for Halloween one year. I was drawing my own graphic novels of the books. It was a real deep obsession for a while, so it feels really full-circle to be here now doing this.
On what excited her about playing Tigris: “I do feel like if I were to play anybody in this book, it was supposed to be her. I think I feel aligned with how she sort of moves throughout the world and uses fashion as an armor. And I also just admire her values towards family and family first. And kind of operating on the fact that she’ll do anything for them. That’s something that I want to stay aligned with throughout my life.”
On whether she took any inspiration from Eugenie Bondurant’s performance of Tigris in Mockingjay – Part 2: “I distinctly remember her character in the books. And then seeing that character because she was so striking in the Mockingjay movie. But clearly, there’s a pretty big jump from this movie to that Tigris. And I’m kind of thankful for that because it allowed us to create our own take on this Tigris. On a visual level and on a character level, it allowed so many of the literal layers of stuff that she’s accumulated by the time we meet her in Mockingjay to let those fall away for this. And kind of just bring a bit of myself into this Tigris. And but also, having the resource of the book, which is a blessing.”
On what music helped prepare her for playing Tigris: “I do remember for some scenes we had to do I had the headphones out. I think there was one where I had to get emotional and “Sparks” by Coldplay always”.
On her own personal strategy to win The Hunger Games:“I’m gonna go with camouflage, because I have a little experience with paint, so I feel like I could go Peeta on them and be a rock or something.”
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is now in theaters!
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate