Nearly three decades after the release of the psychological drama Girl, Interrupted, Elisabeth Moss is providing a rare, candid look back at the 1990s cult classic behind-the-scenes dynamics. In a new interview on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, the Handmaid’s Tale star admitted that as a teenager on set, she found the presence of co-star Angelina Jolie to be “incredibly intimidating.” The revelation highlights the intense method-driven atmosphere that helped earn Jolie her first Academy Award.
According to Moss, the social structure on the 1999 set was split into two distinct factions that mirrored the on-screen rivalry between the lead characters. “There were two kind of camps. There was the Winona Ryder camp and the Angelina Jolie camp,” Moss explained. She noted that while the divide occurred off-camera, it was heavily influenced by the script’s friction between Ryder’s Susanna and Jolie’s charismatic sociopath, Lisa.
Moss, who was only 15 or 16 at the time of filming, found herself firmly in the “Winona camp,” describing the Jolie group as the “cool girls” of the production. “I was so intimidated by the Angelina Jolie camp,” Moss shared. “I had no thoughts of ever being able to be in that camp. I was definitely not cool enough.”
For Moss, who played the burn victim Polly “Torch” Clark, the experience of being on a set with established heavyweights felt surreal. She described the star-studded cast—which also included Brittany Murphy, Clea DuVall, and Jared Leto—as “being dropped into The Wizard of Oz.”
• The Pressure of Youth: Moss recalled that her mother still accompanied her to the set, further emphasizing the age gap between her and the “grown-woman drama” of the older cast members.
• The Intimidation Factor: While she clarifies that Jolie was “lovely” in their interactions years later, the 1999 version of Jolie carried a “badass” energy that Moss felt she couldn’t approach.
• The Method Atmosphere: Jolie’s Oscar-winning performance as Lisa Rowe was famously intense, and Moss’s comments suggest that the actress’s dedication to the role created a palpable gravity on set.
Despite the teenage intimidation, Moss emphasized that there is no lingering animosity between her and the Maleficent star. “I’ve spoken to Angelina since then, and she’s lovely,” Moss said, though she admitted she has never actually brought up the “camps” to Jolie. “I’m sure she would have no idea what I was talking about anyway,” Moss joked.
The 1990s cult classic behind-the-scenes stories continue to fascinate audiences because of the film’s lasting impact on depictions of mental health in cinema. Moss’s reflection adds another layer to the film’s legacy, showing how the raw, competitive energy between the actresses translated into the high-stakes tension seen on screen.
As Moss prepares for the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale and her first journey into motherhood, looking back at Girl, Interrupted serves as a reminder of her long-standing roots in prestige drama. For fans of the film, knowing that the “cool girl” vibe of Lisa Rowe was just as real behind the scenes as it was on camera only adds to the movie’s enduring mystique.
