Dame Helen Mirren revealed a particular fondness for props, especially knives and guns, which feature in her new film, A Talent for Murder. The Academy Award winner stars alongside Alden Ehrenreich in the movie, which is an adaptation of Joanna Murray-Smith’s play Switzerland. The film centers on a fictionalized account of the life of Patricia Highsmith, the celebrated author known for creating the character Tom Ripley.
Highsmith, a figure often described as eccentric and controversial, is depicted in the film as a woman with a fascination for weaponry. Ehrenreich's character, Edward Ridgeway, a representative from a New York publishing house, gifts Highsmith a knife early in the narrative, which she utilizes throughout the film. When asked about her comfort with the prop, Mirren expressed her enjoyment.
"I loved it," Mirren stated. "The knives, the gun, there’s nothing like a good prop, you know. We actors, we love our props."
Ehrenreich then inquired if Mirren collected knives, to which she responded, "I do love knives. Yes, I do. I don't exactly collect them." She elaborated on a childhood fascination, recalling a knife shop near her bus stop during her school days in England. "I used to just love standing there, looking at all these beautiful knives. I do find knives very beautiful — the handle, the balance, the steel — I am fascinated with knives."
Beyond her affinity for props, Mirren cited a strong script and the challenge of portraying Highsmith as her primary motivations for taking on the role. Her preparation involved researching the reclusive author, though available material was scarce. Mirren found limited, yet invaluable, footage of Highsmith, including a protracted interview for British television and a later clip that proved particularly helpful for her portrayal.
Ehrenreich, who plays both Ridgeway and the fictionalized Tom Ripley within the film's narrative, discussed his approach to the iconic character. While many actors have previously portrayed Ripley, Ehrenreich focused on early interpretations. "The only one I went and watched again was Purple Noon," he said, referring to the 1960 film starring Alain Delon as Ripley.
Ehrenreich explained that Highsmith herself favored Delon’s performance. "When I was researching this, that was the one that Highsmith really loved, so I wanted to see, ‘Okay well if, if the Alain Delon version was sort of what she had in her head, and the version of Ripley I'm playing in this is certainly through Highsmith's imagination,’ so I was curious about seeing that." Mirren concurred with Ehrenreich's assessment of Delon's appearance, adding, "So beautiful. He’s so gorgeous, yes."
A Talent for Murder is currently in theaters.