Jillian Bell Tells Us How "Brittany Runs a Marathon" Nails "What It’s Like to Be a Woman"
"It’s very important, as a woman, as a human being, that we all talk about how difficult it can be sometimes, this journey."
Jillian Bell knew Brittany Runs a Marathon would be a challenge from the title alone.
"I wasn’t really a runner," she tells Student Edge.
At least she had the right attitude about it: "This movie came to me and 'run' was in the title, so I thought, 'Maybe I should investigate that?'"
Bell took up running in preparation for the performance in the American comedy, losing 13kg before shooting began and five further kilos during production.
She says it helped her connect to the character of Brittany, a floundering and overweight young woman who discovers her self-worth while training for the New York City marathon (based on the experience of writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo’s friend, also named Brittany).
It marks the first major leading role for the beloved comedy favourite who has injected life into series like Workaholics and movies including 22 Jump Street, Office Christmas Party and Rough Night, where she's usually the unpredictable wildcard.
"I was looking for something that had more dramatic elements to it," she admits.
"My manager sent me this script and she said, 'I think this is something you’ve been looking for.' It’s a leading role and it’s got something I could relate to, and I just loved the messages of the film, and I could stand behind it. So I thought, if [Colaizzo] allows me to be in the film, I will do everything I can to do [Brittany] justice, and I was immediately protective of her and I thought that was a good sign.
"It was something I was equally excited and scared about, and whenever that’s the case, I think it’s something worth pursuing."
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Those nerves subsided once filming began, Bell says in self-deprecating fashion.
"It usually takes me a couple days in the shoot to feel like, 'Okay, you’re not the worst person who’s ever attempted to perform.'"
But it turns out that taking on a high-profile leading role and losing 40 pounds would only be part of the test of Brittany Runs a Marathon. Bell knew the world would scrutinise her body, especially while facing a press junket where her weight-loss would take center stage.
"I’ve dealt with body issues my whole life," she says.
"For me, this film was the first script that I’ve read that really nailed what it’s like to be a woman; to be someone who is not a size zero. And it was really talking about figuring out your own values system in a world that doesn’t always say, 'Hey we think you can do anything that you put your mind to.' I know what that’s like and I thought this was an honest depiction of that."
Still, she has complicated feelings towards the way her own body, rather than that of Brittany (the character), is being discussed.
"I feel like I knew when I read the first five pages that if I take on something like this, I’m going to have to do a lot of press where I have to speak openly about my relationship with my body," she says.
"Everyone’s relationship with their body is so incredibly personal. It’s an interesting relationship; it’s one that we’re in for our whole lives and some people really struggle with it. Some people are fine with it. For me, I’ve had days where I’m fine with it and some days where I struggle.
"Sometimes you do get into a head space of like, 'Well that’s my own business and my own journey.' But I put myself in this position because I think it’s very important, as a woman, as a human being, that we all talk about how difficult it can be sometimes, this journey."
Colaizzo, who was inspired to write the script when he was roommates with the real-life Brittany, invented a new backstory for the fictionalised Brittany, freeing up Bell to create her own character.
Though Bell didn’t meet actual Brittany until shooting commenced, she got to watch a video of her attempting the marathon.
"I got the essence of who she was and I immediately loved her."
Now, not only is Brittany apparently "proud of the film", but they’re all so happy with how people have responded to the movie, which premiered at Sundance in January (where it was sold for a huge $US14 million to Amazon Studios).
"Honestly, what’s been so wonderful is all these people have been inspired by her story," she says.
"They’ve related to the idea of a story of how hard it can be to appear to be one thing for most of your life, and be okay being the funny girl, and the butt of the joke, and then decide to pursue a goal earnestly. I think a lot of people can relate to that. You live your life for so long as one thing and then suddenly have an epiphany and go, 'I want to be so much more.' I want to try different things in my life and maybe I’ll fail and maybe I’ll succeed, but it’s always good to try."
Brittany Runs a Marathon arrives in Australian cinemas 31 October. It’s available to stream on Amazon Prime Video from 15 November. It’s rated M for coarse language and sex.
Header Image: Transmission Films
