Juno Temple: She's a "Dirty Girl"

Juno Temple is a Brit “it” girl for her feisty performance in the teen boarding school romp St. Trinians and will be seen soon as the teen queen of France in the new hunkfest film The Three Musketeers. Starting Oct. 7, you can catch Juno and her cute, newbie costar Jeremy Dozier as a misfit teen duo escaping their stressful lives in 1986 smalltown Oklahoma. Today, Juno looks glam/goth in a hot black lace dress and is sporting various silver skull rings. Jeremy looks all GQ in dark purple shirt and black suit.

In Dirty Girl, 22-year-old Juno plays Danielle, “that girl” in every high school. She has a heart of gold but a habit of knocking boots with any guy who strikes her fancy. When her young mom (played by Mila Jovovitch) plans to marry a Mormon, Danielle hits the road to find her “real” dad. Stealing his dad’s car and driving the duo Thelma and Louise style, to California, is Clarke (Jeremy Dozier), a closeted gay teen whose hater dad is about to ship him off to military school.

We’re camped again in Beverly Hills talking to these “besties” who formed a strong, permanent bond while making the film. Check out this fun, feisty and modern chat. These two give us great advice for struggling teens!

TeenHollywood: Well, Jeremy, you’re a trained dancer, obviously (his character Clarke does a semi-strip dance at a club in the film).

Jeremy: I’ve done musical theater but no, I would not consider myself a dancer at all. It was great because (director) Abe (Sylvia) and his friend, Bill Szobody, who also was the choreographer on the film, three weeks before we started filming, took us under their wing, and were really patient with us and taught us to dance.

TeenHollywood: Did either of you know anyone like Danielle in school?

Jeremy: I grew up in a small town in Texas so I went to a very normal high school and lived a very normal life and went to the University of Texas so it wasn’t until recently that I started this whole acting thing. Every high school has a Danielle, has one of the "dirty girls”. They’re definitely the most talked about girl in school and it seems everybody knows her in one capacity or another.

Juno: I went to an English boarding school. Very very different. We have our equivalents. Some people might actually include me in that category, for sure. Or maybe not. People talk. So my education was very different. That was what was so appealing about this project for me. It was a world apart from me. It couldn’t be more different from the high school experience I had. So it was a big challenge. And it was the first time I’d ever been in an American high school when I shot this movie.

TeenHollywood: Your teen characters are both really struggling. What do you say to teens who are struggling with their identity to give them hope?

Jeremy: That’s what I think is great about this film. It has an amazing message of kind of defining yourself and not letting bullies define you. It really is the story of Clarke trying to find his voice and stand up for himself and love himself and, over the course of the film, the characters, through their friendship, kind of take the best parts of each other and create the best versions of themselves.

I would say to any teen out there that’s struggling in any capacity, whether it’s a gay teen or someone being bullied for being different that what makes you different is what makes you successful in life, so don’t change for the bullies and don’t feel bad for being yourself because ultimately you’re going to be really great!

I grew up in a small town in Texas so I know what it’s like to live where everybody thinks the same way but then you grow up and you move away and you realize everyone doesn’t and as you make it through your teen years, you know that you have a better life ahead of you.

Juno: Life is so much bigger than being a teenager. But, when you’re a teenager everything is the end of the world. When this boy doesn’t want to be with you, it’s the end of the world. When you fail at that essay, it’s the end of the world because you have to re-do it. When you don’t get the lead part in the school play, it’s the end of the world. It’s such a drama.

After you finish high school and you step into the real world, stuff like buying lunch is more important than that. You’re in a bubble in your teenage years. Everyone is very judgmental when they’re teenagers. I wish humans didn’t have to go through that because it really messes some people up. You have to realize it seems like a lifetime but it isn’t.  I have two younger brothers and if anyone messed with them I would definitely, hoo hoo, that would be a bad situation.

Jeremy: (You’ve heard this but) talk to a trusted adult. Talk to a teacher, a counselor you like or parent or someone like that. It’s easier if you get your feelings out and let other people know because it’s really hard to do it by yourself.

TeenHollywood: Back to Dirty Girl. Did your director give you any movies to watch as research?

Jeremy: He mentioned Thelma and Louise. He mentioned The Breakfast Club and a couple of different movies from the ‘80s, so he definitely gave us the research and he always was there for questions and answers.

TeenHollywood: You two are so fun together in the film. Did you do a chemistry read or test? Did you have that bond from the beginning or did it grow?

Juno:  It was instantaneous. We did a chemistry read and I don’t drive. I know. Ironic. Ha! So we were in the elevator going down and I said, “I have to order a cab” and Jeremy said, "Do you want me to give you a lift"? And I was like, “absalutively, that would be rad”. Then we just have this drive back to my place and he dropped me off.

It was an instant connection, but it also was instant in the room. We weren’t nervous with each other. It felt like we’d known each other for a really long time. So you walk on the set and you immediately feel like you have a best friend there.

Jeremy: It makes you more comfortable too because we have some scenes where we really go at each other. So I had no problem laying into her and I know she felt the same about me. What was great is that this is my first film and having my best friend there to support me the whole time, because 90 percent of our scenes are together, was a real treat. We had three weeks of rehearsal where we had to sing and dance and it’s kind of baring your soul, and going “I don’t know what I’m doing”.

Juno: We definitely had some insane emotional scenes we had to do together and I had to go to some tough places and you (Jeremy) were so super-there for me. It was something I really needed. Making independent films,

I totally think an actor comes from a broken home every time they start the next movie. I just lost that family. Time to make a new one. Occasionally, you make really really important friends on one of them and they’re going to be your friends for the rest of your life.

TeenHollywood: For Juno, you’ve grown up around show business and Jeremy is making his first film. What did you learn from what he was bringing to the table and, Jeremy, what did you learn from Juno?

Juno: (to Jeremy) You threw yourself into it. It was this incredible thing to watch because it was like this firework happening in front of me. The first scene we shot was at the very end of the movie over the credits when we’re in the car. I actually had to drive. I drove into traffic and it caused a big drama. Jeremy just got in the car and started really dancing and it was breaking down these walls. He so went for it and he was so prepared.

TeenHollywood: Do you two have different acting techniques?

Juno: We have a very different mentality of approaching scenes. Obviously, I think it’s very important to know my lines but I definitely don’t prepare for months and months ahead. He had this character down to a T and this movie works because of their friendship. If you got rid of one of the characters, you wouldn’t want to just hang out with Danielle or Clarke. It’s the exploration that they have together. (To Jeremy) You changed me a lot. You had a big impact on my life and meeting you was a big deal for me.

Jeremy: Me too. When I met you at the chemistry read I thought you were amazing and I left going “Oh, she got the part and I totally blew it”. So once we started filming, you really pushed me to be better. You are such an amazing actress. I think it was that way with everyone in the cast. Everybody was so supportive and to have these “real” actors treat me as an equal was just mind-blowing.

Juno: I think we both really trusted each other and I think that’s the most important thing when you’re making a movie, man. It’s like you’ve just got to trust your surroundings or you aren’t going to be able to go the distance.

TeenHollywood: Being British, Juno, you did a great (American) accent.

Juno: Thank you! I got to work with a dialect coach and it was actually very easy because the English language and southern (American) sits in the same area of the voice (she goes into a southern accent). It all sits way back here whereas standard American is all in the front of your mouth and I find that way more challenging because my mouth wants to do something completely different.

My only influence with standard American is the movie Clueless so I sound a little “Valley girl”. But I’ve always been fascinated with the south. If I had my way I would totally live in New Orleans. It’s so fun when you change yourself that much. I love a southern accent. I think it’s dead sexy!  

TeenHollywood: I just noticed that you are carrying a pink, furry purse by Prada.

Juno: This is my friend Clarence. I was just referencing Clueless. Well, look, Clueless is back! (She pets the purse, uh Clarence).

TeenHollywood: Your characters sing in a talent show in the film. Have either of you been in a talent show?

Juno: I won a talent show. It was a group thing. You have house groups in your school (in England) and you go up against each other but me and this one boy were the lead dancers and it was to that song (she sings) “Don’t you want me baby?” Don’t you want me Ooooooo”. I was workin’ as a waitress….” and I had on my little apron and I was like twelve years old and we won. It was great.

TeenHollywood: Gryffindor versus Slitherin in the talent contest. So fun! How about you Jeremy?

Jeremy: I wasn’t in a talent contest but I was in musical theater so I did a lot of plays and in college also. I have a degree in Theater from the University of Texas and did musicals and stuff.

TeenHollywood: Juno, did you go back and then do The Three Musketeers with an American southern accent?

Juno:  I didn’t but I played southern later. I did this movie called Killer Joe and I played this girl from Texas this time, not Oklahoma. In Three Musketeers, I’m very English. I play the young queen of France. It was cool. It was an English accent but I would love to be French also.

TeenHollywood: Did you have any scene with Mila (who plays her mom in this film)?

Juno: Yes, I did have a couple of scenes with Mila. I met her on Dirty Girl and she’s someone who has become very dear to my heart. She was really, really kind to me. We had a ball being together on Dirty Girl. Obviously, she’s way too young to be my mom so that was a fun joke too.

TeenHollywood: What have you got coming up, Jeremy?

Jeremy: I’ve got two films in post production right now; this teen comedy called Rock, Paper, Scissors which is kind of Superbad meets Dodgeball and then I have this indie psychological drama called Right Next Door. It’s about a family that hires this babysitter and, over the course of the film, the baby sitter slowly learns that the family is not what they say they are so she learns that the hard way.

TeenHollywood: You are an overweight teen in the movie but you look physically so thin and fit. Did they just use camera tricks to make your character larger in the film?

Jeremy: No. I was just that fat!  I’ve been on this weight watch journey for the past couple of years and I’ve lost about 120 pounds total (we clap and cheer him on). Thanks. So, I’d lost a little before Dirty Girl and then after I lost a little bit more. So that is just where I was on the journey then.

TeenHollywood: Did you go through that character actor thing of saying “Well, maybe the weight is my thing”?

Jeremy: I did. A lot of people in the industry told me that and I said “You know. I just want to be healthy and that’s the most important thing. I’ll worry about the career when I get the weight off”.

TeenHollywood: There is some great music in this film. How much does music get you through a tough day?

Juno: Music is so important to me. I have a crazy soundtrack to my life. That’s for sure. Music can make you cry, laugh, miss somebody, hate somebody. There are so many things it can create in you emotionally. I lot of songs in the movie I hadn’t heard. I’m a ‘90’s grunge fan so I hadn’t heard a lot of the ‘80’s music but, as Danielle, when you’re in that costume and you’re doing that dance routine, the music just makes you feel good. And, getting to have someone like Melissa Manchester in the movie and singing her power ballad with her playing piano behind you, are you kidding me? I was so nervous. I had to get up there first and start weeping and then it was one of the best moments when Jeremy arrived too.

Jeremy: Music is a big part of my life too. I have a playlist for basically everything; for exercising, for times that I’m down or whatever and the music in the movie is especially important to Clarke so I did a lot of research on the different artists that he listened to and especially on Melissa Manchester. I watched some of her old stuff and saw how powerful she was on stage and, since meeting her, we did sing “Don’t Cry Out Loud” in front of her.

TeenHollywood: That must have been scary.

Jeremy: Well, she was actually in the trailer next to me when we did that and I’m in my trailer trying to rehearse and trying to keep it down so she can’t hear me. It was very nerve-wracking but she’s very sweet and we went to a film festival not too long ago and I got to see her sing live and it was amazing.

TeenHollywood: What did she say about your rendition of “Don’t Cry Out Loud”?

Jeremy: She loves it. She was really proud.

Juno: I got a line wrong in one take. She was very sweet to the director “Could you just tell her that this line is….?” “Oh my God. Absolutely. Let’s go again”.