Experience the big-screen adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic, groundbreaking novel that candidly explores life’s biggest questions through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is now on Digital and On Demand.
Rachel McAdams as Barbara Simon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Photo Credit: Dana Hawley
INTERVIEW with Abby Ryder Fortson for ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.‘
The last time I had the pleasure of interviewing Abby Ryder Fortson she was portraying Cassie Lang in Ant-Man and the Wasp. She has grown up quite a bit since those early Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp days.
Have you always been a fan of Judy Blume? Were you familiar with her books before you got cast as Margaret?
Abby Ryder Fortson: “I actually wasn’t. Judy [Blume] and I, we didn’t cross paths when I was younger. But as soon as I got the audition for Margaret, I started reading [“Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret.”] as well as so many of her other books. And I just love how relatable they are. And they tell such human stories that I think we really need in this world. And I related so much to Margaret, and I loved the book so much. And I see why so many people have fallen in love with that.”
I’m of the era where we kind of grew up with Margaret. Judy Blume is such a household name for young girls especially. But now that you have familiarized yourself with some of her work, do you have a favorite Judy Blume book?
Abby: “Oh, I mean, I think ‘Margaret’ will take the top spot on that one.”
Are you even allowed to say something else?
Abby: “Honestly, yeah, Margaret’s my all-time favorite. It’s the best Judy Blume book. It’s amazing. But yes, I do love it so much. I think it even if I wasn’t in the film, I would still say it’s one of my favorites. It’s so good. It’s so relatable. And it’s just, it’s the experience written down in 70s terms. And it’s lovely.”
Rachel McAdams as Barbara Dimon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Photo Credit: Dana Hawley
One of the things I think that makes Margaret and that story so lovable and approachable is that because she IS relatable, right? But what parts of her really resonated with you? And then were there any parts that were challenging for you, that you just couldn’t relate to, or that were harder to bring to the screen?
Abby: “I think the only really challenging bit was having my first kiss on screen. That was very funny to shoot. We had to do it from three different angles, and about 25 ish takes. So I can say I’ve gotten like at least 75 kisses in by now. So it’s a whole lot of first kisses…within like an hour of each other. So you know, pretty good.”
“But the main things are related to Margaret. Honestly, I just gotta say her journey. And her figuring out herself having so many, like thoughts just racing around her head, like, ‘Am I enough? Who am I?’ And like, I can relate to those. I’m 15. I can relate to those every single day, and I could relate to them when I was 12 and first auditioning for it. I think it’s just such a universal experience. And it’s so relatable for you no matter who you are, no matter your age, your gender, whatever. It’s just something that connects us all that we are all figuring each other out and figuring ourselves out in this crazy messy world.”
Do you have a favorite scene from the film, other than maybe the 75 first kisses?
Abby: “My favorite scene from the film, but have to be the one at like the end of the movie, and Barb and Margaret are just kind of sitting on the couch together. And it’s just such a sweet moment. And I really love shooting it and I love watching it over and over again. And yeah, it’s just a really sweet moment between the mother and the daughter, and like, it’s really sweet. Yeah, it’s just, it’s my favorite scene.”
Kathy Bates as Sylvia Simon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Photo Credit: Dana Hawley
So speaking of Barbara, she’s played by your fellow MCU cast Rachel McAdams. So you got to work with her, and you also got to work with the legendary Kathy Bates. How was that?
Abby: ‘That was amazing. Working with both Kathy and Rachel was such an awesome experience they are such lovely ladies. And they’re such inspirations and so wonderful to work with. So professional, so humble, so grounded, and just really wonderful actors.”
You talked a little bit about just sort of Margaret being so relatable to everybody, all ages, all genders. Do you have a message that you think people should take away from the film?
Abby: “I think that one of the main messages of the movie is that you are enough as you are, you are enough as yourself, and you should be able to be yourself. And it’s okay to, you know, be still unsure of who you are. But it’s just, I think it’s, you have to kind of accept that you, you may not be perfect, or you just you are enough as you are. And I think that’s something that people should be taking away from the movie. And I think that’s a good reminder that we kind of need to have in our world today.”
I think those are perfect messages. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me.
About ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’
For over 50 years, Judy Blume’s classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. has impacted generations with its timeless coming-of-age story, insightful humor, and candid exploration of life’s biggest questions. In Lionsgate’s big-screen adaptation, 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school.
Director Kelly Fremon Craig behind-the-scenes of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Photo Credit: Lionsgate
She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn’t happy they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets.
The film also stars Benny Safdie (Licorice Pizza, Good Time) and is written for the screen and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen), based on the book by Judy Blume, and produced by Gracie Films’ Academy Award winner James L. Brooks (Best Picture, 1983–Terms of Endearment), alongside Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai, Kelly Fremon Craig, Judy Blume, Amy Lorraine Brooks, Aldric La’auli Porter, and executive produced by Jonathan McCoy.
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: PG-13, for thematic material involving sexual education and some suggestive material
Run Time: 105 mins
Written for the Screen and Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig
Based on the Book by: Judy Blume
Producers: James L. Brooks, p.g.a.; Julie Ansell, p.g.a.; Richard Sakai, Kelly Fremon Craig, p.g.a.; Judy Blume; Amy Lorraine Brooks; Aldric La’auli Porter
Executive Producer: Jonathan McCoy
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, Echo Kellum, and Kathy Bates
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is now available on Digital and On Demand! Coming to Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital Combo and DVD on July 11 from Lionsgate!
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