Maisy Stella’s return to the screen: A journey of growth and nostalgia
Maisy Stella, now 20, is no stranger to the world of acting. Growing up on the set of the ABC drama “Nashville,” she and her sister Lennon portrayed the daughters of a country music superstar. After the show concluded, Stella took a hiatus from Hollywood to experience a more typical teenage life, attending high school and cherishing the simple joys of having a backpack and locker.
A new chapter with ‘My Old Ass’
Having graduated, Stella is making her comeback in Megan Park’s “My Old Ass”, a coming-of-age comedy that premiered at Sundance and was subsequently acquired by Amazon MGM. The film is set to hit theaters nationwide on September 19. Despite her experience, Stella felt the nerves on her first day back on set, particularly during a scene that required her to storm into a lake fully clothed. Reflecting on the moment, she recalls the pressure of nailing the shot with limited wardrobe options.
“I remember thinking I did a horrible job,” she says. “There was a little piece of wood underneath me. If I went two steps to my right or two steps to my left, I’d plummet. And there were only four pairs of pants I could change into. So I had to nail it.”
Embracing the role of Elliot
In “My Old Ass”, Stella plays 18-year-old Elliot, who spends the summer with friends before heading to college in Toronto. During a psychedelic trip in the woods, she encounters her middle-aged self, portrayed by Aubrey Plaza. The older Elliot offers sage advice, urging her younger self to be kinder to her mother, spend more time with her brothers, and avoid anyone named Chad.
Stella acknowledges the physical dissimilarities between her and Plaza, but emphasizes that their differences are not the point. The film’s makeup artist even matched Stella’s tattoos to Plaza’s, creating a surreal moment for Stella when she saw her tattoos on Plaza’s back.
“We know we don’t look alike, but Megan was like, ‘Who do we want to see beside Elliot?’ Every time, it was Aubrey,” Stella says.
The whimsical nature of time travel
The film’s time-travel elements, which allow Elliot’s two selves to text and talk on the phone, are not meant to be taken too seriously. Stella and Park often joke about the technical aspects, encouraging viewers to focus on the story’s emotional core rather than its realism.
A decade in entertainment
Though “My Old Ass” marks Stella’s first major film role, she has been in the entertainment industry for over a decade. She and her sister Lennon gained viral fame in 2012 with a YouTube video of them singing Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend.” This video played a crucial role in securing their visas for “Nashville.”
“I’ll forever love that video. It’s the reason my sister and I were able to get our visas to do ‘Nashville,’” says Stella, who was born in Ontario. “Also, I was young enough where it’s still cute. I got away with it. My sister was 12 or 13, so it’s a little embarrassing.”
Stepping out of her comfort zone
Filming “My Old Ass” pushed Stella out of her comfort zone, particularly scenes that required her to drive a boat and a tractor on her character’s lakeside cranberry farm. Despite owning a small tin boat, Stella had to learn how to operate these vehicles for the film.
“I had to be taught how to do all of that. My 18-year-old self was like, ‘I got this,’ but now, I’d be so scared to do that,” she says.
An old soul in a young body
Director Megan Park, who transitioned from acting to directing, describes Stella as an old soul. Despite her youthful age, Stella’s conversations often reflect a maturity beyond her years, though she occasionally reminds Park of her Gen Z roots.
Reflecting on time and family
Filming “My Old Ass” heightened Stella’s nostalgic tendencies, prompting her to reflect on the fleeting nature of time and the importance of family. The movie’s themes resonated deeply with her, influencing her personal life and relationships.
“When I went to film, I was like, ‘I’ve had these epiphanies. I know I’m not taking my family for granted,’” she says. “Actually doing it really opened me up, and the entire concept of the movie, every beat of it, I definitely took into my own life.”
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit My Old Ass.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and personal perspective on Maisy Stella’s return to the screen, enriched with reflections and insights for cinema and TV series enthusiasts.