Women & Hollywood: How did Du get drawn to the project?

Debra Granik: I read the book and read a really strong enticing female heroine. A protagonist that I had been waiting for. And Anne (Rosellini), who made the film with me and co-wrote the screenplay, felt so similar. We just had a really excellent moment where Du look each other and say, Oh, my god. This feels so different than what we had been reading. And I was just so excited it was a full depiction of a person. She didn’t just have to have one strong characteristic. She could be many things.

What’s interesting is that in the...