How did you find Jodelle Ferland for the role of Jeliza-Rose in Tideland?
Terry Gilliam: God chose her for us! We had been looking for a long time for our lead actress. It was getting very close to the start of production, and we still hadn’t found her. Luckily this tape came in from Vancouver – the casting lady had put Jodelle and several of the young girls on tape. The minute I saw her, I thought there was an incredible energy there. She looked so tiny, and she had extraordinary eyes. We brought her to Toronto and I screen-tested her. Her reactions to things and how she chose to deliver lines were a real surprise. I just said: you’ve got the part. It was so obvious. She wasn’t sentimentalised and cute like a normal child actor. Jodelle was incredibly tough. How did Jodelle cope with the role and the story? She’s the best child actor I’ve ever seen but how do you explain a story so disturbing to a child? You don’t have to explain: Jodelle’s a very intelligent girl! Luckily she also had a very sensitive and intelligent mother to work with her. Dealing with t
