‘Shell’ Exclusive Interview: Elisabeth Moss

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Reading Time: 7 mins read

Opening in select theaters and on digital October 3rd is the new horror satire ‘Shell’, which was directed by Max Minghella (‘The Social Network’) and stars Elizabeth Moss (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘The Invisible Man’), Kate Hudson (‘Almost Famous’), and Kaia Gerber (‘Saturday Night’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Elisabeth Moss about her work on ‘Shell’, her first reaction to the screenplay, her character’s arc, the challenges of being an actress in Hollywood, why she thinks this is one of Kate Hudson’s best performances and what it was like being directed by her friend Max Minghella.

Related Article: Kate Hudson and Ana Lily Amirpour Talk ‘Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon’

Elisabeth Moss in 'Shell'. Photo: © 2025 Paramount Pictures.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of this character that you were excited to explore on screen?

Elisabeth Moss: I thought the script was so fantastic. Max sent it to me after I literally texted him and said, “When are you going to ask me to do a movie with you?” So, I basically shamelessly asked for a job. He sent me the script that he had been thinking about sending to me, but he was worried I wouldn’t like it, and then I’d have to say no, and then it would be awkward on set. But thank God because I loved it. It was just so unusual and interesting and funny. I think for me as Samantha, I think there are a lot of parts that I play that are very dramatic and that’s great and I love that. Obviously, I gravitate towards that. Like, it’s my fault. But I love comedy and I love being able to have a sense of humor and do something a little bit different. She’s probably closer to me in a lot of ways and I’ve also been an actress for 37 years. So, I understand what it’s like to be an actor and I understand what it’s like to be struggling. I understand what it’s like to not get jobs. I’ve not gotten jobs for far longer than I have gotten jobs. So that feeling of being an actor in LA. is something that I’m very familiar with. So, it was fun to kind of be able to tap into that.

MF: Can you talk about the difficulties Samantha is having with her career when she starts her treatment at Shell, and how that changes her life in both good and bad ways?

EM: So, as I’m sure you and your readers are familiar with, there is an idea of how one is supposed to look like as an actress in Hollywood. It’s changing, which is great, and there are so many incredible, talented actors, and actresses of all different shapes and sizes, but there is still, I think, this idea of beauty that exists just in the world. As you age, it gets harder, and the parts get less. Again, that is changing as well, which is awesome, but it is a thing. There’s this like constant search for youth in our society. So, anything that brings us that, whether it’s the latest thing of putting whatever on your face, you should put on your face. It’s so believable that if you found some treatment that made you look whatever your ideal age was, I mean, everybody would sign up for it. It’s very relatable. So, I felt like that was something that even though it’s very tongue-in-cheek and it’s quite broad some of the comedy and some of the horror elements as well, it’s meant to be camp, but at the same time, it’s not that far off from putting snails on your face.

(L to R) Kate Hudson and Elisabeth Moss in 'Shell'. Photo: © 2025 Paramount Pictures.

MF: Can you talk about the friendship Samantha begins with Zoe and why she is drawn to her as a person and role model?

EM: I think it’s what we all find incredibly attractive and how we all feel about Kate Hudson. When I came on and then Kate came up as a possibility, I remember it was just the coolest, best idea because she is that person that is so aspirational. She’s obviously stunning. She’s also talented and she’s unique and my being starstruck by her was not that different from Samantha. I remember saying to Max, “I literally have to do no acting here”. I can’t believe I’m about to meet Kate Hudson or I can’t believe I’m talking to Kate Hudson. She’s an icon and just that girl that you want to be, you know, she’s got that thing. She’s got that It-Factor and always has.

Kate Hudson in 'Shell'. Photo: © 2025 Paramount Pictures.

MF: What was Kate Hudson like to have as a scene partner?

EM: I think this is honestly one of her best performances. It was remarkable getting to watch her. She’s always been considered incredibly talented from the very beginning. We all know that, but I think she’s pulling out even more complicated and interesting work than we’ve ever seen from her. I mean, I think that’s universally acknowledged. So, it was super fun. She’s very adventurous, fearless, and she works incredibly hard. I think that’s the thing that most actors find is that the best actors work hard. They work on their lines, and they want to do it again or they’re not satisfied with that take, and they want to try something else. They want direction and they want notes. The best actors really work at it. She does not rest on her laurels. She is not somebody who’s like, “I’m a movie star. I’m just going to do what I want to do and you’re just going to enjoy it.” She really tries to push herself.

(L to R) Director Max Minghella and actor Elisabeth Moss on the set of 'Shell'. Photo: © 2025 Paramount Pictures.

MF: Finally, you worked with Max Minghella as an actor on ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ but what was it like being directed by your friend on this film?

EM: It was very seamless, honesty. We’re close friends, Max and I, we talk about movies all the time. We talk about TV shows all the time. We’re kind of very similar to people in a lot of ways. I’ve directed him, obviously, and I’ve worked with him for years before I started directing him. So, he’s been on set with me a lot, you know? So, he knows what works for me and that there’s no ego. There’s pussy footing around. There’s no being careful with each other. It’s very easy to just be like, “Can we just do this?” Or like, “What do you think about this?” And he would also ask me questions and get my help with things or get my opinion on things. It’s very collaborative. It was seamless. We literally could have walked from one set where he was directing to the next room where I was, and it would have been completely seamless.

What’s the story of ‘Shell’?

Desperate to reclaim her career, once-beloved actress Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss) is drawn into the glamorous world of wellness mogul Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson)—only to uncover a monstrous truth beneath its flawless surface.

Who is in the cast of ‘Shell’?

Elisabeth Moss as Samantha Lake
Kate Hudson as Zoe Shannon
Arian Moayed as Dr. Hubert
Kaia Gerber as Chloe Benson
Este Haim as Lydia
Elizabeth Berkley as Jenna Janero
Amy Landecker as Detective Flores
Lionel Boyce as Detective Abramson