Shadowing Practice: Mia Goth’s 'Frankenstein' Character Was Written for Her | Ask Me Anything | ELLE - Learn English Speaking with Video

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And then I didn't get the job.
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But then he called back and he said, do you want to be P?
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I said, I'll be anything.
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Hi, I'm Mia Goth, and today I'm letting Elle ask you anything. Am I nervous?
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A little.
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Which Frankenstein co-star surprised you the most?
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Probably the creature.
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I was taken by how much humanity there was in his performance.
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Even with all of the prosthetics, It was very easy to connect with him in our scenes
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and I guess that that was probably what I found most surprising.
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I had a little anxiety I guess as to how that was going to work and how that would feel, but it kind of turned out better than I could have hoped
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and ended up being some of my favourite scenes in the movie.
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Maybe Blue Valentine with a little bit more funny sprinkled in here or there?
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We should do that.
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Yeah, I think that's what my rom-com would be.
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What's one role you wish you had auditioned for?
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I don't think I've ever turned down an audition.
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If anything, the question should be, what job are you glad you didn't get?
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Because more often than not, you end up watching the movie and you kind of think, oh, well, glad I dodged a bullet there.
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Who's giving you the best career advice?
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Probably Lars von Trier when I was filming Nymphomaniac, my first movie.
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We sat down and he told me to go through the script
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and just cross out any of the lines or the directions
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that weren't working for me and to put in place something that was.
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The longer I do this, the more I see how right he was about that about
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that and how it's so important to own your character and for it to feel right coming from you.
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And it always stuck with me and just generally as an actor.
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What was your most memorable audition?
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Maybe my Nymphomaniac audition because it was quite a lengthy process.
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And I remember I was so nervous and I was in London and I was there early and I was very hungry.
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So I went and got a cheeseburger at Burger King.
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And I went in for the audition and after
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that I had to fly to Copenhagen Then me and Lars had sushi and I remember thinking to myself, I don't know how to use chopsticks.
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I'm like, my mum always told me to learn how to use chopsticks.
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I didn't know how and I thought I fucked it up and I'm not gonna get the job.
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And then I didn't get the job.
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I was like, oh.
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But then he called back and he said, do you want to be Pete?
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I said, I'll be anything.
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What's your favorite red carpet look of yours?
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My dress that I just wore to the Venice Film Festival.
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That was designed by Jonathan Anderson for Dior.
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It was this beautiful chocolate brown satin gown and it just felt
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so beautiful in it and I really don't think I've ever felt better on a night than I did that night.
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How many takes did you do for Pearl's final monologue?
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What happened was we were in this little studio.
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We had these tents and I remember I was in one tent
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and then Ty was in the other but I could hear everything that was being said.
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And then he was like, well, if Mia can't do it, it's okay.
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We can always cut between the takes.
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Like, we've got a backup.
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And I heard that and it crushed me because I was preparing for this for so long and I was like, I was ready.
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And I thought my director didn't believe in me.
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And I think hearing that really kind of motivated me even more and kind of was exactly what I needed to hear, was exactly what Pearl needed to hear.
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And so maybe we ended up doing it maybe three or four times.
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Which roles of yours challenged you the most creatively?
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I think Elizabeth in Frankenstein was quite challenging.
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I've been such a huge fan of Guillermo's my whole life.
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I remember being in geography class.
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I was about 12 years old watching Pan's Labyrinth and it really, like, sticking with me.
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And yeah, I mean, working with him is like being in a constant hug all the time, felt very supported.
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And he knew how nervous I was.
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And the fact that it was Guillermo del Toro having a chance to make the movie
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that he was always meant to make.
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That pressure never really left me.
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But he was incredibly supportive and I learnt so much from him.
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Probably that whatever it is I choose to do with the character, I can't go wrong with it.
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that after we had met the character of Elizabeth kind of came to life
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and he was able to finally put her down into the script
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but up until that point she was just like this rough sketch
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and so whatever it is
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that I decide to do with the character it will be the right choice and to follow it.
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What's one line from one of your films that fans quote to you the most?
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I'm a star!
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I'm a star!
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Which horror film has actually kept you up at night?
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I don't think a horror movie has ever kept me up at night.
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It takes a lot to scare me.
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Thanks so much for watching and make sure to check out my Elle cover.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with Mia Goth's Ask Me Anything session is an excellent way to enhance your English speaking skills. The context of the video revolves around the film industry, where Mia shares her experiences about auditions, roles, and the challenges actors face. By practicing speaking alongside her, you can improve your fluency, learn to express personal anecdotes, and develop your ability to articulate thoughts clearly.

This immersive experience helps you practice reacting spontaneously, a crucial skill for IELTS speaking practice. Not only does it expose you to conversational English, but it also deepens your understanding of character portrayal and the emotional nuances in acting—elements that can enrich your language learning journey.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Mia Goth’s dialogue is rich with natural spoken expressions and grammatical structures that are useful for learners. Here are a few key examples to focus on:

  • “If anything, the question should be…” - This phrase illustrates how to express contrary opinions and refine arguments, a skill valuable in discussions and debates.
  • “I was taken by how much humanity there was…” - This construction is great for describing emotions and impressions. Practice using similar structures to express your feelings about art or experiences.
  • “I had a little anxiety, I guess…” - This phrase can help learners articulate emotions more delicately and is a good example of hedging, making statements softer and more conversational.
  • “It kind of turned out better than I could have hoped…” - This expression is useful for indicating unexpected positive outcomes. Try integrating this into your English speaking practice.

Common Pronunciation Traps

Listening to Mia Goth's speech can also highlight some specific pronunciation challenges. Pay close attention to the following:

  • “Humanity” - The softness of the ‘h’ sound and the ‘man’ syllable can be tricky, especially for non-native speakers. Practice saying it multiple times to get comfortable with the rhythm.
  • “Nervous” - The ending ‘-ous’ can be pronounced differently based on regional accents. Focus on maintaining clarity in your pronunciation.
  • “Character” - The stress on the first syllable can be a common mispronunciation. Emphasizing the correct syllable will significantly improve your speaking clarity.

Utilizing videos like these alongside a shadowing app can enhance your practice. Engage with the content, repeat phrases, and compare your pronunciation to that of the speaker. By doing so, you're not only enhancing your vocabulary but also ensuring you're incorporating natural speech patterns into your learning process. This approach can significantly benefit those aiming to learn English with YouTube effectively.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.