Based on the book of the same name, Little Did We Know is a powerful character drama about a woman going through a difficult time in her life — and using it as a chance to rediscover who she is. It’s the kind of story told a thousand times over the years, but there’s a painful authencity to Martina Haag’s writing, which translated to the big screen effectively for one of Sweden’s biggest homegrown hits.

At the center of the film is acclaimed actress Alexandra Rapaport, who delved deep into her role for an emotionally vulnerable and memorable turn as an actress and mother, realizing her husband has fallen in love with someone else. During an interview with TVBrittanyF, Alexandra Rapaport discussed bonding with Martina Haag on the set of Little Did We Know, working with her co-star Ella Hammarsten Liedberg on the same character, and potential future collaborations with the celebrated author behind the book and film of the same name.

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TVBrittanyF: What drew you to Martina Haag’s work and this film?

Alexandra Rapaport: I loved the book. She used to write more funny books, lighter books, and then she wrote this one, and it completely changed how I looked at her. It didn’t change my opinion about her; I already thought she was an amazing writer. But it made me look at her in another way. So when I heard she was making a film out of the book, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I hope she calls me.’ [Laughter]. I hope I can get to audition!

Eventually, she invited me to a reading at her house with her friends and neighbors, and children. It was very informal. I felt when I read the script that I knew how I could do this. I was so happy when I looked into her eyes afterward, and she had tears. I did too. After that, she was like, ‘We have to do this together.’

How did you and your co-star, Ella, approach playing the same character at different points in her life?

In the beginning, Ella Hammarsten Liedberg and I were talking about whether we should try to copy each other or not. Eventually, we agreed not to. [The two versions of Petra] are different because they’re in two totally different times. They’re different ages, different people. I love what Ella brings to it.

She makes Pietro more raw, more authentic, more than when Petra is 50 and in the middle of her life, where she’s a wife and she’s an actress and she has kids. Somewhere she lost herself on the way, so I like that. They’re different. There’s value in that. It really does speak to the person that Petra has become.

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Did playing an actor have any impact on how you played Petra?

I actually choose not to have a big impact on Pietra that she’s an actor, because I’m an actor. I don’t know if it’s true, but I see myself as quite a normal person. So the only thing was, when I was acting in the movie as an actress, because I know the process, and I know how hard it is to try not to cry when you’re devastated. I think I added some kind of humor to it.

What was the key element of the story that really spoke to you and unlocked this character for you from a performance perspective?

I think it actually was my and Martina’s connection that made me come in, because we’ve shared some experiences from life that really connected us. We went around the corner when we were on set, smoking. Although we don’t smoke! They don’t smoke cigarettes, but we did for this one, because we got back to when life was at its worst. I think that was like, we were holding each other’s hands, we were crying, we were laughing. We’re doing this together. That was my way into this story, I think.

Given the success you found together on this film, are you hopeful for another collaboration with Martina Haag?

Yeah, I would love to! I think she would, too, but she has to write a script. We’re actually meeting up in a week or two to celebrate, because it really has been a success in the theaters. So that’s how we start this.

Little Did We Know is now streaming on Viaplay