Joe Wright: Movies make me vulnerable

Director Joe Wright likes working with people who “love” him because he feels “vulnerable” making movies.

Joe has helmed a series of hit films including Atonement, Pride & Prejudice and Anna Karenina. He cast Keira Knightley in all three of these films and has explained why he prefers to surround himself with friends.

“I find the process of making work actually makes me quite vulnerable. I need people I love and who I know love me,” he told the latest edition of Vogue. “It’s really important.”

Joe has decided to take a break from making movies to make his debut as a theatre director.

He is currently working on a production of Trelawny of the Wells at the Donmar Warehouse theatre in London.

The play is a comedy about an actress who decides to give up the stage for love, and Joe has cast Atonement actor Daniel Mays in the production.

Joe enjoys tackling the tricky issues surrounding love and relationships. He finds it frustrating when romantic movies are trivialised in Hollywood.

“Love is deeply philosophical. I hate it… I have a problem when people talk about love in a film – they call it a chick flick,” he explained.

Joe’s last big screen release was Anna Karenina, which he decided to set in a decaying Russian theatre. He finds it amusing that the unusual setting caused so much controversy.

“It had an alienating effect that I love,” he smiled. “But boy, it makes people freak. They want their films straight up.”