dress. Christopher Kane
boots. 31 Phillip Lim
earrings. MOUNSER
bracelet. BEC + BRIDGE
opposite
jacket + jeans. CELINE
earrings. Ninon
rings. Nick Horey
A career in performance was always on the cards for Odeya Rush – the actress spent much of her childhood writing and putting on shows for her family at home. Fast-forward to today and the creative can be seen on screens all over the world as she takes on the role of action heroine Rose in Dangerous Waters alongside Ray Liotta and Eric Dane. The fast-paced thriller tells the story of a young woman and her mother who must fight for survival when disaster strikes at sea. But that isn’t where Rush’s road to stardom began; her other notable acting pursuits include the likes of Greta Gerwig’s Ladybird, The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Christmas comedy Let It Snow.
Schön! speaks to the rising star about filming at sea in the Dominican Republic, working alongside an icon of cinema and aspirations for the new year.
blazer + blouse. Yves Saint Laurent
briefs. SKIMS
earrings. Vintage
tights. Fleur du Mal
opposite
dress. Marc Jacobs
earrings. Vintage
Odeya, at just 26 years old, you’ve landed several starring and supporting roles in major films and TV series. Where did your love of acting begin?
My love began with putting on plays at home with my brothers – at five years old, I was writing, directing, and performing for my parents, and that later transitioned into me making movies on iMovie. As my brothers got older, I had to bribe them to participate in my shows – I think in the last play we did together, they were ninjas who ate snacks in almost every scene. I kind of sold out on that last one…
As a child, you moved across the world with your family from Israel to the United States. Do you think this elevated your dreams of becoming an actress at all?
I moved for my dad’s work years before I started acting, so I don’t think it had a direct impact on my aspirations.
Who was your biggest inspiration growing up?
I had a really big obsession with Jennifer Lawrence. She was all over my Tumblr; if you were a teen in the 2010s, I’m sure you can relate. I had been following her career since one of her first films, Poker House. She was someone I really admired creatively but was also kind of a comfort person who made me feel safe.
Congratulations on the release of Dangerous Waters! What initially drew you to the film, and what were your thoughts after reading the script for the first time?
What initially drew me to the project was hearing that Ray Liotta and Eric Dane were attached, both of them being actors that I knew I’d be so lucky to work with. Then, after I read the script, I felt even more validation that I should be a part of the film. I felt very empowered by my character, Rose; I loved her journey and how it was ultimately all about saving those girls. I was scared to embark on this adventure, I knew it would be extremely new and challenging, but at the same time, I knew I had to do it.
sweater. Ami Paris
shirt. Our Legacy
skirt. Rabanne X H&M
boots. Gianvito Rossi
earrings. Ninon
opposite
dress + shoes. Lanvin
earrings. MOUNSER
What was it like spending so much time at sea to film your scenes?
The first day was rough. I was so stubborn that I didn’t need to do a test out at sea before filming – I’ve only been on a speed boat once before, and it went well, so I just assumed I’d be ok. I was humbled really quickly. I basically spent the first day throwing up off the side of the boat, then running and doing a take. I’m pretty sure my face was yellow from how seasick I was, and they had to colour-correct it for the film. Since that first day, I learned my lesson, so I took Dramamine every time we were out on the boat, and it ended up being alright.
You were cast in the role of Rose, a young woman who embarks on a sailing adventure that quickly turns into a fight for survival. She’s such an in-depth character; how did you prepare yourself for the role? Did you see any of yourself in Rose?
I did a lot of prep for Rose. I did fight training, Krav Maga, and gun training. I also worked intently on Rose’s backstory, figuring out every part of her upbringing, her complicated relationship with her parents, her traumas, and what made her such a strong woman.
What was it like performing your own stunts?
I enjoyed performing my stunts so much. As someone who’s never trained and was even weary of it, I was shocked by how much fun I actually had. Sometimes, in the shoot-out scenes, I felt like I was in a video game. It was so cool. I also have to give it up to my stunt double Sonja, who is one of the coolest and most badass women I’ve ever known. Her work in this film is incredible, and she helped me a great deal.
dress. Marc Jacobs
earrings. Vintage
opposite
jacket, skirt, shoes + bag. Marc Jacobs
earrings. MOUNSER
Now you’ve mastered the art of actions, what genre would you like to try next?
I think a broad comedy would be very fun. Growing up, I was obsessed with Borat, Superbad, Bridesmaids. I just know I would enjoy doing a comedic project so much. It would really fill up my heart.
Ray Liotta, who played The Captain, tragically passed away while you were filming. What have you taken from the time you spent working alongside such an iconic actor?
Ray was the most generous actor I’ve ever worked with. He gave me more on my coverage than he gave himself. Ray taught me to be selfless and egoless.
As a member of SAG-AFTRA, you were recently striking in support of fairer wages and better working conditions. How did you keep yourself busy while that was going on?
I’ve been working on a screenplay, my first feature film that I’ll be directing. I’ve also, like Cillian Murphy, been eating cheese.
Could you tell us a little bit more about the feature film?
It’s not fully done, so it’s still hard to pitch, but it’s about a friendship breakup. It’s a coming-of-age, comedy/dramedy/not too much happens kind of movie where the dialogue feels like the visual effects. I’m basically aspiring to make a movie that I would enjoy.
And lastly, it’s been a busy year for you. What do you hope to achieve in 2024?
I hope to direct my first feature and get my rank up to 1,000 on chess.com.
jacket + jeans. CELINE
shoes. Jimmy Choo
earrings. Ninon
rings. Nick Horey
opposite
dress. Christopher Kane
boots. 31 Phillip Lim
earrings. MOUNSER
bracelet. BEC + BRIDGE
photography. Meg Young
fashion. Marco Milani @ The Only Agency
talent. Odeya Rush
hair. Rena Calhoun @ A-Frame Agency using Virtue Labs
make up. Pircilla Pae @ A-Frame Agency using Dior Beauty
photography assistant. Matt Cluett
hair assistant. Selina Boone
make up assistant. Sophie Kani
production. Clara la Rosa
interview. Ella Citron-Thompkin
