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One of Elizabeth Olsen’s on-screen partners in Eternity brought a particularly “playful” energy to the romantic comedy’s set.
At the New York City premiere of A24, Olsen, 36, told PEOPLE that in contrast to her character Joan, who faces the difficult decision of whether to spend eternity with her first love, Luke (Callum Turner), and her longtime husband, Larry (Miles Teller), filming the movie was an easy-going experience, thanks in part to Teller, 38.
When asked about how the on-screen couple, who didn’t get to spend much time together before filming due to Teller’s schedule, worked out their chemistry, Olsen told PEOPLE that they didn’t have to do much, thanks to a good script and the “playful energy” of their co-stars.
“Fortunately, we have a script that works and actors that are prepared, so we can just act and be there,” the actress told PEOPLE at the Nov. 8 premiere. “I think the script did most of the work. Especially with the relationship between Joan and Larry, they’ve been married for 65 years, and I think they kind of rely on the banter and the storytelling, and that gives the illusion of chemistry.”
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“And he brought such a playful energy to the set,” she added of Teller. “They always tried to surprise me physically, so I think that’s what keeps it fresh and exciting.”
Olsen says it was hard not to have a good time on set, thanks in part to her co-stars Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early.
“More than anything, I always enjoy what other people improvise and it ends up being the zinger at the end of the scene,” Olsen tells PEOPLE. “I think one of our favorite moments as a cast was when we were off camera while DaVine and John Early improvised reactions to our fights.”
“It was very difficult for us to keep a straight face,” the WandaVision star added. “It was a really fun and silly experience making this, but it was also challenging.”
Leah Gallo/A24
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Other Eternity cast members said they similarly enjoyed their time on the set of director David Frain’s film.
At the New York premiere, star Olga Meredith told PEOPLE that she and Olsen hit it off. “We were like sisters right away,” the 69-year-old actress said.
When asked if she had a similar connection to another cast member, Meredith immediately came up with a name. “Miles. Miles, he was really sweet and wonderful,” the actress said, adding that her character was “not supposed to be friends, but he was very, very kind to me.”
Leah Gallo/A24
Randolph, 39, also had fun on set, especially when all the cast members were together. When asked what drew her to this project, she told PEOPLE: “I thought it was great to be able to work with people my own age. I tend to work with people older than me, which is surprising, but it was a nice change and difference. I always like to change it up.”
It also helped that the entire cast “hit it off,” the Oscar winner said, adding, “A good casting director needs to know not just the work, but the energy and the vibe of the people.” She also said that Eternity’s casting department, Chelsea Ellis Block and Marisol Roncalli, “made a fuss about it.”
“It’s great to work with everyone’s different energies, and we all have our own little quirks and things like that to tease each other,” Randolph said, later adding, “It was a natural thing. It just clicked.”
“Eternity” is currently in theaters.
