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Carrie Preston Says Julia Roberts Was Intentionally ‘Mean’ on Duplicity Set to Help a Crying Scene

Preston recounted the tactic on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s podcast to illustrate on‑set craft.

Overview

  • Preston said Roberts warned her, “I’m gonna be mean to you for the rest of the day,” then kept her distance to create the emotional tension the scene required.
  • The interaction occurred during a high‑pressure day on the 2009 film Duplicity, where Preston had little rehearsal and only two or three days on the production.
  • Preston described delivering the moment as the most high‑pressure acting experience she had faced up to that point.
  • She added that Roberts later asked the crew to applaud after the take and later shouted “We love you Carrie” at the film’s New York premiere.
  • The anecdote, shared on the Dinner’s On Me podcast, is being reported as a retrospective look at acting technique by outlets including Entertainment Weekly, the New York Post, and People.