Killer Film’s Actress of the Year: Chloe Moretz

Throughout the course of a year, movie goers come across thousands of actors. If they are good, we remember them. But sometimes an actor can appear in numerous films, and every time he or she pops up, we get excited. Throw away any Oscar talk, not because they don’t deserve it, but this is to honor an actress that wowed us in 2010 in terms of fun and powerful performances.

Each film, she not only impressed, but made us go to her IMDB page (here) to see what she’s going to be in next. I think there is no higher honor, than that of the anticipation from a fan to an actor for they’ll do next. Before we get to her 2011 films, let’s take a minute to look back at her work in 2010 and give some props.

Without further ado, Killer Film’s Actress of the Yearis Chloe Moretz!

Her 2010 Films: Kick-Ass (here); Diary of a Wimpy Kid; and Let Me In (here).

Why: It was a one-two punch for Chloe Moretz this year. Prior to SXSW 2010, if I was to have said that the comic book movie Kick-Ass was to be highlighted by her over Nic Cage, you would’ve laughed me off of the Internet, yet that was the case. Everyone loved Hit-Girl. It was the one rare female performance that signaled an arrival of a hot newcomer, even though she’s turned heads with being a strong, young actress in Amityville Horror remake and (500) Days of Summer.

When I caught up with Chloe (here) for Kick-Ass, she explained her take on Hit-Girl, a loud, brash, foul superheroine as – in her words – “could represent women that are determined with what they want, they don’t take no for an answer, and they just go for it. Women have always been strong and willing.” Chloe Moretz is a girl that idolizes Natalie Portman, who started out her career in similar fashion with her role in Leon: The Professional that featured a sexual undercurrent between her and Leon (Jean Reno).

Face it: after viewing Kick-Ass, who else has made a memorable stab in 2010, other than Hit-Girl?

Chloe wasn’t done there. Perhaps even more challenging than being an action starlet, was the emotional depth needed for Abby in Matt Reeves’ astounding remake, Let Me In. Soft-spoken, yet constantly dangerous, Abby is a haunting version of innocence lost. Her take is just as good as Lina Leandersson as Eli, another performance that sparked a huge critical applause. Being compared to Lina, and in an attempt at honoring one of horror’s most praised films in recent memory, made Chloe feel quite humbled when we chatted. “Thanks, I felt it was going to be special too,” she told me.

Kick-Ass and Let Me In were the one-two punch that assured Chloe Moretz as our actress of the year, hands down, no doubt about it. Here’s our interview:

Jon Peters: How interested are you in certain roles? We’ve seen a pattern with you on choosing smarter-than-their-age roles, very mature roles, in (500) Days of Summer, Kick-Ass, and especially in Let Me In.

Chloe Moretz: Awww. Thank you so much for the honor [of being Killer Film's Actress of the Year]. I really just go for characters that are very diverse, but I also like characters that I emotionally connect to, and it’s special to bring them from the script to the screen.

Jon: How was it settling into a mature action-heavy role in Kick-Ass, followed by an emotionally mature role in Let Me In?

Chloe Moretz: I just connected to them from the script, so it was easier to put them on the screen. I read some of the Kick-Ass comics, yeah, but I wanted to offer a fresh take on the character. Matt Reeves didn’t want me to see Let the Right One In. I work very hard on the roles that I do get, putting my heart into them.

Jon: How did you get Hugo Cabret? Did you audition or did Martin Scorsese come to you?

Chloe Moretz: Yes, I auditioned. He actually thought I was a British girl when I did, because I did the accent. It was pretty funny. When he came up to me to finally meet me, he was like: “Oh my gosh! You’re American!” [laughs] ‘I am, I am!’ I said. He’s a legend.

Look for her in 2011: Hugo Cabret; Hick; and the possible Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall.

We will all be looking for more from her in the future, especially in her next film with legendary director Martin Scorsese in 3D. Thoughts?