In 2015, Bel Powley starred as a sexually confused teenager in the coming-of-age comedy-drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
Bel Powley as Minnie Goetze, Kristen Wiig as Charlotte Worthington, and Alexander Skarsgård as Monroe Rutherford in the 2015 American comedy-drama film The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Credit: Sony Pictures Classics)
From Novel to Screen: The Story Behind The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Based on the hybrid novel of the same name by Phoebe Gloeckner that you can buy on Amazon, Bel Powley won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress and the Trophee Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival.
Bel Powley keeps it casual in a button-front denim skirt and striped blouse at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival on June 21, 2015 (Credit: Dominic Chan / WENN)
Portraying Minnie Goetze: Bel Powley’s Preparation and Challenges
Portraying 15-year-old aspiring cartoonist Minnie Goetze, Isobel Dorothy Powley was 21 when principal photography began on January 10, 2014, in San Francisco, California.
Born on March 7, 1992, in Shepherd’s Bush, London, she turned 22 on March 7, 2014. Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård, who plays her boyfriend Monroe Rutherford in the film, was 37 years old when filming started.
All their sex scenes were shot in the first week of filming. Bel Powley and her 16-year-old co-star rehearsed for two weeks before shooting the intimate scenes.
Bel Powley stuns in a powder blue ruffled gown with a daring neckline at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards on January 5, 2020 (Credit: Instar / WENN)
Capturing Teenage Angst: Bel Powley on Her Performance
Bel Powley, in an interview with Teen Vogue, discussed the challenge of playing a much younger character, emphasizing how the candid writing helped her capture the intensity of teenage emotions.
“It’s been 8 years since I was a 15-year-old girl, so I think in terms of playing someone younger, this role was definitely a challenge, but it was written so candidly that I think Marielle captured the essence of what it really feels like to be a teenager. I tapped into that extremity of having all of my emotions on the surface. I tried to remember growing up when everything felt like it was such a big deal,” Bel said about portraying someone much younger.
She related to the film’s themes and wanted to contribute to the conversation about normalizing young women’s sexual feelings, encouraging self-acceptance, and learning from mistakes.
“I related to the concept and wanted to be a part of a conversation that made it OK for young women to have sexual feelings,” she said.
“I hope to teach people that it’s fine to make mistakes because they will learn from them, to be who they are, and to learn to love their bodies.”
Awards and Nominations: Recognizing Bel Powley’s Talent
In February 2016, Bel Powley looked cute in a short dress at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica.
Bel Powley looks radiant in a studded pink dress at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 27, 2016, in Santa Monica (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
She was nominated for Best Female Lead for her work in The Diary of a Teenage Girl but lost to Brie Larson.
Bel Powley stuns in a pink studded Mary Katrantzou dress paired with playful platform sandals at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards (Credit: WENN / Apega / Adriana M. Barraza)
For the 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards honoring the best independent films, the then 23-year-old actress wore a sleeveless pink “Balas” dress from the Mary Katrantzou 2016 Pre-Fall Collection.
The v-neck dress featured interesting embellished diamond-shaped cut-outs down the front.
Playful Footwear: Bel Powley’s Statement Sandals at the 2016 Spirit Awards
Bel Powley’s feet stood out in these eye-catching Pac-Man patterned platform sandals (Credit: WENN / Adriana M. Barraza)
Bel styled the dress with a fun pair of Pac-Man print “Maya” platform sandals from Nicholas Kirkwood, which boosted her 5ft 1 ½ (156.2 cm) height.
Bel Powley’s playful Pac-Man platform sandals added height and made her appear taller at the event (Credit: WENN / Apega)
How do you like Bel’s playful sandals? The “Maya” platform wedge sandals are available in various colors at Farfetch.
Nicholas Kirkwood Maya Ankle Strap Platform Sandal, $548 – $1,390