Taron Egerton’s Most Emotional Role Yet? "She Rides Shotgun" Delivers

By Sandy Lo

Anti-hero Nate McClusky, played by Taron Egerton, is freshly out of prison and on the run from his past in the new thriller, She Rides Shotgun. While locked up, Nate ruffled some big feathers within a powerful gang who are now seeking revenge—by killing him and anyone that stands in their way, including his 9-year-old daughter, Polly, played by Ana Sophia Heger.

Estranged from her father since his imprisonment, Polly is uneasy when Nate shows up to pick her up from school. Knowing he would never hurt her, she reluctantly agrees to get in a stolen car with him.

"The thing about Nate is, he’s never been in charge before. He can handle himself, but he’s not used to having to take initiative, and I feel that that’s central to who he is. He’s much more a rabbit in the headlights than he is a lion in Polly’s defense.” -- Taron Egerton

The two set out on a father-daughter road trip unlike any other. Instead of it being the ride of their lives, it’s the ride for their lives. Along the way, Nate bleaches and cuts Polly’s naturally dark hair to help disguise her from the police since she’s been reported missing—and teaches her how to defend herself.

One of the most memorable scenes is the hair-dyeing moment, which was largely improvised by the cast. “Nick [Rowland] is the kind of artist who can create an atmosphere, and he conducted that scene in a way where Ana and I were able to be very free and playful,” Egerton says about director Nick Rowland. Adds Heger, “I love that scene because Nick let us do whatever we wanted. We kind of just added dialogue and improvised and stuff. And I just thought it was really fun — I mean, it was a big change with my hair. I was a little emotional at first, because my hair used to be really long. But I really like that scene.”

Nate and Polly soon realize they don’t know who is an ally or an enemy, but their bond is clearly indestructible. As Polly is repeatedly exposed to violence and killing, Nate reminds her that he doesn’t want her to become like him. “You’re a good thing. I don’t like seeing good things get ruined,” he tells her in an emotional scene after Polly fires a gun to protect him.

While the film is packed with adrenaline and grit, what truly stands out are the emotional performances from Egerton and Heger. Egerton makes you hurt for him as he fights to protect his daughter from the ghosts of his past. Reflecting on what drew him to the role, Egerton shared, “What I loved about the story is that there was this balance of tenderness and heart and emotion with the tension and the jeopardy of the narrative. And I knew that in Nick’s hands, it was likely to be something that was quite special and really timeless.”

As for Heger, she remarkably portrays both vulnerability and resilience. You can see the situation her character is put in, changing her, making her fearless and strong, and seeming more adultlike. Then the next, Polly goes back to being a scared child seamlessly, which creates a believable and impactful performance.

“I really liked Polly,” Heger says. “She’s different from me, from my personality — she’s kind of like an outcast and not social, and doesn’t really have friends, and I’m like social and stuff, so I thought it would probably be a challenge for me. And I like challenging myself for movies.”

Producer Brad Weston praised the onscreen connection between the two stars: “Taron created a chemistry with Ana, from the second they got to New Mexico, that translates to the screen. So for me, first and foremost, that’s the win. She’s so good, and they’re so good together, and their trust, their warmth is really beautiful.”

Adapted from the novel by Jordan Harper, the screenplay was written by Harper, Ben Collins, and Luke Piotrowski. The film also stars Rob Yang, Odessa A’zion, David Lyons, and John Carroll Lynch.

She Rides Shotgun is in theaters now—and if you love a good action-thriller with heart, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Watch the trailer for She Rides Shotgun!

Originally published in StarShine Magazine. Discover more at StarShineMag.net!