When Jane Campion returned with 2021’s Oscar-nominated “The Power Of The Dog,” there was much talk about the New Zealand filmmaker’s return and her 12-year absence from feature filmmaking. However, often missing in that narrative was the fact that Campion never went anywhere. All she did was pivot to television and two seasons of “Top Of The Lake” (2013 and then 2017), so acclaimed and anticipated at the time, it was invited to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and is largely regarded as some of the best TV of the decade. Of course, the star of both those seasons was Elisabeth Moss.
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What many don’t know or remember was that Moss was initially poised to play the role of Rose in Campion’s award-winning Western before having to exit the part due to scheduling conflicts with “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Kirsten Dunst took over the role and rode it all the way to an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Speaking with Empire Magazine in a career-spanning interview, Moss candidly discussed missing out on the role that led to Dunst nearly winning an Oscar and revitalizing her career in a major way.
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“I mean, I’m not gonna lie. I wish… I wish… I wish… I could have done it. Of course,” Moss said. “It’s hard because I really, really wanted to do it, and Jane and I talked about it for a couple of years. But she and I have been very kind to each other in that process, knowing that sometimes these things just don’t work out, and it’s not really anyone’s fault.”
After praising the film and specifically the performance of Dunst, Moss alluded to waiting for Campion to call up for another project.
“I was actually so happy that Kirsten was doing it because I respect her so much as an actress,” she explained. “I think if that role had gone to somebody that I didn’t love, I don’t think I would have liked that. And obviously, it’s such a beautiful film. In the end, I’m happy that it happened the way that it did, but I would say my only desperate desire is to work with Jane again.”
When Moss was asked about a potential third season of the “Top of The Lake” series with Campion, she said she’d be there in a heartbeat if asked. “I’ve told her multiple times, ‘Just say the word. Let me know what country to be in, and I’ll be there’.”
Having just won an Oscar for best director should ideally allow Campion to make whatever she chooses. Does that mean a third installment for “Top of The Lake”? Campion recently said she loved TV, but its length and scope exhausted her. Still, never say never, and maybe first thing’s first: getting “Top Of The Lake” on some readily available streaming service per Campion’s wishes.