Willow Shields Talks Primrose Everdeen In 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2' DVD! INTERVIEW

Lionsgate Home Entertainment releases the final installment, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, on DVD and Blu-Ray. In an exclusive interview with MStars News, actress Willow Shields talks about her role as Primrose Everdeen and working beside her leading co-star, Jennifer Lawrence.

Based on author Suzanne Collins' bestselling trilogy, Mockingjay Part 2 follows Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence), who continues to fight to survive the brutal Hunger Games. Primrose Everdeen (Shields) joins her older sister, Katniss, in the rebellion against Panem's tyrannical president (Donald Sutherland). The Everdeen sisters and their team of rebels from District 13 must prepare for an epic battle that will decide Panem's future.

With Mockingjay Part 2 now available on DVD and Blu-Ray, the Hunger Games actress discusses being part of the popular franchise from the start, filming the final chapter, and her upcoming new projects.

MStars News: After playing the same role for four movies, what was it that held your interest about Prim?

Willow Shields: I think she is a really well developed character in the series. As an actor, it was really cool to play her because in each movie, she changed slightly. But enough for you to work really hard to figure out how to portray it. So I had a lot of fun with that! It was really challenging, but I also had the books as material to work with, as well as the script. It was definitely very helpful, but I think she is just a really interesting progressive character, who is kind and caring, but also kind of strong and fearless in the end.

MS: How much of the books did you use as research? Or did you stay away from the source material as the movies continued?

WS: Oh no, I mean I definitely read the books over and over again to get my research. Because as an actor, it is more than you could ever ask for; to have that material already written and a series of three books already written. I breezed through them and read them again and again and sort of underlined all the things I felt were important for me to think about for Prim, things like that. And you have the script as well, but to have the backstory from the book is really important. And then, you can just build on that on your own.

MS: With the Blu-ray now in stores, does it feel bittersweet to say goodbye to the character again?

WS: You know, I don't think its really ending yet still. I think for me, it still hasn't hit me that its over. I feel like the fans are still so supportive and hugely excited about our series, still that I almost think that it will never be over in a sense; since fans will watch it forever. In 15 years, there will be people watching these movies. I think that it is just another step, and part of the journey that is still continuing.

MS: Tell me about working with Jennifer Lawrence?

WS: She is amazing! She is really really fun to work with! And obviously, she has an extreme talent, which is cool to work with! I learned a lot about acting just watching her and doing scenes with her. And she is just super sweet and obviously hilarious! She kind of lightened the mood everyday for all of us, which was definitely needed! Because a lot of the scenes that we were doing were very emotional.

MS: Because Jennifer Lawrence has an Oscar, was it a challenge working beside her? Or did you feel like you stepped up your game?

WS: Because I have known her for so long, I don't take into consideration the Oscar. When I'm working with her, I am very happy for her. But I don't see it necessarily like something that scares me, like intimidates me when I[m working with her. Because she is so down to earth and chill about the whole experience, when I am working with her, we just feed off of each other's emotions. It is very natural. We are such great friends and almost like sisters. For me, a lot of it came very naturally. I don't think that it held me back at all or made me step up my game; it just all flowed right.

MS: If you were Katniss, who would you choose? Gale (Liam Hemsworth) or Peeta (Josh Hutcherson)?

WS: [Laughs] Prim! I would choose Prim! Yeah I don't know! I think they are both such cool characters, Peeta and Gale. They are both amazing people in different ways, but I think that the story behind the whole series is Katniss fighting for her family. And that is how it all begins. That's why she goes to the Hunger Games because she volunteers for Prim. In the end, I think she will choose Prim over anyone else.

MS: With the Blu-ray in stores, do you have a favorite scene, from Mockingjay or from the whole series that stuck with you?

WS: In Catching Fire, I really loved visually, in the final scenes of the film, where Katniss shoots the bow and arrow into the dome of the arena. It's just visually stylistic! Francis Lawrence, our director, did an incredible job with that take. Jen looked beautiful while still being an incredible character and doing something epic in the film! So that was kind of my favorites! I really liked filming The Reaping scene, as well as the scene in Mockingjay Part I, when I am in the bunk bed with Jen talking. I thought that one was really fun too!

MS: Because you are on social media, is it fun to interact with the fans?

WS: It is really fun yeah! I have a good time with it! And they are all like I said, so supportive and fun to talk to. Honestly, they are all super intelligent, creative and interesting. If you read the books, everybody enjoys them and these teenagers have read the books, tons of times even. And that just makes them intelligent people.

This series encourages them to think and have opinions! I love talking to them about it because they do have opinions! I think they are really cool. They appreciate good filmmaking because of these movies. It is one of the first teen series that is actually really legit in the sense that the filmmaking is done right. We have great director, great cinematographer; the whole thing is done so that not only teenagers like it, but their parents love it too.

MS: What are you working on now?

WS: I just wrapped, not too long ago, about a few months ago, I wrapped a movie called The Wonder 3D, which is a family adventure film. I filmed in China and New Zealand for three months! That was kind of a long time filming for me. It was my first leading role.

 And then, I'm supposed to film a movie called A Fall from Grace, which is kind of the opposite of The Wonder, it's kind of a horror/thriller film. I will be one of the leading roles as well. We have an amazing cast starting to pull together! I am very excited about it! Jennifer Lynch will be directing that! And she is a fantastic director!

MS: Because you started early in the industry, where do you see yourself in the future? What type of roles are you interested in?

WS: I don't know. I am just interested in as much diversity as possible in the future I guess. You know, from doing The Hunger Games, I was playing a certain type of character. My scenes where very emotional. I went straight from that to doing Dancing with the Stars, which was totally different and fun a new side of me that people got to see. From there, I did The Wonder, which was different. It was my first leading role, which was difficult, but also kind of a fun film that did have an emotional part to it. People get to see a fun side of me. And then, just doing things that are different, comedy maybe at some point. Theatre maybe at some point. More drama or horror, whatever I can do that sort of adds different emotions to my resume I guess you can say.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is available now in stores on DVD and Blu-Ray.