Although there has been much speculation on what Quentin Tarantino’s next and supposedly final film would be, his last feature, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,is easily one of the most profound of his entire career. By exploring the last days of the “Golden Age of Hollywood” before the violent Charles Manson murders stole the innocence of the City of Angels, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood became a lovely tribute to the industry itself, told through the friendship between the faded movie star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). The chemistry between DiCaprio and Pitt is remarkable, but Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has an amazing supporting cast that includes Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Kurt Russell, Al Pacino, Dakota Fanning, Bruce Dern, and Austin Butler, among many others. However, it was the young actress Julia Butters who gave the standout performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, despite her relatively limited time on screen.
Anyone who is familiar with Tarantino’s body of work knows that he loves writing great scenes for actors who have little more than a cameo in the final film; stars like Don Johnson in Django Unchained, Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction, Michael Fassbender in Inglourious Basterds, or Michael Keaton in Jackie Brown have an impact on their respective films that spans far beyond the few scenes that they were in. However, Butters was tasked with explaining why actors find their work so fulfilling, which is one of the key themes in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Who Does Julia Butters Play in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?’
Butters appears in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as the young actress Trudi Frazer, who has been cast in the Western television series Lancer alongside Rick. Rick initially struggles with the role, as he is worried about the impact it will have on his career and finds it difficult to get into character to play a villain. In between scenes, Rick and Trudi share a moment with one another in which they discuss what they are reading, which eventually leads them to discuss why they’ve decided to commit their lives to acting. Despite the cynicism that Rick feels about his future career prospects, he remembers that he was once as idealistic and spirited as Trudi is now. The conversation empowers him to look inside himself in order to play the role, and he ends up returning to set to give an amazing performance. Although Rick’s satisfaction upon nailing the scene is more valuable than any praise he could have received from others, he is deeply moved when Trudi tells him that it was the best acting that she has ever seen.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a film that celebrates the patience and dedication needed to make movies and how it may lead to some sacrifices. Rick recognizes that Trudi is very eloquent and intelligent, as she is reading a book beyond her years, and sees that she accepts the challenges that will come with such a challenging profession. Although Trudi appears to be confident in her abilities, she never becomes an obnoxious child star because her enthusiasm comes from a genuine place. Rick is able to recognize that he doesn’t want to be playing a guest villain in a second-rate television show, but Trudi is simply happy to take any opportunity to prove her merits and gain more experience. Although much of this subtext is left unspoken, the strong chemistry between Butters and DiCaprio makes it a very emotional moment.
Butters Embodies the Themes of ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’
Trudi is a character who sees value in acting as an art form and does not have the same concerns about her career as Rick does. While this may reflect her childish innocence, it’s also a healthy perspective, particularly for someone like Rick, who can’t help but compare himself to all the other actors who bested him for roles over the years. Trudi is genuinely compassionate to Rick, as she knows that helping him give a great performance will boost the quality of the show, which in turn will give them both more exposure. On a meta level, this speaks to the approach that both Butters and DiCaprio took to the scene; even though she is an unknown actress appearing alongside one of the most famous movie stars in the world, Tarantino creates a scene in which they are treated as equals.
Although Tarantino is often accused of being too exploitative with the graphic content that he often includes within his work, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is his most sentimental and accomplished film, as there is nothing cynical about Trudi’s major scene. Rick’s reaction to being praised by Trudi may have been turned into a meme the moment that the trailer of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was released, but that doesn’t in any way diminish Butters’ talent; producer David Heyman stated that she was in even more impressive scenes that were cut from the final film, and DiCaprio likened his experience working with Butters to acting alongside “a young Meryl Streep.” Butters has gone on to work with Steven Spielbergand appear in the legacy sequel Freakier Friday, but it’s her standout Once Upon a Time in Hollywood performance that put her on the map.
