Mia Threapleton made a striking debut on Wednesday night at the New York premiere of Wes Anderson’s latest film, The Phoenician Scheme. Held at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the event drew an all-star ensemble and the filmmaker’s longtime collaborators for a special screening.
The 24-year-old actor, daughter of Kate Winslet, stars alongside Benicio del Toro, Bryan Cranston, Michael Cera, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Hanks in what marks her first leading role in a major film. Threapleton plays Sister Liesel, the daughter of del Toro’s character Zsa-Zsa Korda, a powerful European tycoon. Michael Cera joins the cast as her tutor, Bjorn Lund, in his first appearance in a Wes Anderson film.
Reflecting on her audition experience, Threapleton recalled being nervous before meeting Anderson. “Then he opened the door and said ‘Hello!’ and gave me a hug,” she said. “He was wearing hotel slippers and pink socks, and I thought, ‘Oh, you’re not scary at all.’”
Despite the weight of being labeled a “nepo baby,” Threapleton holds her own alongside Anderson’s regulars. Her performance as a porcelain-faced novitiate nun has earned praise for its charm and depth in the film’s unpredictable, globe-spanning narrative.
“Wes is so unique—such an auteur—you just have to buckle up and go along for the ride,” said Bryan Cranston, who previously worked with Anderson on Isle of Dogs and Asteroid City.
The 90-minute film follows Zsa-Zsa Korda and his daughter on a sweeping journey, blending Anderson’s signature style with unexpected storytelling turns.
Following the premiere, guests made their way through the rain to an afterparty at the Metropolitan Club on the Upper East Side. Under ornate chandeliers, celebrities including Jon Hamm, Ari Aster, Steve Buscemi, and Sean Baker mingled over custom “Zsa-Zsa” cocktails late into the night.
Threapleton credits Anderson for creating a welcoming environment on set. “He leads with a lot of love,” she said. “Everyone feels profoundly comfortable around him. They keep coming back because they love him, and he loves them.”
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