Genevieve Hannelius Looks to Sofia Coppola for Movie Recs, Too

What does a kid actor do after starring in a litany of Disney shows? If you’re Genevieve Hannelius, swap the soundstage for civilian life. “I don't think there's anything to write about if you don't have experience,” she tells Shelf. 

After college and moving to New York City, the now-26-year-old actor and singer has reemerged with Girlhood, a six-track EP (out Jan. 16) that joins her own narrative with the canon of early-2000s pop girls. “I grew up listening to Hilary Duff [and] Aly & AJ,” she says. “For the production of ‘Reckless’ and ‘James,’ specifically, that was definitely intentional.”

On purpose or not, a string of powerful women also populates Hannelius’s Shelf. Among her picks, below, find a coming-of-age film by way of Sofia Coppola and a mindfulness podcast for fellow go-go-goers.

Twilight

“I saw Twilight when it came out but just rewatched it. What I forgot — or maybe just never realized — was just how experimental the film is. The shots are so unique, like tipping the camera on its side, and the soundtrack is so good. It's not what you see in these cookie-cutter, young-adult movies. Catherine Hardwicke really took a lot of risks in the actual directing and with the cinematography that made it a really special movie with a raw edge. Plus, I love that the person who directed Thirteen directed this movie. This is somebody who understands teenage girls, who they are, and what they want to see.”

Foxes (1980)

“Sofia Coppola does screenings at the Cherry Lane Theatre called Sundays with Sofia, where she picks a movie that inspired her, and this was one of them. Foxes is about a group of girlfriends and has a lot of shots of young girls lying around their rooms, just kind of sprawled out and talking, which is a very Sofia Coppola kind of thing. There are close-ups on beauty products and details of girlhood — it really is girlhood encapsulated. It's actually directed by a man, which is so shocking, because you really feel like he gets girls, and he doesn't sexualize anything. It’s also really cool to see this kind of time capsule of the late-’70s San Fernando Valley, which is where my dad grew up.”

Heart the Lover by Lily King

“Lily King is just an incredible storyteller. This is somebody who really understands young women and what we go through in a really realistic way that I find super relatable. All her books do such a good job of capturing the kind of strange feeling of being on the cusp of adulthood. I also loved her other book, Writers and Lovers. I highly recommend that as well.” 

Tara Brach

“Tara Brach is a mindfulness teacher. For her podcast, she does hour-long philosophical and spiritual talks. I love listening to it because it’s a great way to ground yourself, reconnect, and remember what is actually important. She also does meditations, which I highly recommend. I'm a very foot-on-the-gas-pedal type of person, so I really have to dedicate time to slow down. I've been doing meditation and yoga for many years. I need these practices to be the best version of myself, but also to reconnect with my inner life. I think it's really great for any artist to be in stillness.”

Mount Pleasant by Kelsea Ballerini 

“Kelsea Ballerini releases EPs between her albums, and I just always feel like they're really personal. With this one, her lyrics and storytelling are so poetic. I just really like the way she blends country music into a little bit of a pop feel, but one that’s really grounded. She's just so vulnerable and honest, and I just respect the hell out of it.”

All Her Fault

“I'm usually big on rewatching old stuff, like One Tree Hill and Gilmore Girls, so I don’t watch a lot of super-current television, but this show got me hooked. It’s majorly bingeable, with an insane performance by Sarah Snook, who I'm obsessed with. I saw her one-woman performance of The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway. It was unbelievable. I did my first play last year off Broadway, and it's so exhausting, physically, but that was not even close to the level of what she did. She was onstage by herself for hours doing monologues. She's a superhuman. You see her at the end of the show and she's dripping in sweat — that is how much she put into the performance. She’s a powerhouse, and she’s great in this show. If you want a fun mystery show to watch over the holidays, this is the one.”

What else is Genevieve Hannelius into? Get real-time updates at shelf.im/ghannelius.