However this sense of intuition isn’t specific to her work in The Craft but rather part of her personality and the way she approaches her work. In this movie, her character Frankie, was strong and sassy and the way she developed was very organic. Gideon channeled her, as she puts it” I didn’t go into and be like, okay, I’m going to say this here.It kind of comes out like word vomit and I think that’s when it’s the best, because that really shows you’re in it with the character, like you’re really that person in the moment.” It’s this approach and her ability to immerse herself that lends all her performances an authenticity which captures the audience.
Her vulnerability is a huge part of this and we discuss her background including being bullied in high school, a parallel shared by her character Frankie. “I’ve always been very nice to everybody, and there were still these girls that were not nice to me and would try and start things with me and would try to start drama with me over a boy that I liked or saying like, I’m not allowed to like them, or, you know, just really stupid.” She recounts being pushed up against lockers and says, “It’s heartbreaking to look back on it, but being bullied like that really shaped me and, you know, I never bullied anybody because of it. And I’m glad, but seeing these girls take their revenge back and not try and be something else and not scurry away and cry that’s inspiring” I ask her why this is so valuable to her and she says, “I just want young girls, young boys, older women, older men, people in their mid twenties, people in their late teens to watch this movie and be like, you know what? I know who I am, and I’m going to show up and I’m going to stick to my guns because who you are is the best thing, because it’s unique.”
Uniqueness has been something of a trademark in Adlon’s life, growing up with a famous parent- her mom voices Bobby Hill in King of The Hill and raised her and her sisters to be strong and politically active, something which informs how Adlon functions to this day. “Every time I had a birthday party, I would never get presents or anything I would ask for donations and I’d send them to different charities. And I remember I would go to foster home if I did get presents and I would bring my presents to those kids and hang out with them.” Currently she’s passionate about stopping child marriage and is involved in work with UNICEF but closer to home in Los Angeles she’s been exploring the legislature around the homeless crisis and figuring out ways to help.