NEED TO KNOW
- Allison Williams and costar Violet McGraw share how their bond grew stronger on the set of M3GAN 2.0
- The pair share interests in Harry Potter, Taylor Swift and more
- Williams, 37, “always looked out for me,” says McGraw, now 14
Allison Williams made a crucial error when trying to bond with her then-10-year-old costar Violet McGraw on the set of M3GAN, the horror film that became a hit in 2022.
“I made the mistake of saying that I preferred Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings very early in our relationship,” Williams, 37, tells PEOPLE. “She literally wouldn’t talk to me for a little while afterwards.”
McGraw, who plays niece Cady to Williams’ Gemma, is now 14 and explains, “I was such a hardcore Lord of the Rings stan that I thought watching other fantasy stuff would be betraying Middle-earth. When she said Harry Potter I was legit bummed.”
Now, though, it’s water under the bridge. The costars reunited to make M3GAN 2.0, the highly anticipated sequel that leans into the action realm.
Says McGraw, “After we wrapped the first film, I binged all the Harry Potter movies and became obsessed. So this time, I could finally talk with Allison about them. I totally get the love. I’m a Hufflepuff, by the way.”
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Williams recalls, “This time around, when she showed up, the first thing she said to me, she’s like, ‘Guess what? I like Harry Potter now.’ I was like, this is going to be great; I’m going to win.”
It didn’t stop there. The duo soon bonded over their love of a certain pop superstar. “When we started singing Taylor Swift between takes, it was done, and we are sisters forever,” says Williams. “We have the same taste in music. I hope I get to always have Violet in my life.”
“We just bonded hard this movie,” adds the Girls alum, who’s also a producer behind the M3GAN movies.
McGraw adds, “Allison and I totally bonded over being Swifties. We’d geek out about Taylor Swift’s songs all the time. And I taught her some trending TikTok dances — we had a blast learning the ‘Apple’ dance together. Honestly, we’re always having the best time.”
The young star calls Williams “legit one of the funniest people.” Between takes, the two would “chat about random stuff, and it always ended with us cracking up,” says McGraw. “I’m super sarcastic, and she totally got my humor, which was awesome. Plus, she’s crazy talented and always looked out for me.”
Williams, who shares 3-year-old son Arlo with Alexander Dreymon, praises McGraw for being professional but also enjoying her childhood at the same time.
“I give her parents so much credit for the fact that she is both totally her age and giggly and everything you are supposed to be at 14. Then she’s capable of such professionalism, and preparedness, and kindness, and politeness, and all of the things you want in an actor in this setting. Those two things can exist simultaneously,” says Williams.
She adds, “It’s so impressive because usually actors who start young are most celebrated for their qualities that are the least childlike, which is such weird, twisted irony. She’s able to exist with a foot in both worlds.”
McGraw will never forget one sweet gesture that Williams did just to surprise her while working on the sequel.
“Before the first day of filming, Allison asked what some of my favorite snacks were. I mentioned some, like Dr. Pepper — it’s my guilty pleasure,” says McGraw. “The next morning I walk into my trailer and there’s this huge basket stuffed with all my faves, including a ton of Dr. Pepper, which is, like, impossible to find in New Zealand. She’s seriously the best.”
Their killer-robot scene partner M3GAN, though? She is a “high maintenance lady,” jokes Williams.
M3GAN 2.0 is in theaters now. To discover more exclusive insight into the highly anticipated sequel, download the PEOPLE App now.
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