You remember that feeling back in 2014 when every single book on the shelf was being turned into a dystopian movie? It was a wild time. We had The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner—basically, if you were a teenager in a grey jumpsuit fighting a corrupt government, you had a franchise. But then there was The Giver. It felt different. It was quieter. And at the center of that quiet, emotional storm was Odeya Rush.
Honestly, looking back at Odeya Rush in The Giver, it’s kind of crazy how well her performance holds up, especially considering she was only about 16 or 17 when they filmed it. She played Fiona. In the book, Fiona is this red-headed girl who works with the Old. In the movie? They aged her up, gave her a more central role, and turned her into a "Nurturer" who takes care of the Newchildren.
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It was a big swing for the filmmakers. Some fans of the Lois Lowry novel weren't exactly thrilled about the changes, particularly the romantic subplot between Jonas and Fiona. But let’s be real: Odeya brought a soul to that character that made the stakes feel high. When she stops taking those "injections" that suppress emotion, you see her whole world crack open. It wasn't just acting; it felt like watching someone wake up from a lifelong sleep.
The Challenge of Playing Fiona
Imagine being told you have to act, but you can’t show any emotion for the first half of the movie. That’s a nightmare for most actors. Odeya Rush has talked about this in old interviews, mentioning how she and Brenton Thwaites (who played Jonas) had to find this weird balance. They couldn't be robots—because the people in the Community aren't robots, they're just... muted.
They’re content. Naive.
Odeya had to play Fiona as someone who is perfectly happy with a life that is, frankly, terrifyingly boring. She spent two weeks volunteering at a hospital in South Africa, where they filmed, just to get the "nurturing" vibe down. She wanted to make sure that when Fiona handles the babies in the movie, it looks like second nature. It’s those little details that make a performance stick.
Working With Hollywood Giants
Can we talk about the cast list for a second? It was insane. You had Odeya Rush, a relatively new face at the time, sharing scenes with:
- Jeff Bridges (The Giver)
- Meryl Streep (The Chief Elder)
- Alexander Skarsgård (Jonas’s Father)
- Katie Holmes (Jonas’s Mother)
- Taylor Swift (Rosemary—yes, that really happened)
Odeya has mentioned that Jeff Bridges was basically the "vibes captain" on set. He’d bring his guitar, he’d tell them not to take things too seriously, and he’d encourage them to "be the fool." Meryl Streep, on the other hand, was all about vulnerability. Even though Meryl’s character was the "villain," Odeya noticed how open she was as a performer. It’s a lot of pressure for a teenager, but you can’t tell she’s nervous when you watch the film. She holds her own against Meryl Streep. Read that again. That's a career peak for most people, and she did it before she could legally vote in the U.S.
Why Fiona Was the Emotional Core
Jonas is the protagonist, sure. He gets the memories. He sees the colors. He sees the war and the elephants and the sunsets. But Fiona is the one who has to live the consequence of his awakening.
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When Jonas stops her from taking her medicine, he’s essentially forcing her to feel pain, love, and confusion without her consent. It’s a heavy concept. Odeya played that transition with so much nuance. There’s a specific scene where she’s sitting by the fountain, and you can see the exact moment she starts to actually see Jonas. Not just as a friend, but as a person.
The movie received mixed reviews, mostly because people are protective of the book. I get it. But almost everyone agreed that the chemistry between the leads was one of the strongest parts. Odeya’s Fiona became the reason Jonas wanted to leave. She wasn't just a "love interest" trope; she was the personification of what the Community was losing by choosing "Sameness."
Life After The Community
After The Giver, Odeya didn't just disappear into the YA movie void. She’s had a really interesting career trajectory. She went on to star in Goosebumps with Jack Black, and she was incredible in Lady Bird as the "popular girl" Jenna Walton. If you haven't seen Cha Cha Real Smooth or Umma, she’s in those too.
She’s also moved into directing and writing her own shorts. It makes sense, given that she grew up in a house with four younger brothers where she used to write and direct plays for them. She’s always been more than just a face on a poster.
How to Revisit the Film Today
If you’re planning on rewatching The Giver to see Odeya’s performance, keep an eye on the color grading. The way the color slowly seeps into Fiona’s world—her hair turning red, the warmth in her skin—is a masterclass in visual storytelling.
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Actionable Insights for Movie Buffs:
- Watch the "Release" Scene Again: Look at Odeya’s face when she realizes what "release" actually means. It’s one of the few times her character shows pure, unadulterated horror.
- Compare the Book and Film: If you’re a purist, try to view the movie as a "parallel universe" version of the story. It helps you appreciate the acting choices Odeya made for a more mature Fiona.
- Follow Her Directorial Work: Keep an eye on her social media or IMDb for her short films. You can see the influence of directors like Phillip Noyce in her framing.
Odeya Rush in The Giver wasn't just another teen movie role. It was a breakout performance that proved she could handle heavy, philosophical material while standing toe-to-toe with legends. Whether you loved the adaptation or hated the changes from the book, you can't deny that she brought a heartbeat to a world that was supposed to be heartless.