Olivia Williams has said she was drawn to her film Maps To The Stars because it was thrilling heading into “dark territory”.

The 46-year-old actress plays a Hollywood mum in David Cronenberg’s satirical drama, which also stars Robert Pattinson and Julianne Moore.

“I was driven in the first place by the script, which had everyone on set both laughing and appalled in equal measure. It felt like we were in very dark territory, but was exhilarating at the same time,” she said.

“Given the subject matter, some feared we’d never be invited back… but ultimately Hollywood loves to see itself caricatured, whether or not it is flattering.”

Olivia said she was “intrigued” to work with filmmaker Cronenberg on the project.

“I have always been a bit too squeamish to watch his work, but the script was so funny and appalling at the same time, I just wanted to be involved. My enthusiasm carried me through my nerves,” she said.

“Very quickly on set I felt I just wanted to tuck in, like a big meal. There were lines and scenes I just couldn’t wait to play.”

Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore (Thibault Camus/AP/PA)

Olivia worked with Julianne Moore on both Maps To the Stars and fantasy film Seventh Son.

She said: “We had a surreal summer; one week in Vancouver, she wearing claws and a corset made of bones and me dressed as a pig farmer. The next in Toronto, she’s in her underwear and I’m in a burn suit, both times chatting about how to raise kids and stay sane… we could equally have been at the school gates having just staggered back from the supermarket for pick-up time.

“She manages to combine being a consummate and dangerous talent with a total lack of pretension.”

:: Maps To The Stars is available on Blu-ray and DVD on February 2 from Entertainment One.