Most people don\u2019t make their feature film debut in a Paul Thomas Anderson production\u2014but most people aren\u2019t Chase Infiniti.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Indianapolis native stars alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Anderson\u2019s latest high-powered adventure flick, One Battle After Another<\/em>,<\/em> out in theaters today. Infiniti portrays Willa, the daughter of Bob (DiCaprio), a weary former revolutionary and father. When Willa is kidnapped by a regime led by her father\u2019s former enemy\u2014also responsible for the disappearance of her mother, Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor)\u2014she and Bob must fight their way back to each other as buried secrets rise to the surface. <\/p>\n The film marks a true star-making turn for Infiniti, who appeared alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga in AppleTV+\u2019s Presumed Innocent<\/em> last year. Infiniti holds her own in One Battle<\/em>\u2019s star-studded cast, which includes additional Hollywood veterans Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall. The starlet\u2019s performance is equal parts endearing and complex, ensuring that Willa\u2019s story is one that will linger with viewers long after they leave the theater. <\/p>\n Ahead, we spoke with Infiniti about her big-screen debut, her upcoming starring role in the Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/em> spin-off, The Testaments<\/em>,<\/em> and what it takes to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to appear in a TikTok. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve been incredibly grateful and super joyous about the entire tour, and I loved going to all these different cities and meeting people and doing Q&As and whatnot. But yesterday was the first day that all the emotions hit me, and they kind of hit me from all angles. I just broke down crying, and I was like, O<\/em>h my God, this is literally insane. <\/em>Everything that I\u2019ve been going through, everyone I\u2019ve gotten to meet, and everywhere I\u2019ve gotten to go\u2014all of those moments are just starting to hit me. I had a slight moment like that in New York at one of the Q&As where somebody asked me, what was your biggest victory on this film? I said my biggest victory is the fact that I did it and I\u2019m proud of what I did\u2014and then that kind of got me choked up!<\/p>\n My first day on set was [filming] the scene where you see Bob and Willa at the breakfast table. Getting to start the entire shoot with Bob and Willa was a great benchmark because they\u2019re really the heart and soul of the film. On day one, I was nervous. I was like, Okay, first day\u2014a Paul Thomas Anderson movie and I\u2019m acting in a scene with Leonardo DiCaprio. You know what you\u2019ve got to do. You\u2019ve been working with these people for months now, whether it be chemistry reads, callbacks, or just having discussions about the film.<\/em> Paul creates the perfect safe environment, where all you have to really worry about is the scene and the acting and none of the outside chatter and the mechanics of everything. I remember feeling like I was on cloud nine that day because I was excited to dive into the scene and excited to dive into the story. I remember being surrounded by so much love on that day too. <\/p>\n It was really cool; I had grown up watching his films, as I assume everybody has. The first time I met him was in my first callback, which was a chemistry read with him. I didn\u2019t really get to know him personally until further along. But based off of that first meeting, I feel like we clicked pretty instantly, especially as Bob and Willa. <\/p>\n No parent-child relationship is perfect, especially under these circumstances, where Willa is essentially parenting him. That is all Paul, because he wrote those characters beautifully and guided me and Leo in a wonderful direction toward putting Bob and Willa onto the screen. But it is beautiful getting to see their imperfections literally from the start of meeting them. <\/p>\n I didn\u2019t get to read a script until about three or four months into doing auditions and callbacks. A lot of my getting to know Willa\u2019s story was through conversations with Paul, and I remember feeling so much love from him about Willa and hearing him talk about her, how he created her, and then her relationship with everybody and seeing how confident and independent she is\u2014but also how quick she is on her feet. The more I got to know her, the more I was filled with love.<\/p>\n I feel like there were so many, but just getting the opportunity to be on that set was such a gift. You have industry giants like Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Thomas Anderson, Teyana Taylor, and Regina Hall. Getting to just observe them and watch what makes the greats great, essentially, was the biggest lesson of all. Teyana says this, but I feel like I\u2019m a sponge. I pick up everything that I can, and I thrive in environments where I can just observe. This was the perfect environment for me to just sit back, listen, and observe in those moments where I was not needed in a scene. If I wasn\u2019t needed, I would still try to watch and show up as much as I could. <\/p>\n For real. Having her and Regina in my life, I\u2019m so blessed. Especially Teyana. I got to spend a lot of time with her on the press tour. She\u2019s done everything and is incredible at it all. Picking her brain about a lot of things was one of the greatest gifts. I can\u2019t wait for people to meet her Perfidia because she is\u2014pardon my French\u2014a badass. <\/p>\n Infiniti with Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n That thread that you feel between the two of them \u2026 throughout filming, I had this sense of longing to meet her and to get to know her\u2014as Teyana, but also as Perfidia. That really helped create that thread, because I wanted to know her, and it\u2019s something that Willa wants too. Having a space to embrace Willa\u2019s loneliness \u2026 that was the key for that relationship. <\/p>\n This movie does a great job of not pushing any specific message onto audiences, but I would love for people to take away feelings of love and empathy and [the importance of] caring for your neighbor. I think that that\u2019s something, especially nowadays, that\u2019s been forgotten.<\/p>\n When we were about to start the press tour, Leo and Paul sat down with me and were like, \u201cOkay, you got to start making some TikToks<\/a>. We\u2019ve got to get people interested in watching the film [through avenues] outside of traditional promotions, like trailers and billboards and Instagram ads.\u201d And I was like, \u201cOh, you putting me on TikTok detail? I got you!\u201d<\/p>\n I love TikTok. I\u2019m on TikTok all the time, so I see stuff that pops up, and then I would show up and be like, \u201cOkay, guys. I have some TikTok ideas!\u201d Then I\u2019d have to pitch to everybody, and I\u2019d be like, \u201cOkay, here\u2019s what I want to do.\u201d At first, they were like, I don\u2019t know about this. Over time, I got them to say yes to doing a lot more. Me and Teyana had recorded the dance one that they just posted recently, and then right after that, Leo came up and said it was great. Then I was like, \u201cOkay, well, if you like that, I have another TikTok idea for you.\u201d And he agreed to do it. I think that they all started to find fun in making the TikToks\u2014even Paul, who was [initially] like, \u201cI don\u2019t want to be in them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHow are you feeling in the midst of this crazy press tour you\u2019re on? Have you had a moment to sit down and really take it all in? <\/strong> <\/h2>\n
Most people know by now that this is your feature-film debut. Take me back to your first day on set and what it felt like.<\/strong> <\/h2>\n
What was it like meeting Leo for the first time? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
I love watching your two characters onscreen together. We haven\u2019t seen Leo in a ton of dad roles, and especially not one like this. The feisty dynamic between you two is really fun too. I love seeing an imperfect parent onscreen.<\/strong> <\/h2>\n
What was your first impression of Willa as a character when the script first came your way? <\/strong> <\/h2>\n
This was a set full of legends. What lessons did you take away from being in that environment?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Teyana is as real as they come! <\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
You two don\u2019t share scenes together in the movie, but as a viewer I still felt this invisible thread between you. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
This film is so layered. What do you kind of hope the reaction will be to its story?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"chase](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/rev-1-obaa-20250623-high-res-jpeg-68d6f3ef16885.jpeg?resize=980:*\" "\\"chase")
<\/p>\nWe need to talk about your TikTok game while promoting this film! Everyone is obsessed. How did your TikToks come to be\u2014and how<\/em> did you convince Leonardo DiCaprio to say yes to being in one<\/a>? <\/strong> <\/h2>\n