Almost 20 years. That’s how long Chloë Grace Moretz has been acting; and for more than 10 years of that time, intense paparazzi and social media intrusion have been her reality. 

“There’s always gonna be the darkness that comes with fame,” she tells me as she fiddles with the zip on her oversized hoodie while sitting on the sofa of her LA home. 

“When Kick-Ass came out, I was 12 years old,” she continues, “and I think from that point forward everything shifted.”

While 2010’s Kick-Ass was undoubtedly the breakthrough moment for Moretz, now 25, it’s certainly not all she’s known for. With more than 50 film credits to her name, from the critically acclaimed Clouds of Sils Maria to the comedy Neighbors 2.

Sorority Rising, in which she starred alongside Zac Efron and Seth Rogen, she has been busy. She also has a reputation for speaking out in support of a range of issues – such as LGBTQIA+ rights and Hillary Clinton circa 2016 – and as a result she has earned what is known in the industry as “a good rep”. 

When we speak it’s to promote her upcoming Amazon series, The Peripheral, adapted for the screen from William Gibson’s sci-fi novel about virtual reality, time travel and family. It’s a whirlwind of a watch, both gripping and horrifying in turn, almost like fame itself, really.

“The Peripheral was my first foray into television. It’s eight, hour-long episodes all-in — which is like shooting eight movies back to back. 

It’s a behemoth, to say the least, but it was perfect,” Moretz says. “It’s filled with so many twists and turns and really exciting action sequences, so it has something for everybody. But for me, at the heart of it, it’s about strong interpersonal relationships. 

The relationships between the characters are so dense and so beautiful that you want them to win against all odds.”