Emily Ratajkowski Reveals What She Learned from Gone Girl Co-Star Ben Affleck

Emily Ratajkowski was a total newbie when she arrived on set to play Ben Affleck's mistress in Gone Girl. Sharing a scene with a two-time Oscar-winner would be intimidating for any new actress, but Ratajkowski says she just tried to learn as much as she could from Affleck and her other costars.

"They led by example. They're all amazing actors, and I just really rose to the occasion being around that," the model and actress, 24, told PEOPLE on Thursday at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film, We Are Your Friends.

The star of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" video also spoke of working opposite Affleck in the latest issue of Editorialist magazine. "It was monkey see, monkey do," she said. "You see how this person is doing it, and you rise the occasion."

Ratajkowski, who was joined at Thursday's premiere by her musician boyfriend Jeff Magid, knew she wanted to be an actress from a young age. But she says We Are Your Friends – set in the electronic dance music scene – has a good message for young people who don't have their life mapped out yet.


"One thing I loved about this movie is that not everyone knows what they want," she told reporters at the premiere. "I think we get so much pressure when we go to college to pick a major and figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life, and sometimes it's just about taking the right steps that you know are right for you to even start figuring that out."

Ratajkowski stars opposite Zac Efron in the Max Joseph-directed film. Efron, 27, attended the premiere with girlfriend Sami Miro and family members, including his mom.

"I've been working so much, so it really means a lot to have my family come out and support it," he told reporters at the premiere. "My work does keep me from seeing them, and I don't get to see them as often as I want, so when they do come to support me, it's a great feeling."