All Michael Shannon Wants is to Appear on David Letterman
Michael Shannon’s rise from relative unknown to Oscar nominee to blockbuster movie super-villain has been long, but not as tough as some of his friends suggest.
SAG-AFTRA Negotiates New Contract for Commercial Actors
The new contract, which was approved by SAG-AFTRA leadership on April 21, addresses some of these concerns.
Young ‘Matilda’ Stars Ruled Ineligible for Best Actress Tony Award, Will Receive Honorary Award Instead
When it comes to the Oscar and Emmy acting awards, decisions are pretty cut and dry on the eligibility requirements. When it comes to Tony Awards, the rigorous schedule of Broadway sometimes disqualifies certain performers from categories.
Michael Shannon: “I guess any time I take a job, I’m not afraid to dig into something, no matter how ugly it may be”
Michael Shannon’s big movie this year is undoubtedly Man of Steel, in which he plays the Superman villain General Zod, but those who enjoy Shannon in his dark roles are also looking forward to his role as real-life serial hit man Richard Kuklinski in The Iceman.
Clark Gregg on His Movie ‘Trust Me’: “Anyone who is in Hollywood long enough, you go through some… kind of feeling like that untouchable loser who can’t get a break”
Clark Gregg took time out from his schedule of appearing in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies to film Trust Me, a movie he wrote, directed, and starred in about Howard, a luckless Hollywood agent for child actors who seems to finally have hit his stroke of luck with a young actress.
Review: ‘The Thirteenth Commandment’ at the Bridge Theatre (NYC)
Without mentioning them all individually I have nothing but praise for each actor in the play because this is very much a group effort — each part is significant.
Robert Downey, Jr.: “Nothing pleases me more than when somebody who was awe-inspired to be working with me realizes I’m just another schmuck”
Though Robert Downey, Jr. is an acclaimed actor, in an interview with GQ he shrugs off the acclaim to point out how normal he thinks he really is what he calls a “ridiculous industry.”
Bette Midler on Her Staying Power: “I made my own work, I made my own shows, I put them together in a way that made people want to see them”
Bette Midler has returned to the Broadway stage this month as real-life Hollywood agent Sue Mengers in I’ll Eat You Last, the first time Midler has appeared on Broadway since her concert show Bette! Divine Madness ended its limited run in January 1980.
Zac Efron Takes Advice from Dennis Quaid: “Play as many different types of roles as possible”
So let me get this straight — Zac Efron, that guy who was in all those High School Musical movies and 17 Again, has spent the last several years starring in indie films? Okay, I actually knew that already, but it’s still pretty surprising considering he probably still had five or so years left of milking teen heartthrob movies but instead chose to do more under the radar projects like Liberal Arts, The Paperboy, and At Any Price.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Director James Gunn on Chris Pratt: “This guy has his own, very particular, amazing take on the character”
Parks and Recreation star Chris Pratt might be an offbeat choice for any role in a superhero film, let alone the lead role of Peter “Star-Lord” Quill, the leader of Marvel Comics’ intergalactic super-team the Guardians of the Galaxy. But according to director James Gun,, when we see Pratt in the film next summer we’re going to forgo any perception we might have of him.
Robert Downey, Jr. on Winning an Oscar: “I know it’s going to happen… That’s just a fact”
In his in-depth interview with Robert Downey, Jr. for GQ, correspondent Chris Heath ends with asking Downey if he aspires to win an Oscar. Naturally, the twice-nominated Downey responds with the familiar “it doesn’t really matter to me” answer we’re used to hearing from actors.
Peter Dinklage: “I expected the entertainment business to see only my size and nothing else, so I wanted to pretend my size wasn’t who I was at all”
With millions of fans tuning in each week, Game of Thrones is among the most popular television series HBO has ever had. One of the most compelling characters on the show is Tyrion Lannister, who is portrayed by Peter Dinklage
Alan Tudyk on Playing Racist Baseball Manager in ’42’: “It would leave a stain on your mood, and put you into a bad mood into the next day”
In a movie that deals with racial prejudice like 42, naturally the roles most people would want to play are the characters who overcome racism, like Jackie Robinson (portrayed by Chadwick Boseman) and Branch Rickey (portrayed by Harrison Ford).
Bradley Cooper: “I surround myself with people who are honest with me”
To me, 2012 in film marked a year in which a number of actors revealed to the world that they could really, well, act. For example, prior to Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper was best known for his good looks and starring in comedies like The Hangover movies and Wedding Crashers and romantic comedies. But Cooper proved his chops in Silver Linings Playbook and was even nominated for an Oscar.
Robert Downey Jr. on How He Became Iron Man and How Much Longer He’ll Play Tony Stark
Though now it seems that it would be wrong for anyone else but Robert Downey, Jr. to play Tony Stark, when Iron Man was going through casting Downey was only a few years removed from a very public battle with drug addiction and hadn’t been a high profile name in even longer.
Constantine Maroulis on His Lead Role in Broadway’s ‘Jekyll & Hyde’: “I know that people want to sort of tear me down”
The original 1997-2001 Broadway production of the musical Jekyll & Hyde was certainly not shy about stunt celebrity casting. Musicians Jack Wagner and Sebastian Bach were two of the lead replacements, though none other than actor/musician/lifeguard legend David Hasselhoff was in the lead role at the end of the production’s run.
Alec Baldwin on Shia LaBeouf’s Exit from ‘Orphans’ and His Preference for Theater Over Film
Reviews haven’t made it out yet on Broadway’s Orphans, the Lyle Kessler play that has unfortunately become most notable for the behind-the-scenes squabbles that led to the ouster of Shia LaBeouf from one of the lead roles, but star Alec Baldwin is still doing all he can to promote it.
Jeremy Piven on Retuning to TV with ‘Mr. Selfridge’ and What His Job is as an Actor
After starring as Hollywood agent Ari Gold on eight seasons of Entourage, Jeremy Piven didn’t expect that his next major role would be in another television series. Yet Piven stars as real-life turn-of-the-twentieth-century department store tycoon Harry Selfridge in Mr. Selfridge on PBS’ Masterpiece Classic.
John C. McGinley: “If you can figure out where you fit into any particular story, you’ll be okay”
Some actors shrug off a label like “character actor” as something that somewhat minimizes their contribution to a production. However, veteran actor John C. McGinley is not one of those actors.
Jason Bateman on His Dramatic Role in ‘Disconnect’ and How He Prepares for Emotional Scenes
In Disconnect, the usually very funny Jason Bateman plays a career obsessed lawyer who is unaware that his son is being cyber bullied.