Live-Blog: Oscar Bound Actress Roundtable
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 5:40PM 
We've been waiting for this full video of The Hollywood Reporter's Actress Roundtable for weeks (included at bottom of this post). Last year we had fun live-blogging / discussing it, so... "again!".
This year THR assembled from left to right in couch seating: best actress hopefuls Viola Davis, Charlize Theron, Glenn Close, Michelle Williams and best supporting actress hopefuls Octavia Spencer and Carey Mulligan. The directors were on stools. Is this a subconcious move on THR's part? Putting directors on pedestals and actresses on a (casting) couch where they have to worry about how they cross and uncross their bare legs?
00:01 Damn, starting with a toughie, asking them about performances of their own they were disappointed in. Let's watch the actresses dodge the question! This one goes to Octavia who has the least amount of work to watch, career-wise. She doesn't. She actually sounds kind of grumpy.
02:30 Michelle Williams says she watches some of her work. Naturally she won't name names but implies that she doesn't watch it if she thinks it's not going to be good. Hmmm. When is Michelle not good? But claims she's never had a bad relationship with a character.
I like being directed. I like not being in charge.
And then a cute bit about finally learning to use her computer to research Marilyn. Apparently YouTube helped that performance along. It's not just for bad karaoke and funny cat videos!
06:00 Carey Mulligan describe her Shame character as "kind of a mess..." admits she didn't do much research beyond the very basics of why cutters hurt themselves. Says that self-destructiveness of characters does not bother her off the set.
No, no, no. It's nice. It's quite cathartic; have a good cry, have a good scream, then go home and go to bed.
We love this but it probably won't win her ballot points. Don't they want to think you suffered for it?
08:00 A question about back story as follow up. Of course. Why does everyone need to know everything about backstory all the time. This make-a me crazy. If Tim Burton had made Shame, there would have been a half hour long gothic flashback to describe exactly what happened to the Shame siblings when they were precocious but gloomy kids. Who needs it? You're supposed to engage with movies and interpret them... not have them happen at you like brick walls with cemented feeling.
Carey is so cute as she struggles with this question though. She also has a laugh when talking about how much she fears taking her clothes off to be "sexy". That said, she didn't have trouble with the nudity after absorbing the character -- Steve McQueen had her look at the photography of Francesca Woodman -- and understanding her as someone "who wants to be seen."
10:50 Charlize has a potty mouth.
...which makes Octavia laugh. In trying to recover from dropping the F bomb Charlize then says "oh shit. sorry." LOL.
Charlize's sexual education, Viola Davis's lips and Glenn Close's eyes after the jump
10:57 She's talking about psyching yourself out too much for scenes that you put too much importance on. Credits Robert Redford for helping her to understand how not to do that. Well god damn... The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) contributed something to the world after all. Who knew?!
I am more effective as an actor when I'm messing around. Iv'e done the work and it's under my skin. I'm not a method actor. I can't be in it the whole time. It's exhausting for me."
13:13 Charlize says she doesn't like "sympathy" and doesn't expect people to have sympathy for her characters. Implies that she doesn't like all the backstory to explain why someone behaves badly?
What if someone is just an asshole?"
15:00 Ha! The follow up question wonders if you have to have these bad characteristics to play them to which Charlize has the only acceptablewonderfully acerbic response. "Yes, I'm an asshole." The reporter tries to move to Glenn Close and Charlize says "you're going to leave me right there with 'I'm an asshole?!". I ♥ Charlize more and more.
16:00 Glenn says she agrees with Charlize about sympathy. You can't be judging the characters behavior because that separation will show and the audience won't feel connected to the character either. Charlize interrupts when the reporter offers up a lame Hitler example -- can we ever feel connected to monsters? -- braving teh waters that got Lars von Trier his "persona non grata" status earlier this year with an eloquent take on the whole 'monsters are actually human' thing. We don't want to think we're capable of atrocities but we're all the same breed. Charlize is really entertaining but given that she's seated next to Glenn Close and stole her question, I'm immediately picturing Glenn boiling Charlize's bunny. Watch out Charlize. Glenn doesn't even need guns to kill people; her icy stares are weaponized.
ASIDE: do you think actresses in these settings look at each other like "MY COMPETITION!?" Or do they feel like they're in it together?
20:09 Octavia is talking about what scares her. Viola Davis has still not said a word 20 minutes in! Spencer wanted to be an actress from an early age.
My mother was very practical. She always told us we could do and be anything we wanted to be. So I said "I want to be an actor.". And she was like "Except that."
Hee.
21:36 Viola Davis is finally addressed, she's talking about the "magical negro" effect in movies without naming it. It's interesting that she's praising Kathryn Stockett as someone who avoided using people of color only as catalysts to inspire white people's emotional journeys when so many critiques of the book and film are that it does just that with too much focus on Emma Stone's "Skeeter" character. Now, I like The Help more than most but this is a tricky topic. Viola and Octavia both say they like The Help overall but they have an amusing issue with the telephones. When you're poor the telephone is the first thing to go and yet Minnie has a telephone?!?
24:00 The THR reporter says that he hated watching Blue Valentine because it was so painful "every second was torture" but that it was also, he thought, the best film of 2010 (Charlize says "me too. Amazing.") It's a great film but I don't understand the hate it / torture part. I never hate something if it's great. Greatness is energizing. It's like when Ben Foster was talking about Melancholia making me happy. I relate! Octavia makes a face like she loves the movie as well. Blue Valentine is going to age well. Williams has a pretty enviable filmography already of movies that are very very important to people. Some actors don't even get one and she already has two (this and Brokeback Mountain).
26:00 Fascinating bit right here. Charlize says that driving scenes are the hardest to act (who knew?) and always look unnatural to her. She couldn't believe Michelle's performance in the Blue Valentine scene where she sees the dead dog on the side of the road. "Uhhh. I hate her!" she says with exaggerated jealousy. Michelle grabs her head in pain remembering the scene, agrees that driving scenes are horribly difficult to act.
27:00 Interesting follow up question -- spurred on by the chemistry in Blue Valentine -- goes to Glenn Close. How much does your scene partner affect your work? Close gets very philosophical and starts talking about mirror neurons, and how we can relate to each other with our eyes.
I honestly think that acting is reflecting. There's nothing more powerful than two eyes looking into two other eyes. You can elicit an emotion in someone else by how you look into someone else's eyes."
And by "eliciting emotions" she means Causing Sudden Death with her dagger glares, the crazy bitch.
Kidding! I JUST saw Albert Nobbs and this eye-to-eye thing in all of her scenes with Janet McTeer is the most moving thing about the film. Nobbs is not a character that communicates well and the two women posing as men are such different people but the way they look at each other, and reflect each other... it sure does elicit emotion.
29:13 What happens if the other actor isn't authentic, though? Glenn says "that's when you really have to act" and Michelle counters with this swirly hand flourish "I erase your face and put in someone else's" and all the lovely ladies are roused from their 'when is it my turn to answer a question' slumber for peels of laughter. They've all been theres. So now we must go there. Which actors are they thinking about right here. GUESS IN THE COMMENTS!!!
31:00 Carey admits that she has a fear of cameras (what the hell?) and it takes her 5 takes or more to forget that they're there. And it's been even harder on The Great Gatsby (see previous post) because the camera are big and on either side of you.
32:50 Michelle doesn't like rehearsing because if you "spend it" there sometimes the camera won't catch it.
35:00 Glenn Close on the difference between stage and screen acting. She says that it's a matter of where you put your energy. On The World According to Garp, her first film, she says "I though I was going to blow the camera out. I didn't know what to do with my energy" Uh, she kinda did. That's how she got that first Oscar nomination, isn't it" Such potent debut.
37:00 Viola agrees but wants to add that the hardest part of film acting is that you have to actually watch yourself back sometimes.
The worst part of the camera is watching myself. I just hate looking at myself. When I'm on stage I'm not thinking about what i'm doing with my lips. I mean, I got big lips. When I look at the screen I'm like 'THE LIPS. THE LIPS.' You know? A certain vanity comes into play when you get in front of the camera and vanity just has no place in what we do."
38:00 All of my favorite parts in this roundtable are Charlize-centric. She's The Bening of this year's crop, the only one helping the moderators make it a real conversation instead of a series of monologues. After asking Glenn Close if she watches any of her old movies ("no") the subject of Fatal Attraction comes up and Charlize interjects that that's how she learned about the birds and the bees and tells a story of seeing the movie at 8 years old at a drive in with her mom. She kept asking her questions -- what is happening in this elevator'
This conversation started and it ended up being my sex conversation. So I'm very fond of that movie.
[PAUSE]
...I mean it screwed me up; I can't have a healthy relationship. Every guy I'm with I'm like 'C'MON!!!'"
Hilarious sex crazed face... Everyone is laughing. Charlize wins. Can she only do comedies from now on? I'm so excited for everyone to see her in Young Adult. She's just great in it.
40:25 Glenn Close believes she's improved as an actor since the 80s.
42:20 Michelle Williams tells what seems like an interesting anecdote -- though she has trouble articulating it -- about wanting to be able to watch herself on the monitor and tinker with her work. She doesn't name which actors but she says she's seen co-stars do it recently and come back for the next take with great adjustments and improved work but it doesn't work at all for her. She runs screaming from it. She wonders if this has to do with "cinema's male gaze" and her superficial concerns about how she looks onscreen.
44:00 Carey connects fame to wearing a dress. She only ever feels it while on the red carpet. Interesting.
45:00 The last five minutes are conversations about roles they'd like to play or regrets they have about their career. Glenn says she has no character in mind any more after Albert Nobs which she's been wanting to play for fifteen plus year.
I have such a sense of closure that I'm up for anything."
Viola lists Nora in A Doll's House and Lady Macbeth as dream roles and Octavia Spencer talks about how addicted she is to the idea of playing characters rather than plot points now that she's had a taste of it from The Help. (Hopefully she'll get the chance. You never know with Hollywood and actresses.) Charlize, reveals that she hadn't worked in four years. Not on purpose but she was developing certain things and felt fulfilled creatively and it just happened that way but she doesn't have dream roles and likes being caught off guard when she reads a script and responds to a character. Michelle has an interesting answer: she doesn't have dream future roles but sometimes she wants to replay an old role. On Wendy and Lucy... "God, I miss her so much."
None of them will admit to regrets. Viola Davis gets the last very sensible word.
They're princess problems in the end. Oh gosh, I took that one for money. I was able to pay my mortgage but I took that one for money. Come on, you know? In the grand scheme of life, get over it."
THE COMPLETE VIDEO
Finis.
Reader Comments (18)
I would've loved to have seen Charlize at last year's table cutting it up with Helena Bonham Carter and Annette Bening. Without her, this panel would've been kind of dull, there weren't too many revelations.
I also thought Carey sounded like a pain in the ass with all the takes she needs, her fear of the camera...I mean, for godsakes. And I think Michelle Williams was referring to James Franco on Oz who, no doubt, loves to watch himself back.
You don't have to be still waiting for the full directors video!!
Like the actresses roundtable full video, it's there (for some days now):
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/video-award-season-roundtable-series-directors-full-video
Bliss-I read the entire recap, and am now going to watch the video. Every year I get so excited about this video. I'm a little surprised Mulligan made it over Elizabeth Olsen or Rooney Mara, but maybe they aren't experienced enough as actresses to make the cut on this.
For the guys, I'm hoping Albert Brooks makes it-he'll hopefully keep the room livelier.
Charlize Theron is the male George Clooney. Love her.
*female George Clooney. I'm doing this on my phone at work, mkaaaay?
Charlize Theron is totally the female George Clooney. She knows how to keep things loose and has a fun sense of humor to go with those good looks. Someobdy who understands the concept of a roundtable. Like you said, who wants to see every individual on these things have a series of boring monologues.? That makes it awkward. I like to see an actual interaction between the people.
Hmm, I’m sure Glenn cast a quick side-eye when Carey blithely admitted she didn't 'do much research beyond the very basics of why cutters hurt themselves’. Psh, Glenn always does HER homework. Anyone remember those interviews for FATAL ATTRACTION where she empathized how much research went into the creation of “Alex Forrest”—going as far as to ask different psychiatrists to read the script and explain how and why the behavior was possible...
anyway, I SO loved this breakdown of such an entertaining and informative roundtable. now, who from the cover will get nixed come Oscar nomination announcements?!? Last year it was Swank. I’m worried it may be Theron…
RyanS--Im worried about Glenn...
stjeans & ryan -- Charlize & Glenn & Carey are all vulnerable i fear.
Thanks Nathaniel for blogging this. I watched most of the video yesterday and was all but chanting 'VI-O-LA!' for 20 minutes waiting for her to get a question.
RyanS - I think Carey was talking about not doing much research for the part in 'Shame', not necessarily overall. I'm sure she's not one for neglecting her homework!
I liked the way Viola handled being given what seemed to be very little time to speak. She didn't rush or try to say everything. I guess she's had a lot of experience in being given very little time and has learned to make short meaningful moments that get right to the heart of it. How I love her as an actress, and how I wish the camera would linger on her when she's looking so beautiful in her glamour incarnation. Why can't she have a role like that?
Eh, I felt as if this year's roundtable wasn't as entertaining as last year's. Amy Adams gloating about the role that she got that Hilary Swank wanted, Helena Bonham Carter shit talking Lars Von Trier's methods which led to the revelation that Nicole Kidman and Lars still e-mail (lol!), Annette and Natalie's impersonations of directors they have worked with....
There weren't really any of those moments this year. Charlize and Viola were awesome, though.
Yeah I agree it wasn't as good. It always seems so strange to me when actors are really shy in real life. Michelle Williams can be so bright and exuberant on screen but especially in this she seems really subdued. But yeah, Charlize is my new favorite person.
I think Glenn Close is amazing but I feel as if there's somewhat of an iciness to her, mostly stemming from the roles she's well-known for, that makes her seem unapproachable in real life or not as accessible or just blatantly not as friendly as Meryl Streep is. Based on acceptance speeches alone, she's always very serious and earnest whereas Meryl is consistently whimsical and charming. I think if Albert Nobbs flops, which it very well might, Academy voters would feel less obligated to honor Close, regardless of whether or not it's a great performance, where, on the other hand, if Iron Lady proves to be a disaster, I don't think it'll affect Meryl's chances because she is Meryl Streep and she can play Julia Child and she's beloved and you know she'll definitely be hitting the talk show circuit and having gigglefests with The View ladies come December. She's also getting Kennedy Center Honor-ed soon so that definitely won't hurt. Plus, for two vehicles that don't scream audience-bait, one can assume that Iron Lady will perform better than Albert. I also think that the Academy would rather give Meryl a third Oscar than give Glenn her first.
I love Meryl, but I also really hope she won't get her third Oscar for Julia Child: The Golden Age.
I watched a part of the video some days ago but your commentary was so good that I don't think I need to see the whole thing!
Any chance your newfound love for Charlize will take you back to Monster, for a possible reconsideration of her genius in it? ;)
I watched the video .
Good chatting