We're so excited to bring you a new super-sized season of the Supporting Actress Smackdown. First up in early May is the year 1981. We'll be talking about Reds, On Golden Pond, Only When I Laugh, Ragtime, and Absence of Malice... so watch those flicks, won'cha? We've gathered a panel of actors, critics and industry cinephiles for you.
Ready to dive into 1981? Let's meet the people who will be talking about the Oscars of 1981 with us.
PLEASE WELCOME ...
SEAN MAGUIRE
Originally from London, Sean started his career at age five starring alongside Sir Laurence Olivier in his final film, A Voyage around my Father. He then rose to fame at age ten when he was cast in the BBC drama "Grange Hill." He was cast as the lead in US number one box office feature Meet the Spartans. Sean has also starred in the TV comedies Off-Centre, Eve, The Class and took the title role in the Comedy Central series Krod Mandoon opposite Kevin Hart. Sean has also appeared in shows such as BBC series Scott & Bailey, the hit series Criminal Minds, and Timeless as James Bond creator Ian Flemming. Sean is best known for playing "Robin Hood" on the hit ABC series Once Upon A Time. Sean just completed the 5th series of The Magicians on SyFy where he played two separate characters. Sean is an ambassador for the charity Oxfam. Sean resides in Los Angeles with his wife Tanya and two sons Flynn and Leo. [Twitter | Instagram ]
DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN
Donna Lynne Champlin is an OBIE, Drama Desk and Gracie Award winning actress. Having worked extensively on stage, in television and film, she is most well-known for playing Carol Burnett in the autobiographical Hollywood Arms and “Pirelli” in the musician-actor revival of Sweeney Todd on Broadway, “Hortense” in Comedy Central’s Another Period, and “Paula Proctor” on The CW’s Emmy award winning Crazy Ex Girlfriend. [Twitter | Instagram]
BOYD VAN HOEIJ
Boyd van Hoeij is a Dutch-born freelance film writer based in Luxembourg and Paris. He was a contributing critic at Variety before moving to The Hollywood Reporter in 2013. Boyd also regularly contributes to De Filmkrant (Netherlands), is artistic advisor at the Luxembourg City Film Festival and president of the Selection Committee of the Luxembourg Film Fund. He has been part of festival juries in, amongst others, Cannes, Venice, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Sydney, Palm Springs and Thessaloniki and taught film criticism workshops and conducted shot-by-shot analyses of film classics across Europe and in the U.S. He has also moderated masterclasses with talents including Quentin Tarantino, Todd Haynes, Melanie Griffith and Ray Liotta. [Twitter]
AMIR SOLTANI
Amir is a cinephile, former film critic (and TFE contributor), and current festival programmer who lives in Toronto. His interests include Iranian cinema, noir films, sad romances and Claudia Cardinale. [Twitter | Letterboxd ]
And two regulars from Team Experience...
ERIC BLUME
Eric Blume is a comedy writer and director. He spent a decade and a half at Comedy Central, where he developed, wrote and directed content pieces and half-hour shows featuring Hollywood's biggest talent. In addition, he's written and directed national commercials, branded content pieces, and comedy content for networks and services such as TBS, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, E!, Syfy, Laugh Out Loud, and Funny or Die.
NATHANIEL R
Nathaniel R is the creator and owner of The Film Experience. He is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association ("Critics Choice") and The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics ("GALECA"). He is a longtime Oscar pundit (TFE, Gurus of Gold), and his writing has appeared online (Vulture, Show-Score, Slate, Towleroad, Tribeca Film) and in print (Vanity Fair, Esquire and Winq). Nathaniel regularly serves on international festival juries and has appeared as an on-air Oscar pundit for CNNi. [Twitter | Contact | Instagram | Letterboxd]
THE SMACKDOWN OF 1981 IS COMING ON THE WEEKEND OF MAY 8TH! Here's how to vote.