1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: And the Oscar goes too already buy a nose. Nicole Kidman, 2 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to. 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: Daily Variety, your daily dose of news and analysis for 4 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 2: entertainment industry insiders. It's Wednesday, March eleventh, twenty twenty six. 5 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Cynthia Littleton. I am co editor in 6 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: chief of Variety alongside Ramin Setuda. I'm in La He's 7 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: in New York, and Variety has reporters around the world 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: covering the business of entertainment. In today's episode, in our 9 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: cover story segment, we'll hear from Matt Donnelly on his 10 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 2: sit down in Nashville with Nicole Kidman for Variety's pre 11 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 2: Oscars issue, published today in print and online. Kidman revisits 12 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 2: the whirlwind experience of her best actress, Oscar Wind for 13 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: the Hours in two thousand and three. That was Denzel Washington. 14 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 2: You heard in the cold open from the two thousand 15 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: and three Sarah Harmony with a bit of ad lib 16 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 2: as he called Kidman's name. Kidman is candid with Donnelle 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 2: as she talks about where she is now at this 18 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 2: stage of her life and her career. But before we 19 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: get to that, here are a few headlines just in 20 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 2: This Morning that you need to know. Quentin Tarantino is 21 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 2: branching out. He's set up a play to debut on 22 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 2: London's West End. The Popinjay Cavalier is described as a 23 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: swashbuckling comedy. It's written and directed by Tarantino and produced 24 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 2: by Sonya Friedman with Sony Pictures Entertainment. The play is 25 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 2: targeting an early twenty twenty seven premiere. Nicki Glazer will 26 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 2: be back for Round three as host to the Golden 27 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 2: Globe Awards. Mark your calendars. The show will be back 28 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 2: on CBS on January tenth. Rebecca Gayheart Dane has come 29 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 2: out in support of voice restoration technology offered by the 30 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: AI firm eleven Labs. Her husband Eric Dane, was working 31 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: with the company in the weeks before his death from 32 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: als on February nineteenth at age fifty three. Gayheart will 33 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: speak at an event promoting the eleven Labs initiative at 34 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 2: the south By Southwest Festival this weekend. All of these 35 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: stories and so much more can be found on Variety 36 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 2: dot com Right now and now it's time for conversations 37 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 2: with ridy journalists about news and trends in show business. 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 2: Matt Donnelly tells all about his time with the great 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: Nicole Kidman for Variety's cover story that was published today 40 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 2: in print and online. Kidman was in a reflective and 41 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 2: playful mood when she sat down with Matt last week 42 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 2: in Nashville, where she lives with her two daughters. Before 43 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 2: we hear from Matt, let's revisit the Big Moment in 44 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: two thousand and three. In Kidman's own words. Here's her 45 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 2: acceptance speech from that night twenty three years ago when 46 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: the United States was on the brink of war with Iraq. 47 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 2: And that's followed by my conversation with Matt. 48 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 3: This is Nicole Kidman's first Academy Award and second nomination. 49 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 2: She was nominated for an Oscar last year. 50 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 4: Mulin Rouge, thank. 51 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 5: You so much. Yes, now I have to think, David Hare, 52 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 5: I need your words. I have such appreciation and gratitude 53 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 5: for this. Russell Crowe said, don't cry if you get 54 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 5: up there, and now I'm crying. Stephen Daldry, you took 55 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 5: a huge chance on me. I'm so grateful. David Hay, 56 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 5: you gave me magnificent words to say. Scott Ruden, you 57 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 5: fought so hard for this. Film to get it made, 58 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 5: Paramount and Mirramax you made it and Kevin Huvain written 59 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 5: a Seda Mark Epstein who stood by me for so 60 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 5: many years, And I am just absolutely thrilled to be 61 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 5: standing up here tonight. I do have to say it 62 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 5: was why do you come to the Academy Awards when 63 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 5: the world is in such turmoil? Because art is important, 64 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 5: and because you believe in what you do and you 65 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 5: want to honor that and it is a tradition that 66 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 5: needs to be upheld. And at the same time, you say, 67 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 5: there is. 68 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 4: A lot of. 69 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 5: Problems in the world, and since nine to eleven there's 70 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 5: been a lot of pain in terms of families losing people, 71 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 5: and now with the war, families losing people and God 72 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 5: blessed them. And I am standing here in front of 73 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 5: my mother and my. 74 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 4: Daughter and my whole life. 75 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 5: I wanted to night my mother proud and now one 76 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 5: of my daughter proud. 77 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 2: So thank you, Matt Donnelly, fresh from filing another terrific 78 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 2: cover story, Thank you for joining me. 79 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. 80 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 2: As always well, it's a tough assignment to go sit 81 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: down with Nicole Kidman, who is almost uniformly a good 82 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: interview somebody who really seems to appreciate reporters and journalism 83 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 2: and all that they do for an actor's craft. Of course, 84 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: Nicole is now a producer extraordinary in addition to acting 85 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: in so many things. And you have done our traditional 86 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 2: pre Oscars cover is we take a look back at 87 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: somebody who has previously won an Oscar and talk to 88 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: them about their experience and everything else. And this year 89 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 2: we chose to take a look at Nicole Kidman. And 90 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: of course, when you're talking about Nicole Kidman, she always 91 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 2: has no less than a half a dozen things in 92 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: the works at any given time. How did you find 93 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 2: Nicole to be at this point in her life? 94 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: I think she has a schedule that would rival most 95 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 3: world leaders. In any given day, she's on set in Dallas, 96 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 3: Texas for Lionis, or she's flying to New York for 97 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 3: a Chanel Ambassador photo shoot, or she's coming back to 98 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 3: LA for a meeting, or she's going home to take 99 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 3: care of her kids in Nashville. It was one of 100 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 3: the harder schedules I've ever had to work around, but 101 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 3: it was incredibly worth it. So I did get to 102 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 3: go catch up with her in Nashville, where she is 103 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 3: currently living with her kids, and actually where she got 104 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 3: to shoot Scarpetta, which is the first of many projects 105 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 3: you'll see this year starring Nicole, which is from Prime 106 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 3: Video and a really really long gest dating screen adaptation 107 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 3: for Patricia Cornwell's really beloved books. If anyone could have 108 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 3: gotten them off around, it was her. So yeah, it 109 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 3: was incredible to go and sit with her in her 110 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 3: native habitat, and also to sort of revisit her incredible 111 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 3: Oscar night in two thousand and three when she won 112 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 3: Best Actress for the Hours. 113 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 2: I mean, it is hard to believe that it's been 114 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 2: twenty three years, but of course time marches On ask 115 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 2: you about obviously, Nicole Kinman has just come through a 116 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 2: very public divorce from her husband of many years, country 117 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: singer Keith Urban. And in your conversation, she's incredibly candid 118 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 2: and incredibly vulnerable, which is not unusual for her. Why 119 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: we say she's a good interview and I know you've 120 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 2: interviewed her a number of times over the years. How 121 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: did you find her to be at at this moment 122 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 2: in her life. 123 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 3: I was really surprised that she seemed to be doing 124 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 3: so extraordinarily well and not this is not like, you know, 125 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 3: just to say like she presented well at a lunch 126 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 3: for an hour. But you know, the news of of 127 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: Nicole and Key's divorce I think kind of shocked the 128 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 3: world last year because they had been going strong for 129 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 3: nineteen years, despite some struggles that they had been very 130 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 3: open about. And I think one of the best things 131 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 3: our story presents is that, you know, she came to 132 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 3: a settlement and to sort of a new life almost 133 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 3: instantly when the divorce was finalized, and she's really really 134 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 3: focused on her two daughters, Sunday who is seventeen years 135 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: old and following in some family footsteps. She's actually a 136 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 3: and ambassador for Dior at the moment, and her fifteen 137 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 3: year old faith, So in that regard, she's very focused 138 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 3: on family. But what I also found really interesting is 139 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 3: that she admitted that, you know, twenty twenty five was 140 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 3: really rough for her and she felt like she was 141 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 3: sort of in a shell. The thing about Nicole, and 142 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 3: I think one of the reasons that we love her 143 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 3: so much is that, you know, art and her life 144 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 3: are sort of one thing. I think she really eats, sleeps, 145 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 3: and breathes what she does. She phrased it to me 146 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 3: as though she's been on a journey of the human 147 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 3: spirit for her entire course. And she was fourteen years old, 148 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 3: constantly trying to hustle work in film and television and 149 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 3: now producing her own stuff. But I think she's come 150 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 3: to a place where I think she can really appreciate 151 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 3: the luck she's had and maybe sort of calibrate a 152 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 3: different sort of life for herself moving forward. You know, 153 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 3: she's fifty eight, which is a very rare age for 154 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 3: women to be as active in Hollywood as she is. 155 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 3: I think in some ways she's at the top of 156 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,199 Speaker 3: her craft like she's never been. She did admit that 157 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 3: it was tough, but she's ready to emerge. This year 158 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 3: has a ton in store for her, not just Scarpetta, 159 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 3: but also the highly anticipated thirty Years in the Making 160 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 3: sequel to Practical Magic, which was directed by Susannah Bier 161 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 3: and reunites her with Sandra Bullock. I'm sorry, but if 162 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 3: you grew up at any time in the eighties or nineties, 163 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 3: or if you had cable, Practical Magic was a constant 164 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 3: banger that was always being rerun. And then also she 165 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 3: is right now shooting the third season of Taylor Sheridan's 166 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: Line Us. 167 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 2: She looks absolutely amazing, as you will see in the 168 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 2: incredible photos that we have to accompany the piece. I 169 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:29,959 Speaker 2: noted in the Q and A that she describes herself 170 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 2: as a character actor. I'm not somebody, she says, something 171 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: to the effect of, I'm not somebody that you hire 172 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 2: just to be Nicole Kidman. 173 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 4: You hire me to be a character. 174 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 3: She loves to play. I think she loves to morph 175 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 3: into a character, and she uses all kinds of things 176 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 3: and famously her wigs, glasses, of course, even more famously 177 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 3: her prosthetic nose from the hours. But you can tell 178 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 3: that that's really ingrained in her as part of her training. 179 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 3: It's not some affectation or you know, something that she 180 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 3: thinks she has to do as a gimmick. She really 181 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 3: really believes in building someone new every time. 182 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 2: Ye And to your point is she talks about like 183 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 2: you know, actors are famously insecure, always looking for their 184 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 2: next gig, and while she's well beyond that, you really 185 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 2: get the sense that somebody who is just interested has 186 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,719 Speaker 2: a big creative appetite. I don't want to blow the 187 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 2: Q and A, but there's fun stuff. She talks about 188 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: working with Jamie Lee Curtis. That's a pretty delicious combination. 189 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 3: And some cadavers. So make sure you check out the 190 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 3: cover story. 191 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly, fear not for Nicole Kidman. Should she require 192 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 2: a side hustle in the coming years, She's already got 193 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 2: a line on what she's going to do again, Listeners, 194 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 2: I don't want to blow the entire story for you, 195 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 2: but there is a fun bit about Nicole Kidman and 196 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 2: a particular skill that she has picked up from all 197 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 2: of her years in film and TV. 198 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 4: Let's talk about. 199 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 2: Her memories of winning that Night for the Hours because 200 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 2: it is so poignant. Sadly, the circumstances are very similar 201 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: in two thousand and three is when she wants the 202 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 2: best Actress Oscar. The United States was just at the 203 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: outset of invading Iraq, a war that would turn out 204 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 2: not to last very long but have enormous implications. But 205 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 2: we didn't know that in the industry, didn't know how 206 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 2: to react, and there's a lot of discussion about the 207 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 2: backdrop of her win, and of course going into this 208 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 2: coming Sunday, history does repeat itself and look at the 209 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 2: circumstances and you know, will this year's winners be on stage? 210 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 2: Trying to think how do I make this appropriate when 211 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: the US is in a military action. 212 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 3: It's incredibly eerie, right, But something that really sort of 213 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 3: moved me was that, you know, that year in two 214 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 3: thousand and three, especially with the you know, the oscars 215 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 3: have been enduring heightened security for some time after nine 216 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 3: to eleven, some people dropped out. They didn't want to 217 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 3: be present, a lot of respectrol military families, and I 218 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 3: think one of the choices that Nicole and so many 219 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 3: other people in the creative community made were to show up, 220 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 3: because Hollywood is really about a village of people that 221 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:01,439 Speaker 3: come together to make this work. And you know, while 222 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 3: she admits that while the actors and actresses and even 223 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 3: some of the directors get the glitzy star moments, it's 224 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 3: really about honoring everyone who else put your movie together, 225 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 3: production design, costume, hair and makeup, sound, And as Nicole 226 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 3: told me, you don't have a good editor, you don't 227 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 3: have a good movie. So it was more about, I think, 228 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 3: showing up to honor the legacy that Hollywood has made 229 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 3: in this country and around the world. 230 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,719 Speaker 2: Her reputation is that she's the person that after a 231 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 2: day or two. Knows everybody on set, from the cater 232 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 2: to the cinematographer, like she's that person on a set, 233 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 2: and that really comes through. 234 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 3: By the way, one of the funniest things she told 235 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 3: me was an inside tip that I hadn't heard before. 236 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 3: Everyone in the business, at least every actor she knows, 237 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 3: always tries to get the production designers to do their houses. 238 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 3: The secret is, if you want a good interior decorator, 239 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 3: try to get one of the A list production designers 240 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 3: to come in and do it. But they're never available 241 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 3: because they're always working. This is again her village. It's 242 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 3: her village of people. They're the ones that affix the 243 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 3: nose and help her with her gate or tell her 244 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 3: her dialect. And I think that's that's really important to her. 245 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 3: And you know, I think you and I have both 246 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 3: seen Cynthia that that's not always top of mind for 247 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 3: some people in her position. 248 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 4: Yep. 249 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 2: And now let's go there. Let's talk about the nose, 250 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 2: because she does address it, and the Q and A 251 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: reminded me of like, because there's always a little mini 252 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 2: controversy about just about everything around the Oscars. There was 253 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 2: some discussion after the fact and she about the nature 254 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 2: of her win and she addresses it head on. 255 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 3: She won in two thousand and three for The Hours, 256 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 3: and the next year Charlie's Thearren took Best Actress for 257 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 3: her portrayal of Eileen Warnos and Monster. But there was 258 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 3: a lot of discussion about, like, are we rewarding these 259 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 3: beautiful actresses who are making themselves less so for their art? 260 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 3: And I think it really overshadowed a lot of her performance. 261 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 3: I would say easily. Her Virginia Wolf is one of 262 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 3: the most devastating and truly dramatic performances that she's ever 263 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 3: turned in, and that just wasn't the center of discussion. 264 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 3: And she told me on which I love that she 265 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 3: kind of just said whatever. She's like people are always 266 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 3: going to say whatever. But my performance was there, and 267 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 3: it was not just there. It was really pains and 268 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: thoughtfully crafted with her director Stephen Daldry, a screenplay by 269 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 3: the great David Hare, and of course the legend Anne 270 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 3: Roth was the one who put her in the nose, 271 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 3: gave her that new Virginia O profile and sort of 272 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 3: helped her get the momentum to actually do the things. 273 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 3: So I think in retrospect, she's really proud of the 274 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 3: work they all did, and I think our culture has 275 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 3: caught up to that as well. 276 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 2: Another point that she mentions about Oscar season has become 277 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 2: just like almost a nine to ten months log as 278 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 2: opposed to like a five months log as it was 279 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 2: in the two thousand and two thousand and three period. 280 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 2: I think we can all agree that it does feel 281 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 2: like the Oscar should have already happened by now, but 282 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 2: here they come on Sunday. But her comments really do 283 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: reinforce just what a commitment it is for an actor. 284 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 2: And now, of course Variety and others, we look at 285 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: every little thing and we analyze how hard people are 286 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 2: campaigning or how not hard they're campaigning for an award. 287 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 4: Season is in a fishbowl. 288 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 3: Absolutely, And it was it's so funny to hear her 289 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 3: talk about the way that they rolled out the hours 290 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 3: for an awards campaign. It sounded like with someone telling 291 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 3: you a story about when people used to gather over 292 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 3: a fire or over covered wagons, Like it just was 293 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 3: this completely different, you know, dynamic where there might have 294 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 3: been one or two q and a's, and it was about, 295 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 3: like you said, three to four months long, you did 296 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 3: a couple of appearances. You maybe had a New York premiere, 297 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 3: you maybe did a screening with a celebrity friend. But 298 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 3: now you know it's it is a nine to ten 299 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 3: month process, and if you're in can it's a year. 300 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: We really do live in an awards industrial complex. Whoever 301 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 2: coined that term was dead on. All right, Matt, Before 302 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 2: I let you go, let me ask you what is 303 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 2: the award or category or person that you're really excited 304 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 2: to see? What are you looking forward to at the 305 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: ceremony this Sunday which you will be attending. 306 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I think that Best Actor has become an incredible 307 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 3: category to watch in a truly wild, last minute season 308 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 3: where you know so many precursors have gone in different directions, 309 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 3: favoring different films or performances or artisans. I think the 310 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: Best Actor is a really, really heated category now that 311 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 3: could see Timothy Chalome, Michael B. 312 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 5: Jordan. 313 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 3: Even some people think Ethan Hawk has been so beloved 314 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 3: and treasured by the Academy for so long that baby 315 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 3: he could be a really surprised our horse, or even 316 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 3: the very handsome and welcome sight of Wagner Mora from 317 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 3: The Secret Agent. I think it's anyone's game, and it's 318 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 3: going to be a really exciting race to watch. 319 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 4: Here's to some surprises on Sunday night. 320 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 2: Matt, Thank you so much for all of your labor 321 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: this season and rest up because Sunday will be the 322 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 2: sprint that follows the marathon. 323 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 3: Thank you. Do you have any predictions? 324 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 2: Thank you for asking, Matt. I am going to take 325 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 2: the safe bet and go with Clayton Davis, and I 326 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: would have to say, now that voting is closed, I'm 327 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 2: going to feel comfortable in saying that I think it's 328 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: going to be a historic night for sinners. 329 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 3: Oh, we'll have to watch and see. That's a really 330 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 3: exciting though. 331 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 2: As we close out today's episode, here's a few things 332 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 2: we're watching for. Don't miss Variety's live Oscars Red Carpet 333 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: coverage that we'll produce in partnership with CNN on Sunday. 334 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 2: My co editor in chief for Mean Setuta will co 335 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 2: host the coverage for CNN with Elizabeth Waggmeister. It's a 336 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 2: reunion for the two. Wagmeister worked for Variety for nearly 337 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 2: a decade before joining CNN in twenty twenty three. Don't 338 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,959 Speaker 2: skip my colleague Daniel De Dario's column that is a 339 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 2: plea for Sean Penn to not skip the Oscars ceremony. 340 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 2: Dadario argues that the event needs the unpredictability that Penn brings, 341 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 2: and while it will be a busy Oscar weekend, Saturday 342 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 2: Night brings the premiere of The Madison on Paramount Plus. 343 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: It's the latest Taylor Sheridan drama series. It's Yellowstone adjacent, 344 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 2: and it stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell. We love 345 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 2: to hear from our listeners, so please send thoughts, scripes, 346 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 2: and other feedback about Daily Variety two podcasts at Variety 347 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 2: dot com. Before we go, congrats to Thomas Masluum. He's 348 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 2: been named Chairman of Disney Experiences, filling the vacancy left 349 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 2: by Josh Tomorrow's rise to CEO. Maslum has been with 350 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 2: Disney since nineteen ninety eight, starting out as a hotel 351 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 2: director for the Disney Cruise Line. 352 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening. 353 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 2: This episode was written and reported by me Cynthia Littleton, 354 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 2: with contributions from Matt Donnelly stick Snick's hick Picks. Please 355 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 2: leave us a review at the podcast platform of your choice, 356 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 2: and please Tune in tomorrow for another episode of Daily Variety.