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Mark Strong on the joys of Emma Thompson, <i>Cruella</i>'s recreation of a "punky" '70s London

FilmInterviews

Mark Strong on the joys of Emma Thompson, Cruella's recreation of a "punky" '70s London

When The A.V. Club last spoke to the great Mark Strong for Random Roles, the actor was hesitant to tell us too much…

Cameron Scheetz

6/02/21 1:00PM

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Michaela Watkins on <i>The Unicorn</i>, the late Lynn Shelton, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ <i>SNL </i>pep talk

Michaela Watkins on The Unicorn, the late Lynn Shelton, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ SNL pep talk

For over a decade, Michaela Watkins has been one of film and television’s most reliable comedy knockouts, making hay…

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Andrea Riseborough on studio sexism in Oblivion and being at home in Birdman

The actor: It’s been almost exactly 15 years since Andrea Riseborough first appeared onscreen in a pair of British…

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Heather Graham relished her chance to “lash out” in Boogie Nights

The actor: Heather Graham first burst onto the big screen as the teenage dream girl of 1988’s License To Drive…

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Iconic movie dad Paul Dooley talks about Breaking Away, Popeye, and the scene John Hughes wrote just for him

Paul Dooley made his film debut at the age of 49. Before that the West Virginia native had made his mark in New York…

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Jane Curtin on 3rd Rock, SNL, Godmothered, and how her improv background helped her on Jeopardy!

Jane Curtin is comedy royalty. One of the original Not Ready For Prime Time Players on Saturday Night Live when the…

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John Turturro on The Batman, the future of The Night Of, and the real-life continuation of Zohan

The actor: Few actors have gotten do a second round of Random Roles, but when the opportunity to speak to John…

Patrick Gomez

11/19/20 9:30AM

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Julia Stiles is “extremely embarrassed” by her stint on <i>Ghostwriter</i>

Julia Stiles is “extremely embarrassed” by her stint on Ghostwriter

A working actor since she was 11, Julia Stiles has spent literally all of her adult life in the public eye. A brainy…

Marah Eakin

11/16/20 6:00AM

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Mark Strong on a life playing spies, villains, and morally compromised doctors

Welcome to Random Roles, wherein we talk to actors about the characters who defined their careers. The catch: They…

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Ann Dowd on Rebecca, The Handmaid’s Tale, and the decision that changed her career

Blessed be Ann Dowd. Though recognized by many for her Emmy-winning work as The Handmaid’s Tale’s fearsome Aunt…

Cameron Scheetz

10/21/20 12:00AM

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After working with the Coens and Noah Baumbach, Elizabeth Marvel landed a hell of a comic-book gig

It’s hard to imagine an actor better suited to their name than Elizabeth Marvel. She’s been astonishing audiences…

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Gugu Mbatha-Raw on Misbehaviour, “San Junipero,” and becoming a pop star for Beyond The Lights

The actor: You should see Gugu Mbatha-Raw in a crown. A classically trained actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic…

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Chris Messina still has a lot of anarchy left in him

The actor: Former Mindy Project paramour-turned-Birds Of Prey baddie Chris Messina has seen his fair share of…

Shannon Miller

9/16/20 6:00AM

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From The Island to Gotham City to <i>Bates Motel</i> with Nestor Carbonell

From The Island to Gotham City to Bates Motel with Nestor Carbonell

The actor: It may surprise fans who got to know his work during the 21st century, but longtime actor (and more…

Alex McLevy

9/10/20 12:00AM

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Josh Charles boxed Miss Piggy and met his <i>Wet Hot</i> friends at an IRL summer camp

Josh Charles boxed Miss Piggy and met his Wet Hot friends at an IRL summer camp

A Hollywood mainstay for almost all of his adult life, Josh Charles has brought an earnest wittiness with him to…

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John Leguizamo on wearing heels, singing on his knees, and walking away from ER

“Talking to you, I just realized that I’ve been a part of a lot of firsts,” John Leguizamo tells The A.V. Club…

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Pat Healy on Werner Herzog, Spielberg, and tossing a naked stuntman into the snow

The actor: Pat Healy isn’t just a longtime actor whose career has spanned the breadth of film and television from…

Alex McLevy

8/21/20 6:00AM

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Paula Pell on <i>SNL</i>, <i>All That</i>, and the Tammy scenes we never saw on <i>Parks And Recreation</i>

Paula Pell on SNL, All That, and the Tammy scenes we never saw on Parks And Recreation

The actor: Random Roles’ bread and butter may be the character actor, but there’s also much to love and admire about…

Marah Eakin

8/11/20 12:00PM

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Timothy Omundson on his <i>Seinfeld</i> start and getting back to <i>Psych</i> after surviving a stroke

Timothy Omundson on his Seinfeld start and getting back to Psych after surviving a stroke

The actor: Timothy Omundson was still in single digits when he decided on the career path he wanted to follow, and…

Will Harris

7/15/20 8:00AM

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Dermot Mulroney on <i>My Best Friend’s Wedding</i>, <i>Hanna</i>, and not being Dylan McDermott

Dermot Mulroney on My Best Friend’s Wedding, Hanna, and not being Dylan McDermott

The actor: Though he’s been (playfully) dogged for years about having a name a little too similar to another…

Danette Chavez

7/09/20 10:00AM

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Mark Strong on the joys of Emma Thompson, Cruella's recreation of a "punky" '70s London

Michaela Watkins on The Unicorn, the late Lynn Shelton, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ SNL pep talk

Andrea Riseborough on studio sexism in Oblivion and being at home in Birdman

Heather Graham relished her chance to “lash out” in Boogie Nights

Iconic movie dad Paul Dooley talks about Breaking Away, Popeye, and the scene John Hughes wrote just for him

Jane Curtin on 3rd Rock, SNL, Godmothered, and how her improv background helped her on Jeopardy!

John Turturro on The Batman, the future of The Night Of, and the real-life continuation of Zohan

Julia Stiles is “extremely embarrassed” by her stint on Ghostwriter

Mark Strong on a life playing spies, villains, and morally compromised doctors

Ann Dowd on Rebecca, The Handmaid’s Tale, and the decision that changed her career

After working with the Coens and Noah Baumbach, Elizabeth Marvel landed a hell of a comic-book gig

Gugu Mbatha-Raw on Misbehaviour, “San Junipero,” and becoming a pop star for Beyond The Lights

Chris Messina still has a lot of anarchy left in him

From The Island to Gotham City to Bates Motel with Nestor Carbonell

Josh Charles boxed Miss Piggy and met his Wet Hot friends at an IRL summer camp

John Leguizamo on wearing heels, singing on his knees, and walking away from ER

Pat Healy on Werner Herzog, Spielberg, and tossing a naked stuntman into the snow

Paula Pell on SNL, All That, and the Tammy scenes we never saw on Parks And Recreation

Timothy Omundson on his Seinfeld start and getting back to Psych after surviving a stroke

Dermot Mulroney on My Best Friend’s Wedding, Hanna, and not being Dylan McDermott