Variety have seemingly cracked the code for one of the most irresistible interview formats of the past decade: get two of Hollywood’s most relevant actors, put them in a room, and let them speak. Part of Actors on Actors major appeal is in its cultural relevancy; the films of the actors taking part are plastered everywhere you look. It’s a spectacle to see two stars from distinct projects unite to interview each other, somewhat like a TV show crossover episode.
Unlike traditional, more one-sided interviews (actor and journalist; participant and spectator), the intimate atmosphere intends to provoke deeper conversations about filmmaking. If the actors are already acquainted then they easily facilitate stimulating discussions, although, even awkward, incompatible pairings are strangely entertaining. The informal tone of these interviews engages the viewer, making them feel a part of the conversation, instead of being overtly aware that it’s a PR campaign. In an age of rampant parasocial relationships, no wonder these interviews are greatly anticipated.
It’s extremely appealing to watch two actors hit it off. Colman Domingo and Kieran Culkin do so marvellously, despite appearing as the antithesis of each other. Domingo’s disciplined yet relaxed demeanour perfectly contrasts Culkin’s eccentricity, their apparent differences enhancing the conversation, which encourages a steady badinage that almost derails their interview from the offset.
Another endearing pairing is Greta Lee and Andrew Scott, whose interview highlights the importance of pairing actors starring in similar films. Despite meeting for the first time, they earnestly bond over their heartfelt performances in Past Lives and All of Us Strangers. Their immediate connection triggers a both deep and delightfully witty discussion.
For the Luca Guadagnino fans, Variety paired up Josh O’Connor and Daniel Craig. Their established rapport resembles two friends incidentally catching up, and in a way they are, considering they spent the past few months filming together. They maintain an entertainingly honest, straightforward discussion, characterised by a distinctly British tongue-in-cheek sense of humour.
Unfortunately, not all pairings are masterstrokes, proved by the painfully awkward conversation between Chloë Sevigny and Kim Kardashian. Other bizarre pairings, like Paul Mescal and Ariana Grande, seem to suggest that popularity directs Variety’s matchmaking. For example, they capitalised on 2023’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, raking in almost 10 million views from an interview between Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy.
Do they successfully create more insightful views into the world of acting? If you’re mostly concerned with the innermost aspects of filmmaking, they arguably offer more than watching an actor be questioned in the same generic, premeditated format. Though sometimes Actors on Actors debases itself to a flattery contest between actors, instead of a film-focused discussion. And how deep are they really? There’s clearly some unspoken guideline to stick to “safer” discussions, illustrated recently by Sebastian Stan, who revealed that nobody was willing to discuss his role in The Apprentice, where he embodied the ever-controversial Donald Trump.
What remains true is that, through an informal atmosphere, these interviews enable actors to effuse about filmmaking, and whether you think they’re being overly sycophantic or completely genuine, watching such earnest conversations is still greatly compelling.
“Set of ‘Variety Studio Actors on Actors’” by Katie Jones is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.