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“Julie Keeps Quiet” director Leonardo Van Dijl was joined by professional tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou for a Q & A following a recent screening of the film in Los Angeles. They sat down with Variety‘s Jenelle Riley to discuss Belgium’s entry for Best International Feature at the 2025 Oscars. Watch the full video interview below.

Julie (Tessa Van den Broeck) is a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club’s players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet.

One of the film’s executive producers is four-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Naomi Osaka. She was in attendance as well, introducing the film to a packed audience including Academy members, press, and other invited guests, at the Creative Artists Agency. “Julie Keeps Quiet” had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in...

No need to look to the western sky to find Cynthia Erivo — she can now be located in our Oscar experts‘ Best Actress predictions.

Buoyed by great reviews and record box office numbers, the “Wicked” star has soared into the top five nomination rankings of our influential media pundits. As of this writing, the experts collectively predict that the Best Actress Oscar lineup will be Mikey Madison (“Anora”) at 37/10 odds, Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”) at 9/2 odds, Angelina Jolie (“Maria”) at 9/2 odds, Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”) at 8/1 odds, and Erivo at 8/1 odds.

Universal Pictures’ “Wicked,” Jon M. Chu‘s long-awaited adaptation of the popular Broadway stage musical, finally opened in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande takes on the role of her frenemy Galinda Upland, aka Glinda the Good Witch. Other notable cast members include Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar,...

Brick by brick, Pharrell Williams has built his life. Williams, a man of constant reinvention, has again surprised the world with the animated biopic, “Piece by Piece.” The documentary chronicles his life from childhood to international stardom and his eventual rediscovery of himself. The film, directed by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville, uses Lego to render Pharrell’s story, creating a playful and poignant narrative. For Pharrell, however, the story isn’t just about the bricks — it’s about the soul.

The metaphor of Lego resonates deeply with him, representing his construction of moments, relationships, and choices. “The concept came from a series of conversations I wasn’t initially open to,” Williams told Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast. “When my agent said I could do it any way I wanted, it clicked. Lego was perfect because it gave me the distance to see my story objectively. I could finally appreciate my journey,...

Talk about popular! Buoyed by positive critics’ reviews and social media reactions, Ariana Grande (“Wicked”) has skyrocketed in Gold Derby’s Oscar odds for Best Supporting Actress in recent weeks. In fact, the pop star now places among the top five most likely supporting actress contenders to receive a nomination at the upcoming 2025 Oscars. Note that it’s still quite early in this awards season, and things could keep changing as our experts, editors, and users continue to update their predictions.

Grande plays a young Galinda Upland in Universal Pictures’ adaptation of the long-running Broadway stage musical. While attending Shiz University, Galinda takes a new student under her wing, the misunderstood Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), and tries to teach her how to be less of an outcast. Jon M. Chu directed the movie from a screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox.

This would be Grande’s first major acting award,...

Ryan Reynolds’ brand of humor has made him a beloved star in Hollywood both on and off the screen, and it still doesn’t feel real to him — even when his movie “Deadpool & Wolverine” grosses more than $1.5 billion.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” became a box office behemoth, pulling in an astounding $636 million domestically and securing its place as the 12th highest-grossing film in history. It now sits just behind Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and ahead of Warner Bros.’ summer sensation “Barbie.” It’s also surpassed the 2019 thriller “Joker” to become the highest-grossing R-rated film ever. And among Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe juggernauts, “Deadpool 3” claims the seventh spot, having recently overtaken “Iron Man 3” globally.

Reflecting on his latest blockbuster with Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast, Reynolds describes the whirlwind of emotions watching “Deadpool & Wolverine” break records. “It feels great,” he says with a laugh, “but I...

“Anora” has remained Gold Derby’s predictions front-runner to win Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars for several months now, but the runner-up position has kept our awards pundits on their toes. In fact, there is now a three-way tie for second place, as “Emilia Perez,” “The Brutalist,” and “Conclave” all have the same odds of 17/2, compared to “Anora’s” leading 15/2 odds. Note that the Oscar odds will continue to change as our Experts from major media outlets, our website staff Editors, and our Users keep making or updating their predictions.

Sean Baker‘s “Anora” stars Mikey Madison as the titular Brooklyn stripper who gets married to a Russian oligarch (Mark Eydelshteyn). Its Oscar chances received a major boost earlier this year when it won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The dramedy has the support of these 14 Oscar Experts: Anne Thompson (Indiewire), Cole Jaeger (The Oscar Expert...

Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Glen Powell took on bad guys and tornados this year, but that’s nothing compared to the threat of an ass-kicking from 94-year-old June Squibb. Earlier this year Squibb starred in “Thelma,” her first lead role in a film, playing a grandmother who tracks down her swindlers. While promoting the film, the dumpling-faced Oscar nominee posted short videos in which she warned other action stars: “I can kick your ass!”

The question is – did she get any responses from her targets? Squibb laughs good-naturedly. “I don’t think we did, but we got a lot of laughs,” she admits. She also cites a clip she saw of Austin Butler and his costars from “The Bikeriders” watching her video, noting: “They all laughed about it.”

@foodfollowsme

June Squibb is coming for Ryan Reynolds...

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” made its Netflix premiere on September 19, launching the case of two brothers convicted of murdering their parents back in the national spotlight after 35 years. The limited series was created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, and stars Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as the titular characters.

Chronicling the abuse they suffered at the hands of their father, Jose Menendez (played by Javier Bardem), and their mother Kitty Menendez (played by Chloe Sevigny), the series sparked new debate about male survivors of sexual abuse, and if justice had really been served when Lyle and Erik were sentenced to life in prison following the brutal shooting.

On Saturday, November 2, Murphy was joined by cast members Cooper Koch, Nicholas Chavez, Javier Bardem, Chloe Sevigny, Nathan Lane, and Ari Graynor for a screening and Q & A panel hosted by Variety Deputy Awards and Features Editor, Jenelle Riley.

Despite a career with varying celebrated roles, Isabella Rossellini has never received an Academy Award nomination. This year, fans and critics alike are hoping that changes with her latest film, “Conclave.”

At the Middleburg Film Festival, the iconic actress graced the grounds of the Salamander Resort to promote “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. Interviewed there for the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Rossellini gave astounding insights into her iconic career, discussed her latest role, and reflected on the intricate dance between artistic expression and the commercial pressures that define the film industry. Listen below.

In “Conclave,” Rossellini plays Sister Agnes, a nun who subtly navigates the power dynamics within the Catholic Church while selecting a new Pope. The role allowed Rossellini to embody subservience and authority through a reserved yet respectful demeanor. She described infusing Sister Agnes with “authority through silence and modesty,” capturing the tension between reverence and influence many women experience within patriarchal institutions.

Variety leads the field in nominations for the 17th annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. The list includes a bid for best entertainment website, four contenders for journalist of the year honors, a photo journalist of the year mention for veteran staffer Dan Doperalski and a nonfiction book of the year nom for co-Editor in Chief Ramin Setoodeh.

Variety nominations are spread widely across the masthead, recognizing a range of journalists as well as the photography, illustration and design of the weekly print magazine and social media efforts.

Nominated for print journalist of the year are executive editor Brent Lang, Tatiana Siegel, executive editor of film and media, and Chris Willman, chief music critic and senior music writer. Clayton Davis, senior awards editor, is up for online journalist of the year. The eligibility period for the kudos administered by the Los Angeles Press Club is July 1, 2023 through June 30.

Willman is...

John Magaro went from an extra on a Steven Spielberg film to leading his own movie about the same tragic events 20 years later.

Magaro has steadily built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, seamlessly transitioning between indie gems and major studio films such as “Not Fade Away” and “Past Lives.” But despite his steady rise in the industry, he remains grounded and deeply connected to the craft of acting, driven by a passion for storytelling and a dedication to exploring the complexities of each role.

In this episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Magaro discusses his latest project, Paramount Pictures’ “September 5” — a dramatic thriller about the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis. He also reflects on his early days in the business, which included an unexpected start as an extra in Steven Spielberg’s 2005 film “Munich,” a full-circle moment for him. Listen below.

“What makes this...

The 2025 Oscars race for Best Adapted Screenplay has a new front-runner.

“Conclave,” the Edward Berger-directed film that’s written by Peter Straughan and based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris, now holds the #1 position to win the adapted screenplay contest at Gold Derby. The movie just opened in U.S. theaters on Friday, October 25. Note that our Oscar odds will continue to change as our Experts, Editors and Users keep making or updating their predictions.

The Focus Features drama stars Ralph Fiennes as Thomas Lawrence, a Cardinal who is tasked with overseeing the election of the late Pope’s successor. But he soon realizes that many of the candidates have personal scandals that could upend the church. Other cast members include Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini, John Lithgow as Cardinal Tremblay, Sergio Castellitto as Cardinal Tedesco, and Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes.

Straughan received an...

Believe it or not, Saoirse Ronan — a four-time Oscar nominee and one of Hollywood’s brightest stars — is just a cool girl from the Bronx.

Ronan was born in the U.S., moved to Ireland when she was three, and still splits time between there and her native land. And yes, she still votes in every election and can even one day run for president (if she chooses to). Beyond her acclaimed performances in films like “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” Ronan remains deeply grounded. She recently married her longtime partner Jack Lowden, who celebrated his first Emmy nomination for “Slow Horses” (with Ronan secretly wishing for him to play James Bond). Nonetheless, she’s deeply committed to making the entertainment industry a safer, more supportive environment for young actors.

On this film awards season premiere of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Ronan opens up about her early start in the film industry,...

Another year, another money-making Marvel movie in the running to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. This time around it’s “Deadpool and Wolverine,” the third film in Ryan Reynolds‘ R-rated series and the first featuring Hugh Jackman‘s popular “X-Men” character. If “Deadpool and Wolverine” goes on to reap a visual effects bid, it would be the 18th Marvel entry overall to do so, when including those that contended before the Marvel Cinematic Universe officially kicked off in 2008. See them all below.

The most recent addition to the list was “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023), with its tech whizzes losing to the “Godzilla Minus One” team at last year’s Academy Awards. That was actually the third “Guardians” film to earn a Best Visual Effects nom after “Vol. 2” (it lost to “Blade Runner 2049” in 2017) and “Vol. 1” (it lost to “Interstellar” in 2014).

Both of the...

As they campaign for their Season 3 Emmy nominations, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky — the co-creators behind “Hacks” — are already busy at work on what already promises to be an explosive Season 4. As a matter of fact, the trio have found so much to mine that they will be back to producing a full ten episodes (up from nine in Season 3 and eight in Season 2) next year.

“It feels like a season where we’re wanting to do even more episodes than we had planned on or agreed on,” Aniello tells Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast. “So we’re going to be doing ten episodes, because we’re feeling like there’s just so much to say and do.”

Season 3 ended on a sharp note as Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) lands her holy grail, a late night talk show — and then refuses to give her protégé Ava (Hannah Einbinder) the head writer job.

The Emmy campaign trail can be a slog, but Diane Lane is loving it. With an Emmy nomination in tow, Lane has been hitting the circuit to discuss her part in Ryan Murphy’s FX limited series “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.” It’s a busy time as voting gets underway: Right after speaking to Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast, she was headed to another FYC event.

“This whole estimation of women’s worth is really in the zeitgeist, certainly politically and globally,” Lane says. “And it’s a wonderful time to be a woman because I think we’re continuing to put the footprints in the sand for generations to take even steps further generations.”

In an interview with Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, Lane sat down with senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay and admitted she’s much more present than she used to be, and how at this...

Christine Baranski’s mother was a Polish immigrant who survived the Great Depression and spent years working at an air conditioner factory in Buffalo, New York. She was a far cry from Baranski’s character on Julian Fellowes’ HBO drama “The Gilded Age,” the haughty, imperious, old-money Agnes van Rhijn. But in an interview with Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, Baranski says she took inspiration from her parent in bringing Agnes to life, a performance that’s now Emmy-nominated in one of six nods for the series’ Season 2 — and the sixteenth of Baranski’s illustrious career.

“I watched a tough lady move through life,” Baranski recalls. “They can be very grouchy and very strong and very controlling, but they get the job done.” Agnes herself endured what’s implied to be a long, unhappy marriage in order to provide for her family, including younger sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon) and niece...

“Abbott Elementary” ended its third season with a moment that fans of the show have been waiting for: After plenty of will-they-or-won’t-they, Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) finally got together.

“I think it’s just remarkable that so many people are so invested in these two dork teachers in Philadelphia,” Brunson tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast. “I find it to be really, really endearing that even even peers of mine in the industry have asked me seriously, ‘so, what’s going on with Gregory and Janine next season?’ just think it’s fantastic that they’re very invested. And that’s something that Randall was really instrumental in creating.”

That’s Randall Einhorn, the show’s executive producing director, Emmy nominated this year for that episode — the season finale “Party.” Einhorn joined Brunson on the podcast to talk about some of those choices he made for the episode,...

One of the great benefits of being a Film Independent Member is that you get to go to our Film Independent Presents screenings. We do the hard work of finding some of the freshest new voices out there, we screen their films for you weeks before they release wide, and you get to see them for free! Oh, and afterwards there are Q&As with the creatives behind the project. Wow, that seems like a pretty good deal.

Here are just a few of the most recent Q&As from our Film Independent Presents screenings.

Recently, our own Josh Welsh spoke with, actors Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin, producer Monique Walton, and writer/director Greg Kwedar, about the transformative power of art in A24’s new film Sing Sing. starring an ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors. In theaters now.

In a riotous Q&a, Carlos Aguilar get under the...

Emmy-nominated actor Hiroyuki Sanada wants to flex his acting muscles. Not only is he hungry for more dramatic roles, but Sanada would love to be considered for a romantic comedy — or even a musical.

The veteran actor just recently received one of Hollywood’s top accolades, an Emmy nomination for his work in FX’s “Shōgun” Most awards pundits have him tipped to take home the outstanding lead actor in a drama series next month. And while Sanada can’t quite believe the series landed 25 nominations, he’s riding the wave, and humbled by it all. Listen to him on the latest episode of Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast below!

There is a motto Sanada lives by, and that’s “never rush.” The lesson comes from the warrior Tokugama Ieyasu, who inspired Sanada’s character (Lord Yoshii Toranaga) in the FX series “Shogun.”

Sanada explains how he applied that philosophy...

Emmy voters have loved “The Crown” from the start. Over six seasons, the Netflix drama has earned 21 Emmys and a total 87 nominations across all categories, including outstanding drama series in 2021 — when it didn’t have to go up against “Succession,” which took a bye year.

“The Crown” is once again up for drama series at the 76th Emmy Awards, and once again won’t have to go up against the now-retired “Succession.” It instead faces another formidable competitor: FX’s “Shogun,” which landed 25 noms and is currently seen as the frontrunner in the drama race.

But “The Crown” is no slouch, picking up 18 nominations this year — and besides drama series, that includes Imelda Staunton in lead drama actress, Dominic West in lead drama actor, Elizabeth Debicki and Lesley Manville in supporting drama actress and Jonathan Pryce in supporting drama actor.

Creator Peter Morgan is up for that drama series award,...

Singer and actress Saleka Shyamalan, daughter of top director M. Night, has released the single “Save Me.”

The song is taken from M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming thriller “Trap,” which is due Aug. 2 and stars Saleka as well as Josh Hartnett, Hayley Mills and Marnie McPhail. In the film, Saleka plays the fictional pop icon Lady Raven, with Hartnett as a doting father who takes his teenage daughter to see the singer in concert. However, things take a sinister turn when it becomes clear that a large number of police are at the concert looking for a serial killer.

“Save Me” is among the 14 songs she composed, performed and produced for the film’s soundtrack album, “Lady Raven,” which features special appearances by Kid Cudi, Russ and Amaarae.

Saleka was actually the inspiration for the film: Speaking with Variety’s Jenelle Riley, M. Night said he was inspired to write...

The billionaire Andy Ronson (Clive Owen) — a technological genius who serves as an antagonist and, ultimately, tragic figure in the FX limited series “A Murder at the End of the World” — may bear a more-than-passing resemblance to certain tycoons of our time. But creator, director and star Brit Marling had an older inspiration in mind.

“If anything, I think we were pretty influenced by reading about Disney, and the idea of Walt Disney as a figure who made real leaps in original thinking,” Marling explains in a conversation with Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast. “A Murder at the End of the World” is certainly critical of technology, but Marling, who conceived the show with Zal Batmanglij, also wanted to present a more nuanced narrative than resolving its classic whodunit plot with a single diabolical billionaire.

“There are a lot of narratives that want to make the easy answer that this tech billionaire,...

Variety won eight first-place awards Sunday night at the Los Angeles Press Club’s 66th annual SoCal Journalism Awards, including a top win for executive editor Brent Lang as entertainment journalist of the year.

Variety came into the 2024 ceremony with 74 nominations, representing work published by staffers online or in the weekly print edition during the 2023 calendar year.

Lang led the list of staff wins by picking up three awards in all. Besides his entertainment journalist of the year trophy, Lang also won for personality profile/magazines for his cover story on Michael J. Fox, and he shared the award for entertainment feature/TV with Tatiana Siegel and Matt Donnelly for their story “Showstopper! Strikes Plunge Hollywood Into Chaos With Pricey Movie Delays, Pay Battles and AI Anxiety.”

Siegel was a double-winner. Besides sharing the latter award with Lang, she also won in the category of entertainment news/magazines for the story “A Fired ‘Scream’ Star,...

Before Jake Lacy graduated drama school, he had to make a huge decision: picking his stage name. Born Jameson Griffin Lacy, he planned on using his given moniker throughout his career. But, after seeing his decision, his dean questioned him: “Who is this Jameson? You’re the most Jake person I know!”

Lacy, who plays Troy Delaney on potential Emmy nominee “Apples Never Fall,” said on an episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast that he thinks plenty of actors are pigeon holed in the industry, but he can chameleon around and play a multitude of characters: “I’ve never been a star. Most people don’t know who I am or recognize me… Now it feels like there’s a little wider scope there as to what people will see me for or think of me as.” Listen below!

The Peacock limited series follows the Delaney family, Palm Beach...

Rebecca Ferguson doesn’t mind people knowing she’s claustrophobic. “Expose it!” she says. “I’m quite happy people know because if they listen, they’ll be like, ‘Okay, good to know, she’ll take the stairs when she comes.’”

The topic arose when Ferguson dropped by the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast and took the five flights of stairs up to the studio rather than get in an elevator. She is also, in her words, “a human Jason Bourne” of sorts – meaning she assesses her surroundings wherever she goes and registers such things as which way the doors swing. Today, she has already clocked that the doors to the room open inward, which means she won’t be able to kick it open if trapped. So instead, we’ve left a little ajar. She adds that this extends to every location: “Going to public loos – it’s an issue!”

There is an upside,...

At this year’s Variety TV FYC Fest, Variety teamed up with the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to present the inaugural Mary Tyler Moore Visionary Award to writer, actor and producer Kristen Wiig. Kristen was recognized for her extensive and groundbreaking achievements in storytelling, matching Moore’s continuing extraordinary impact on the entertainment industry.

“Kristen is indeed a true Mary. A multi-hyphenate, critically acclaimed creator of moments of joy and occasions of reflection that move and make us better,” said Dr. S. Robert Levine, founder and CEO of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative. “Kristen also shares a creative driver with Mary, what Kristen has called ‘the need to be a little uncomfortable.’ Or as Mary once put it, ‘Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.'”

“I’m a little speechless,” Wiig said upon receiving the award.

HBO’s “True Detective” took over television in 2014 with Woody Harrelson and Mathew Matthew McConaughey as two gritty detectives struggling to solve a seemingly impossible string of supernatural murders. Ten years and three seasons later, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis have taken over for “True Detective: Night Country,” ushering in the most-viewed season of the series to date.

As part of the Variety Indigenous Storytelling in Entertainment Breakfast, Variety‘s deputy awards and features editor Jenelle Riley sat down with Reis, co-star Isabella Star Lablanc and creator Issa López to talk about how they brought the latest season of “True Detective” to life.

“True Detective: Night Country” follows detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Reis) as they investigate an incident at an Alaskan research station and the disappearances of young women from a local Indigenous community. Three of López’s six projects as a writer-director deal with the disappearance of women,...

Variety‘s annual Power of Law breakfast, presented by City National Bank, featured speakers discussing the radical changes that have rocked the entertainment industry in recent years and how insiders are adapting to the uncertainty surrounding Hollywood.

The event honored Cliff Gilbert-Lurie, Ziffren Brittenham Llp co-managing and senior partner, with the Power of Law Award recognizing his long career and his impressive track record of philanthropic work in Los Angeles County and beyond. The event also celebrated those profiled in Variety‘s annual Legal Impact Report, which recognizes transactional and litigation attorneys working in media and entertainment.

Dea Lawrence, Variety‘s chief operating and marketing officer, opened the morning at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills remarks by acknowledging the significance of the legal eagles gathered.

“The lawyers in this room this morning are the best people to help us navigate the dramatic changes the entertainment industry has been experiencing this past year,...

That’s a wrap on Oscar season 2024 — but first, the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast’s Roundtable dives in one last time to take a final look at the highs, lows and head scratchers from Sunday night’s ceremony. “Oppenheimer” did huge, but it didn’t quite sweep. “Poor Things” over-poor-formed. We’re still not quite sure what Al Pacino was doing before handing out the best picture Academy

Award. But overall, this year’s Oscars gets high marks for good speeches, fun segments, solid quips by host Jimmy Kimmel and perhaps — most importantly — ending early.

Listen to this week’s episode, and join Clayton Davis, Jenelle Riley, Jazz Tangcay and Michael Schneider as we give our parting thoughts in another Roundtable Mega Edition below:

And here are some required readings from Oscar night 2024:

How to Improve the Oscars: Add New Categories, Bump the Show Up to February and More...

We’re less than 24 hours from Hollywood’s biggest night, and if you haven’t filled out your office or household Oscar pool, time is running out. But first — check out this week’s Variety Awards Circuit Podcast for some final analysis. Awards guru Clayton Davis, along with Jenelle Riley, Jazz Tangcay and Michael Schneider recorded a Mega Roundtable edition this week to share their final thoughts on this year’s races. Listen below!

Will “Oppenheimer” clean up? Probably. But how much? In lead actress, who will win the battle of the stones: Lily Gladstone or Emma Stone? Will “Barbie” pick up anything besides best song?

So many categories to consider, and this week’s episode goes deep on the 23 categories, including the lesser-known ones that will be make or break in your pool.

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster “Oppenheimer” has clinched every major guild and industry accolade — Golden Globes, Critics Choice,...

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

I’m no stranger to celebrity. I’ve sat down with Leonardo DiCaprio, I’ve interviewed Angelina Jolie — and I have never been more starstruck than last week, when I hosted a press conference with the breakout star of the year. That would be Messi, the lovable pooch who plays service dog Snoop in “Anatomy of a Fall” He’s the scene stealer of an Oscar-nominated movie and the one everyone wanted to meet at the recent Academy luncheon. He is a very, very good boi.

It was Messi’s first L.A. visit and besides the luncheon, he visited some historic landmarks — see his owner-trainer Lauren Martini-Contini’s Instagram for his “Baywatch” recreation. He and Martin-Contini (along with...

Jeffrey Wright is finally an Oscar nominee. The actor’s storied career had already brought him under the direction of masters such as Sidney Lumet, Ang Lee, and most recently, newcomer Cord Jefferson in the satirical dramedy “American Fiction.” But with his Oscar nom, Wright says he feels more supported than ever by the Hollywood community and studios.

“I’ve never had this level of support behind a project that I was central to from the powers that be, the business side of our industry,” he tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast. “I’ve never had it until now. I’m really grateful for that. We’re here now, and I’m so pleased the film has been recognized across the board. With a small movie and 26 days of filming, our budget was probably the catering budget for the last Bond movie I did.”

In this episode of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit Podcast,...

“Killers of the Flower Moon” star Lily Gladstone embraces her monumental responsibility as an Oscar nominee, utilizing her platform to advocate for the Indigenous community and hoping to pave the way for more actors like herself.

During a panel conversation at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Virtuosos Awards, Gladstone — of Siksikaitsitapi and Niimiipuu heritage — addressed the harmful depictions and references to Indians in media, notably mentioning the Kansas City Chiefs the day before their Super Bowl win.

“Honestly, you could hold both teams accountable,” Gladstone tells Variety. “The 49ers are based on the California Gold Rush, which was an incredibly brutal time for California Indians. And then the Chiefs. There are many ways that you could interpret the name ‘chief.’ It’s not just the name that bothers me. It’s hearing that damn Tomahawk chop. Every time, it’s a stark reminder of what Hollywood has done to us,...

In case you didn’t know, animation directors are also auteurs. According to Yahoo Finance, the global animation market reached more than $400 billion at the end of 2023. That was up from $391 billion one year before. And yet, animated projects are not automatically covered by the WGA, are separate from the DGA, and are consistently overlooked for their filmmaking achievements.

Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, the directing trio of Sony Animation’s animated box office smash “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” tell Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast that there are some critically needed changes in Hollywood.

“I think it’s worth repeating: animation is a big business for the industry,” says Dos Santos. “We bring a ton to the table; without it, everybody hurts. I also want to add that doing an animated film shouldn’t be a sacrifice for the artist doing it.”

Powers adds: “I do...

Writer, director and actor Bradley Cooper began working on “Maestro” years before the film went into pre-production. One person he turned to early on in that process was his collaborator on his directorial debut (“A Star is Born”), cinematographer Matthew Libatique.

On this episode of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Libatique discusses his process for shooting one of the most emotional scenes in the film – the Thanksgiving scene where Felicia (Carey Mulligan) finally confronts her husband, Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) over his late nights away from home.

Listen below.

In prepping for “Maestro,” the Oscar-nominated Libatique tells Variety: “What Bradley wanted to do was crack the code on the makeup and how he was going to physically transform into Lenny and working with Kazu.”

The result was a 40-minute proof of concept where they shot actual scenes. It was through that process that Libatique learned about what lenses they liked and what format worked.

“Rustin” star Colman Domingo has just been named an Oscar nominee for best actor for his powerhouse performance in the biographical drama. As he arrives to record the latest episode of Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Domingo says he wants to stay present in this moment, noting that he was “waiting around for a certain call for a few hours.”

That “certain call” would former President Barack Obama, who is the founder of the production company Higher Ground, which financed the George C. Wolfe drama.

A fashionable and charismatic figure (who’s also participating in “Dry January”), Domingo says that Presidential call came about one hour before he entered the studio. Doing his best Obama impression, Domingo says the first thing the former President said was, “Colman! Congratulations! Enjoy this moment. Enjoy every step of this. It’s a wonderful thing. Have fun.”

On this episode of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit Podcast,...

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

cast and crew of “Poor Things” teased Mark Ruffalo about replacing him with Oscar Isaac — even bringing the other actor to set one day.

Despite having two Oscar nominations and starring in blockbusters such as “Avengers: Endgame,” Ruffalo sometimes grapples with imposter syndrome. The actor admitted this during a recent conversation with his “Poor Things” peers — director Yorgos Lanthimos, writer Tony McNamara and fellow cast members Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Ramy Yousef.

Ruffalo was offered the role of rakish attorney Duncan Wedderburn and recalled how he was sent the script. “I thought it was pretty amazing,” he noted. “But I doubted my ability to do it, to be honest with you. I was scared of it. Even to...

Emma Stone has a dream, and not one you’d expect. The “Poor Things” star, coming off a Golden Globe win this week, tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast that she wants to be a contestant on the classic game show “Jeopardy” — and no, not the “Celebrity” edition.

“I apply every June,” she says. “I don’t want to go on ‘Celebrity Jeopardy.’ I want to earn my stripes. You can only take the test once a year with your email address, and I’ve never gotten on the show. I watch it every single night and I mark down how many answers I get right. I swear, I could go on ‘Jeopardy.'”

Stone could be the second woman nominated for producing and acting in the same year following Frances McDormand for “Nomadland” (2020), who won both. In addition, she could be the second actress to receive Oscar nods for...

True Detective is back after a five-year layoff, but that’s nothing compared to how long it’s been since Jodie Foster last starred in a TV series.

Foster — who stars as Alaska police chief Liz Danvers in the new fourth season of HBO’s crime anthology, subtitled Night Country (premiering this Sunday at 9/8c) — hasn’t been a full-time TV actor since her early teen years in the 1970s. (Did you know she co-starred in a TV version of Paper Moon?) But the Oscar winner was lured back to the small screen by the prospect of being on True Detective,...

Legendary filmmaker Michael Mann is “worried about the future” of movies. But, he also declares, “Cinema is not dying.” A luminary auteur with a distinctive visual style and gripping storytelling, Mann calls this time following the end of the historic Hollywood strikes “a real watershed moment.”

“The companies are split in ways they haven’t been before between streamers and legacy studios,” he tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast. “Those interests don’t sometimes align. There isn’t a ‘Lew Wasserman’ figure now. There needs to be because this isn’t the end. These issues come up every time there’s a new modality. It always precipitates this.”

On this episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Mann discusses the experience of making his latest film, the awards contender “Ferrari,” and how working with Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz compares to his other actors from past movies. That includes reflecting...

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

“Ferrari” director Michael Mann sees similarities between Enzo Ferrari and Adam Driver, the actor playing him in their new film.

Hitting theaters Christmas Day, “Ferrari” focuses on a pivotal time in the Ferrari founder’s life – his marriage to wife Laura (Penélope Cruz) is deteriorating and she is unaware of the other family he has with girlfriend Lina (Shailene Woodley). At the same time, his company is on the verge of bankruptcy. It’s all set against the backdrop of the 1957 Mille Miglia, a tragic event in racing history.

In this exclusive featurette, Driver says he can relate to Ferrari’s mindset: “Enzo’s relentlessness and ambition and myopic focus, I completely understand.”

Producer-director Mann goes on to draw comparisons between their determination,...

[Editor’s Note: The following article contains spoilers for “The Curse” through Episode 5.]

“God damn it!”

Whitney Siegel is not pleased. Already today, Emma Stone’s frustrated entrepreneur/”artist” has lost a prospective buyer, wasted precious production hours on people that won’t be included in the show, and witnessed her so-called friend make fun of her on camera, in a home Whitney designed, with the entire crew watching. Now, the fake couple Whitney is paying to pretend like they’re excited about purchasing her passive house is saying they don’t want to fake everything. Rather than be paired up with a more camera-friendly stranger, the long-haired “actor” would prefer to walk through the home with his real-life, less aesthetically pleasing partner.

That’s the last straw for Whitney, and before walking outside, plastering on her semi-permanent smile, and facing the source of her irritation, she lets out a rare expletive. “God damn it!” she shouts. Is the...

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

For all her work on stage and screen, Kristen Bell might best be known as the woman who cried over a sloth. Back in 2012, the actor went viral with a video shot by her husband, Dax Shepard isn’t even seen interacting with the sloth – in the video it’s just the anticipation of knowing it’s there causes her to practically hyperventilate with euphoria.

It was a moment Wallis Annenberg PetSpace’s Catie Voglio could relate to all too well. “I first saw the video of Kristin Bell’s reaction to the sloth, and I just knew that feeling of loving something so much, it almost hurts you,” she says.

So, when Voglio was working with a podcast...

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

Charlene Lee and Claire Koonce want actors to succeed. At Clck casting, which they founded in 2019 after working together on various projects, they share similar work ethics and values. “Charlene and I really focus on inclusivity, authenticity and kindness,” says Koonce. “We feel there’s a lot of talent in this town. And the way that every single person is treated throughout the casting process is important to us. We want to cast authentically and inclusively and do quality work, but kindly.”

That skillset came in handy when the pair were tasked with casting “Beef,” Netflix’s heralded limited series starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as Amy and Danny, strangers who continue to antagonize each other after a random road rage incident.

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

With dual strikes currently underway, it’s an uncertain time for actors – and this is a profession that is used to uncertainty. Many aren’t just wondering about when their next job will be, but how they can afford rent, utilities and health care. One place that can help is the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and its Emergency Financial Assistance and Disaster Relief Fund. The Foundation’s programs and assistance are available to any SAG-AFTRA member currently paid up on dues who are able to prove financial crisis. The Foundation’s motto is: “If you need help, ask. If you can help, give.”

For those not familiar with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, it is a non-profit organization associated with the union but not part of it.

Variety won 14 first-place awards Sunday night at the Los Angeles Press Club’s 65th annual SoCal Journalism Awards, more than twice as many as any other entertainment publication.

The 14 awards represented a historic high for Variety at the SoCal Journalism Awards, topping the previous best of 12 first-place prizes the magazine earned in 2018. Variety came into Sunday’s ceremony with a record 96 nominations, representing work published online and in print during the 2022 calendar year.

The awards were handed out during a gala dinner attended by hundreds in the historic Crystal Ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Several staffers won dual honors. Owen Gleiberman, Variety‘s chief film critic, won best obituary/appreciation for a look back at actor William Hurt, plus best online arts commentary for the column “Is ‘Tar’ Rooting for or Against Cate Blanchett’s Superstar Predator Conductor?” Chris Willman, senior writer and chief music critic,...

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

There’s a long history of great actors who have never won an Emmy Award. Hugh Laurie has a total of 10 Emmy nominations with zero wins for his work but the most glaring oversight is that after six nominations for his iconic role on “House” he never took home the prize. But that’s nothing compared to Angela Lansbury, who went home empty-handed a whopping 18 times. But they’re in good company – including the likes of Jackie Gleason, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Phylicia Rashad.

With Emmy voting starting, I wanted to highlight some shows and performances that have so far gone overlooked by the Emmy Awards. Most of the programs I chose have been completely shut out by the Academy.

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

In “A Soldier’s Play,” Captain Richard Davenport isn’t meant to sing. But when you cast legendary baritone Norm Lewis in the role, you take advantage of his talents. Lewis can be seen in the national touring production, currently playing at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre — and it’s thanks to director Kenny Leon that audiences get to hear Davenport sing at certain points it the show.

Written by Charles Fuller, “A Soldier’s Play” is set on an Army base in 1944, when the military is still segregated. Captain Davenport, a rare Black officer, is sent to investigate the shooting of Sergeant Vernon Waters. Though Black himself, Waters despises and persecutes Black men who he feels perpetuate old-fashioned stereotypes.

This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

When someone talks about improvisation, odds are your mind goes to what is known as short-form; theater games or quick scenes, the sort of performances popularized by “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and seen in small theaters. Most people have seen – or been in – groups like this.

Long-form improv, as the name implies, offers a different challenge. Rather than taking suggestions throughout a show for different scenes, performers only take a few suggestions at the top of a show and proceed to perform the rest of the show based on those. While there may be several scenes within a show, the idea is that they are all related to those initial prompts.

While it may be high-risk, it’s...