How ‘The Studio,' ‘Yellowjackets,' ‘Monsters' and ‘White Lotus' Make Bad Behavior Appealing
But not if you're Melanie Lynskey, the actor who's played the character on the Showtime series for the past three seasons.
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'I feel so the opposite of that,' says Lynskey when confronted with the idea that Shauna is a horrible person. 'It's so easy for me to find the humanity in her.'
Finding the humanity in a character, no matter how morally objectionable, is a core task of an actor's job. And since Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) bada-binged his way on to TV screens in 'The Sopranos' in 1999, that task has become increasingly more daunting for both actors and audiences as they've been confronted by a growing horde of emotionally toxic and downright dangerous anti-heroes, from Walter White in 'Breaking Bad' to virtually every character in 'Succession.'In comedy, that's the case too. It's not easy to craft a character who both causes audiences to yell at the screen and root for at the same time. Yet 'The Studio' does just that with Seth Rogen's Matt Remick, who after getting a major promotion seems to make every wrong decision he can. Still, it's impossible not to hope he finds a way to succeed.
Often, actors can't help but feel protective of their characters. Lynskey says she's been bewildered by the fans who've directed online vitriol at Shauna this season, while seemingly forgiving the sins of Shauna's husband Jeff (Warren Cole) and the heinous crimes committed by Misty (Christina Ricci).
It's suggested to Lynskey that the difference is that Misty's brand is cuckoo, while Shauna is effectively the eyes and the ears of the viewer.
'Yeah, I guess there is a difference,' concedes Lynskey, who plays the character as an adult, while Sophie Nélisse plays her as a teen. 'I think that that the reason why people feel so upset and betrayed is because [Shauna] is like the audience surrogate who we all relate to. She seems like moms that I know. She seems like my mom. She thinks like me and then she's actually somebody who's capable of doing very crazy and really vicious things.'
As Lyle Menendez in Netflix's 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,' Nicholas Alexander Chavez is that arrogant, spoiled rich kid we've all known – right up until the moment he and his brother Erik (Cooper Koch) kill their parents Jose and Kitty (Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny). But unlike Shauna in 'Yellowjackets,' if you take away the cold-blooded murder, Lyle is still, well … a privileged douche. Right?
'I would have a really tough time calling him that, only because it's impossible for me to put that kind of judgment on him,' insists Chavez. 'I see him more so as a wounded boy whose emotional and psychological development was probably stunted around the age of 8 or 9 or 10, but who ultimately felt like he had to behave like his dad. And I think that if you asked any 10-year-old to act like a 40-year-old record label executive, they would have a lot of anger and feel a lot of inadequacy because they don't have the means by which to actually do that job.'
For Season 3 of HBO Max's 'The White Lotus,' Michelle Monaghan looked deep into the soul of not a murderer, but a famous actress like herself – specifically, a fictitious TV star named Jaclyn who manipulates and betrays her two childhood friends (Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon) while on girls' trip to a luxury resort in Thailand – a process she admits she felt 'confronted' by.
'[As actors], 'a lot of our self-worth is dependent on external validation,' observes Monaghan. 'I think because that's the way in which [Jaclyn] lives her life and that that's where she places her value, when she's not getting that validation or that stimulation that she needs, she goes looking for it in all the wrong places. And at the end of the day, what I hope we see is someone who probably really needs authentic connection. And I don't think she's malicious; I don't think she's manipulative, I think she's naughty.'
Monaghan believes that, instead of turning viewers off, a character's bad behavior can actually draw them in.
'I think it allows for audiences to be seen in a way, because maybe [the character's] moral compass is a little off in a way that can oftentimes mirror their own,' she says. 'I like that feeling of being able to kind of take the audience on a ride that feels maybe a little confronting for them and one that they're emotionally invested in.'
Getting inside the head of Menendez and staying there was a less pleasant experience for Chavez at times, particularly when he had to shoot a scene where he was was locked in a closet, naked and covered in simulated feces.
'When I'm working on a role, it'll work on me in almost a subconscious way,' says Chavez. 'There will be subtle drifts in my personality towards a certain behavior pattern over the course of two or three or four months. I do this almost unknowingly, which makes a lot of sense because you're filming five days a week for anywhere between eight to 14 hours a day. Now, it's not to the point where I'm out to dinner with my friends after a day of shooting and I'm introducing myself as Lyle. I think that that sort of stuff is a bit ridiculous. But I'd say I was about four months out, like late January of this year, is when I started to actually let go [of Lyle] and feel like myself again.'
But, just as often, it's good for an actor to be bad. Lynskey points to her stunt-filled fight scene from Season 3 of 'Yellowjackets' where she bites off a piece of Melissa's (Hillary Swank) arm and forces her to eat it as being particularly enjoyable.
'It's very fun when the stakes are high and there's a really dangerous element to it,' says Lynskey. 'And it's fun to play someone who's unpredictable. Honestly, I don't know what the scripts are going to give me.'
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San Francisco Chronicle
28 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Meet the actor with Down syndrome who wants to run for president of Chile
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Sebastián Solorza is already a familiar face to many Chileans, having starred in a popular Netflix series and won national acting awards. Now, the 43-year-old actor with Down syndrome wants to enter the race for president in Chile's national election this year. Solorza is racing against the clock to gather 35,000 signatures by Aug. 18, a requirement for him to run as an independent candidate. He positions himself as a 'point of balance' between the far right and the far left — a fierce ideological battle that dominates Chile's political scene. 'I listen with my heart,' Solorza told The Associated Press, adding that his condition allows him to offer a softer communication style. Should he enter the electoral race, his platform will focus on greater inclusion, improved healthcare and education, and enhanced security — a main concern of citizens who have been grappling with an unprecedented crisis of violence in recent years. Chile will choose its new president on Nov. 16, with the campaign so far defined by the mutual attacks between the two main contestants: The far-right José Antonio Kast, who lost to current leftist president Gabriel Boric in 2021, and Jeannette Jara, the ruling coalition's communist nominee. With three months remaining until the election, polls show Kast and Jara vying for the top two spots. This scenario suggests they would face each other in a second-round runoff on Dec. 14. Solorza argues that his candidacy offers a middle ground between political extremes, while working toward a 'more inclusive country.' 'I've spent my entire life breaking down prejudices, as an actor, as a worker and as a citizen,' he said last month when announcing his plans to run as an independent candidate. 'We all deserve the same opportunities.' The actor hopes his candidacy will give greater visibility to people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. While it's unlikely he will secure the necessary support to run for president — he has collected a little over 600 of the 35,000 signatures required — he sees his political foray as a success. Demystifying myths and prejudices Solorza keeps a tight schedule, balancing an acting career with a day job at a construction company. In his limited free time, he spends time visiting Congress, talking with members of the Parliament and meeting with constituents to promote his campaign. On the streets of Huechuraba, a quiet and green neighborhood in the northern part of Chile's capital, Solorza is often greeted by supporters, fans, and workers from restaurants and cafés where he is a regular. Always smiling, he walks slowly, making time for anyone who wants a photo or a brief chat. In Valparaíso — a coastal town about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Santiago — Chileans show up at the Parliament to express their support. 'Good luck with the signatures,' one supporter said last week. 'Let it be the people who ultimately decide our future.' Solorza's political aspirations open the door to 'raise the voices of people with Down syndrome' and help to 'demystify myths and prejudices still present in society,' said Carolina Gallardo, director of the Chilean nonprofit Down Up Foundation, which offers support and community for families raising children with Down syndrome. Fueled by the arts The attempt at a political debut is just the latest in a long line of barriers Solorza has overcome. He was born and raised in the 1980s, a time with far less knowledge about Down syndrome than today. His mother, Jenny Solorza, recalls his early years as 'very dark,' because doctors never provided a clear diagnosis for their son, leading them to search for information on their own. 'We wanted to do our best and always encouraged him with music," she said. As a result, 'Sebastián has a very broad musical culture, and that's what he grew up with.' Solorza attended special schools where he developed his passion for the arts, fueled by music, rather than focusing on traditional academics. At 18, he received a scholarship to join a theater school and began performing regularly on stage and appearing in popular TV talk shows. He later rose to national fame for his leading role as Tomy in the Chilean thriller 'Chromosome 21.' The series, which follows a detective trying to determine if a young man found at a murder scene is a witness or a suspect, ranked second on Netflix in Chile just two days after its release in 2022. The part earned Solorza the Best New Actor award at the 2023 Caleuche Awards, one of the most important ceremonies in the Chilean film industry. Despite social media criticism that he lacks preparedness and political experience to run for office, he insists he will not be deterred.
Associated Press
29 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Meet the actor with Down syndrome who wants to run for president of Chile
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Sebastián Solorza is already a familiar face to many Chileans, having starred in a popular Netflix series and won national acting awards. Now, the 43-year-old actor with Down syndrome wants to enter the race for president in Chile's national election this year. Solorza is racing against the clock to gather 35,000 signatures by Aug. 18, a requirement for him to run as an independent candidate. He positions himself as a 'point of balance' between the far right and the far left — a fierce ideological battle that dominates Chile's political scene. 'I listen with my heart,' Solorza told The Associated Press, adding that his condition allows him to offer a softer communication style. Should he enter the electoral race, his platform will focus on greater inclusion, improved healthcare and education, and enhanced security — a main concern of citizens who have been grappling with an unprecedented crisis of violence in recent years. Chile will choose its new president on Nov. 16, with the campaign so far defined by the mutual attacks between the two main contestants: The far-right José Antonio Kast, who lost to current leftist president Gabriel Boric in 2021, and Jeannette Jara, the ruling coalition's communist nominee. With three months remaining until the election, polls show Kast and Jara vying for the top two spots. This scenario suggests they would face each other in a second-round runoff on Dec. 14. Solorza argues that his candidacy offers a middle ground between political extremes, while working toward a 'more inclusive country.' 'I've spent my entire life breaking down prejudices, as an actor, as a worker and as a citizen,' he said last month when announcing his plans to run as an independent candidate. 'We all deserve the same opportunities.' The actor hopes his candidacy will give greater visibility to people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. While it's unlikely he will secure the necessary support to run for president — he has collected a little over 600 of the 35,000 signatures required — he sees his political foray as a success. Demystifying myths and prejudices Solorza keeps a tight schedule, balancing an acting career with a day job at a construction company. In his limited free time, he spends time visiting Congress, talking with members of the Parliament and meeting with constituents to promote his campaign. On the streets of Huechuraba, a quiet and green neighborhood in the northern part of Chile's capital, Solorza is often greeted by supporters, fans, and workers from restaurants and cafés where he is a regular. Always smiling, he walks slowly, making time for anyone who wants a photo or a brief chat. In Valparaíso — a coastal town about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Santiago, where the Congress is based — Chileans show up to the Parliament to express their support. 'Good luck with the signatures,' one supporter said last week. 'Let it be the people who ultimately decide our future.' Solorza's political aspirations open the door to 'raise the voices of people with Down syndrome' and help to 'demystify myths and prejudices still present in society,' said Carolina Gallardo, director of the Chilean nonprofit Down Up Foundation, which offers support and community for families raising children with Down syndrome. Fueled by the arts The attempt at a political debut is just the latest in a long line of barriers Solorza has overcome. He was born and raised in the 1980s, a time with far less knowledge about Down syndrome than today. His mother, Jenny Solorza, recalls his early years as 'very dark,' because doctors never provided a clear diagnosis for their son, leading them to search for information on their own. 'We wanted to do our best and always encouraged him with music,' she said. As a result, 'Sebastián has a very broad musical culture, and that's what he grew up with.' Solorza attended special schools where he developed his passion for the arts, fueled by music, rather than focusing on traditional academics. At 18, he received a scholarship to join a theater school and began performing regularly on stage and appearing in popular TV talk shows. He later rose to national fame for his leading role as Tomy in the Chilean thriller 'Chromosome 21.' The series, which follows a detective trying to determine if a young man found at a murder scene is a witness or a suspect, ranked second on Netflix in Chile just two days after its release in 2022. The part earned Solorza the Best New Actor award at the 2023 Caleuche Awards, one of the most important ceremonies in the Chilean film industry. Despite social media criticism that he lacks preparedness and political experience to run for office, he insists he will not be deterred. 'I know my candidacy would be uncomfortable for many,' he said. 'But I am here to support minorities.' ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Washington Post
29 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Meet the actor with Down syndrome who wants to run for president of Chile
SANTIAGO, Chile — Sebastián Solorza is already a familiar face to many Chileans, having starred in a popular Netflix series and won national acting awards. Now, the 43-year-old actor with Down syndrome wants to enter the race for president in Chile's national election this year. Solorza is racing against the clock to gather 35,000 signatures by Aug. 18, a requirement for him to run as an independent candidate. He positions himself as a 'point of balance' between the far right and the far left — a fierce ideological battle that dominates Chile's political scene . 'I listen with my heart,' Solorza told The Associated Press, adding that his condition allows him to offer a softer communication style. Should he enter the electoral race, his platform will focus on greater inclusion, improved healthcare and education, and enhanced security — a main concern of citizens who have been grappling with an unprecedented crisis of violence in recent years. Chile will choose its new president on Nov. 16, with the campaign so far defined by the mutual attacks between the two main contestants: The far-right José Antonio Kast, who lost to current leftist president Gabriel Boric in 2021, and Jeannette Jara, the ruling coalition's communist nominee . With three months remaining until the election, polls show Kast and Jara vying for the top two spots. This scenario suggests they would face each other in a second-round runoff on Dec. 14. Solorza argues that his candidacy offers a middle ground between political extremes, while working toward a 'more inclusive country.' 'I've spent my entire life breaking down prejudices, as an actor, as a worker and as a citizen,' he said last month when announcing his plans to run as an independent candidate. 'We all deserve the same opportunities.' The actor hopes his candidacy will give greater visibility to people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. While it's unlikely he will secure the necessary support to run for president — he has collected a little over 600 of the 35,000 signatures required — he sees his political foray as a success. Solorza keeps a tight schedule, balancing an acting career with a day job at a construction company. In his limited free time, he spends time visiting Congress, talking with members of the Parliament and meeting with constituents to promote his campaign. On the streets of Huechuraba, a quiet and green neighborhood in the northern part of Chile's capital, Solorza is often greeted by supporters, fans, and workers from restaurants and cafés where he is a regular. Always smiling, he walks slowly, making time for anyone who wants a photo or a brief chat. In Valparaíso — a coastal town about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Santiago, where the Congress is based — Chileans show up to the Parliament to express their support. 'Good luck with the signatures,' one supporter said last week. 'Let it be the people who ultimately decide our future.' Solorza's political aspirations open the door to 'raise the voices of people with Down syndrome' and help to 'demystify myths and prejudices still present in society,' said Carolina Gallardo, director of the Chilean nonprofit Down Up Foundation, which offers support and community for families raising children with Down syndrome. The attempt at a political debut is just the latest in a long line of barriers Solorza has overcome. He was born and raised in the 1980s, a time with far less knowledge about Down syndrome than today . His mother, Jenny Solorza, recalls his early years as 'very dark,' because doctors never provided a clear diagnosis for their son, leading them to search for information on their own. 'We wanted to do our best and always encouraged him with music,' she said. As a result, 'Sebastián has a very broad musical culture, and that's what he grew up with.' Solorza attended special schools where he developed his passion for the arts, fueled by music, rather than focusing on traditional academics. At 18, he received a scholarship to join a theater school and began performing regularly on stage and appearing in popular TV talk shows. He later rose to national fame for his leading role as Tomy in the Chilean thriller 'Chromosome 21.' The series, which follows a detective trying to determine if a young man found at a murder scene is a witness or a suspect, ranked second on Netflix in Chile just two days after its release in 2022. The part earned Solorza the Best New Actor award at the 2023 Caleuche Awards, one of the most important ceremonies in the Chilean film industry. Despite social media criticism that he lacks preparedness and political experience to run for office, he insists he will not be deterred. 'I know my candidacy would be uncomfortable for many,' he said. 'But I am here to support minorities.' ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
