Andrea Riseborough has given an exclusive interview to THR, which was published today. It's a very long piece that just goes into the thick of the controversy, the snub of black actresses and overall campaigning for an Oscar.
Here are a few key excerpts:
Awards campaigning is as acerbically exclusive as it has always been […] I do not yet know which measures will best encourage meritocracy. I’ve been working toward discovering them and will continue to.
It’s been confusing. And it’s wonderful the film’s getting seen. I suppose it’s a really bright ray of light. When any of us engage in anything, we want for that piece of work to be absorbed in some way. You can’t control how people absorb it.
Riseborough says she is “coming to terms with what the nomination means, for me and for others.” On the “privilege” debate her nomination has elicited:
It not only makes sense that this conversation would be sparked, but it is necessary. The film industry is abhorrently unequal in terms of opportunity. I’m mindful not to speak for the experience of other people because they are better placed to speak, and I want to listen […] “I am grateful for the conversation because it must be had. It has deeply impacted me.
The THR piece mentions something that I’ve already tackled here before, how the controversy could actually benefit Riseborough’s odds of winning:
“There have been grumblings among Academy voters who feel she has been unfairly scapegoated in the whole affair. The upside could lead to one of — strike that, the greatest upset in Oscars history. Time will tell.”
Now, every curious voter will be watching “To Leslie,” a movie they knew nothing about until a week ago. It’s intensely brilliant work that cannot be denied. This sense of “discovering” the performance has now given Riseborough a shot at winning the Oscar. Yes, you heard me right, if enough voters watch this performance then Riseborough can WIN.
It’s a no-brainer to believe that voters who respond to this performance will vote for it. Not just because it’s top-notch work, but also in total spite of the haters out there.
Oscar voters like to make a statement, and the statement here would be that not only did Riseborough deserve the nomination, but that she now deserves to win. I don’t think there’s any way to stop this viral mindset on the part of the voter.
Before the controversy, Riseborough was one of the most criminally underrated actresses in the industry. The Oscar nomination will finally give her more opportunities in the future and for that we should be very grateful.
I also don’t buy that her nomination wasn’t merited. There is no way any actor or actress could come up with the 50+ A-listers who campaigned for her.
These are some of the names that pushed Riseborough straight into that Oscar nomination: Charlize Theron, Kate Winslet, Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Laura Dern, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Patricia Arquette, Edward Norton, Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Watts, Susan Sarandon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Liam Neeson, Jane Fonda, Demi Moore, Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Catherine Keener, Jennifer Garner, Greg Kinnear, Patricia Clarkson, Mia Farrow, Sarah Paulson, Helen Hunt, Kim Basinger, Marisa Tomei, Melaine Griffith, Sally Field, Amy Ryan, Judd Apatow, Lindsay Lohan, Ellen Barkin, Allan Cumming, Joe Mantegna, Mary Louise Parker, Debra Winger, Geena Davis, Brookie Shields, Juliette Lewis, Minnie Driver, Mira Sorvino, Courtney Cox, Richard E. Grant, Rosana Arquette, Anne Archer, Frances Fisher, Demián Bichir.
It’s a train that can’t seem to be stopped.
Paul Greengrass’ "The Uprising," starring Andrew Garfield, opened to $3.2M from 2,068 theaters this weekend. Yikes. The budget hasn’t been disclosed, but is said to be in the $20-$30M range.