'The Actor' Interview: André Holland and Gemma Chan

Moviefone speaks with André Holland and Gemma Chan about 'The Actor'. "There's a sweetness to her, but also a strength inside," Chan said of her character.

(L to R) André Holland and Gemma Chan in 'The Actor'. Photo: Neon.

Opening in theaters nationwide on March 14th is the new crime mystery ‘The Actor’, which was directed by Duke Johnson (‘Anomalisa’), and stars André Holland (‘Moonlight’ and ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’) and Gemma Chan (‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and ‘Eternals’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with André Holland and Gemma Chan about their work on ‘The Actor’, their characters, the story, the cast, working together, and working with director Duke Johnson.

André Holland in 'The Actor'. Photo: Neon.

Moviefone: To begin with, André what can you tell us about your character, Paul Cole?

André Holland: Well, that's the question of the movie, who is Paul Cole? Will the real Paul Cole please stand up? So, the movie is based on a book called ‘Memory’ by Donald Westlake. It's set in 1955, when we find Paul Cole. He's a theater actor who's been on tour with his traveling troupe throughout the Midwest. He wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of who he is, doesn't know where he is, or his troupe, and you find out later, they have moved on to the next town. This story is largely about him trying to piece together these clues to put his life back together and figure out who he is. Then along the way, he encounters this stunning creature and then must decide whether it makes more sense to continue his search to find his old life or to stay and build a new one.

MF: Gemma, what can you say about Edna, and what did you enjoy about playing her?

Gemma Chan: So, Edna is from a small town in Ohio. She is at a point in her life where she didn't think that she would ever fall in love again or meet someone who could make her feel all these emotions, vulnerability being one of them. I feel that when she meets Paul, they feel something, and they see something and connect with each other instantly. I know that Duke, the director, very much wanted us to bring ourselves to these characters. I love Edna. There's a sweetness to her, but also a strength inside her as well and a real vulnerability too.

(L to R) Gemma Chan and André Holland in 'The Actor'. Photo: Neon.

MF: Gemma, what was it like collaborating with director Duke Johnson on this movie?

GC: I had seen Duke's film, ‘Anomalisa’, and I loved it. Then I read this script and spoke to him about his vision for what he wanted to make. It just felt like such an opportunity to do something different. It doesn't come along very often. From the fact that he wanted to cast an ensemble of actors who would play multiple roles within the film to wanting to use a lot of practical effects with the way he shot the movie and bring them over from the animation world to live action. It just seemed like it could be something magical and different. Then getting to work with amazing actors like André, it was a unique experience. Duke had such a clear vision of what he wanted to do, but also really trusted us to bring the emotion to our characters. So, it felt like a collaborative process.

MF: André, what was it like working with the incredible ensemble cast?

AH: It took a leap of faith on the part of all the actors to just dive in and go for it. I think that's one of the things that theater asks you to do all the time. You don't ever have enough time, you never got enough money, you just got to go for it. So, I think we had, in this case, a stellar group of actors who made up the ensemble. May Calamawy, Olwen (Fouéré), Tracey Ullman, Simon McBurney, we had killers. Everybody was like, "All right, let's figure it out. Give me a wig and give me a mustache and I'm going to be this person and then I'll switch it up and be somebody else." It was really a lot of fun.

André Holland in 'The Actor'. Photo: Neon.

MF: André, what would you say to an audience sitting down to watch this movie now to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about have?

AH: Well, I think it's a movie unlike any movie I've ever seen. It has a magical, fantastic quality to it, has beautiful performances, it's wonderfully shot and it's a lot of fun. It's the kind of movie that I think you could see with a big group of people. It's the kind of movie that I think really makes the theater going experience special. It's designed to be seen in a theater. Not to say that you can't sit at home and watch it on a laptop, you could, but you'd be missing out, I think. So, I just would encourage people to get a group of folks together, go get some popcorn and go watch the movie. Then go get a drink and talk about it afterwards. I think it'll be worth your time.

MF: Gemma, what was your experience like working with André?

GC: Well, it was a dream. I told him this before, but he’s such a talented actor, and so generous as well. Every scene, every little vignette that we filmed as our characters, it was a joy. I felt that I could be vulnerable with him. He’s such a good listener as well. Just a wonderful, generous actor. I can't speak highly enough of him. I was a huge fan of his work before getting to do this. He’s a huge part of why I said yes to doing the project.

(L to R) André Holland and Gemma Chan in 'The Actor'. Photo: Neon.

MF: Finally, André, did you enjoy working with Gemma on set?

AH: We'll be here all day if I start gushing over this woman. She is extraordinary, the finest that there is. A wonderful actor, wonderful human being, and we had such a good time. I'm so proud of the movie, but I'm equally proud of our friendship that has come out of it.

Editorial Note: Krisily Fernstrom conducted this interview and contributed to this article.

The Actor

"An unforgettable cinematic odyssey."

Not Yet RatedMar 14th, 2025

Showtimes & Tickets

Paul Cole finds himself stranded in a mysterious small town with no memory of who he is or how he got here. As bits and pieces of his past slowly emerge, he attempts... Read the Plot

What is the plot of ‘The Actor’?

Paul Cole (André Holland) finds himself stranded in a mysterious small town with no memory of who he is or how he got here. As bits and pieces of his past slowly emerge, he attempts to find his way home, but time is slippery, appearances can't be trusted, and it's unclear which of his identities is real.