A DINNER DATE WITH LITHGOW
Role conjures Trump — only smarter
Beatriz at Dinner
Opens across Canada June 23 Over five decades, John Lithgow has been celebrated for his portrayals of heroes and villains and all roles in-between.
The 71-year-old’s latest effort arrives on screen with the modest Beatriz at Dinner.
In the comedy-drama, Lithgow plays billionaire developer Doug Strutt, who confronts Mexican immigrant Beatriz (Salma Hayek), an unexpected guest at a lavish fete.
Lithgow discusses his latest portrayal, which just might reference U.S. President Donald Trump:
Q Do you mind that your character is being called a Trump type?
A I think it’s inevitable. Strutt’s a billionaire developer. You can’t say those two words and not think of Donald Trump.
But they are more different than similar.
Q How so?
A My character’s smarter, more accomplished and he’s comfortable in his own skin. He’s not defensive or paranoid and he accepts the world as it is.
Q Do you agree that he’s also a bit of a charmer?
A He’s blatantly captivating. He really does seduce the audience with his humour and his sense of being at home in his own skin.
Q Was the conflict with Hayek’s Beatriz fun to play?
A Oh, yeah. It’s the alpha guest against the omega guest. It’s the top dog and the underdog. Both are fearless while everybody else cringes because they don’t know how to deal with the situation.
Q Is that what attracted you to the production?
A I liked the ebb and flow of the scenes. And when I first read the script, and I came to the part where (Strutt) orders a bourbon from Beatriz because he thinks she’s the help, I thought, ‘I’ve got to do this.’
Q The story seems to combine the best of film and theatre. Do you agree?
A So much of that comes out of the writing and directing. Mike White’s script is so precise and it captures the sensibility of this world that most of us don’t have access to. And then you have director Miguel Arteta who seems to be on the side of every character.
Q Do you always try to do both comedy and drama?
A I don’t always have the great smorgasbord of choices you might think I do. But I like to do things that are different from the last thing to keep people off balance.
Q But you are in three comedies coming this year — correct?
A Yes. Trial & Error (TV), Daddy’s Home 2 and Pitch Perfect 3 (movies) — I call it my wacko nutball trilogy.
Q You always seem to receive positive notices for whatever you do. Are you aware of it?
A I have been a lucky actor. I’ve been getting praise my whole career and that gives me a nice inflated sense of myself.
Q So, are you like most other actors?
A (Laughs) Sure. Actors swing wildly between arrogance and self doubt.
But I never completely believe the praise although I become deeply injured by anything negative said of me.
Q How do you keep yourself so grounded?
A It comes in handy to grow old and have lots of experience. You learn not to be so thin skinned.
Q Anything else?
A I am married to a very toughminded woman (Mary Yeager). She’s a history professor at UCLA.
She doesn’t let me get away with anything. She’s the great ego deflator, and we all need that.