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Feature: Theatre Stars, Letts, Linklater, Magnussen, More in Oscar-Nominated THE BIG SHORT
By: Allison Pichowicz Feb. 24, 2016
Despite the fact that the film THE BIG SHORT is about the financial manuevering that led to the 2008 housing collapse, Adam McKay's comedy has become one of the most well-received films of the past year. While, we might be biased, we think that one of the reasons for the film's success is that McKay sprinkled the cast with a healthy handful of theatrical talent. While most screen actors have some kind of background in theater, the cast of THE BIG SHORT has been able to thrive in all mediums. Today we're taking a look at the stage actors that have temporarily exited stage right to star on the big screen.
Tracy Letts - Lawrence Fields
Stage actor, film and television actor, and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright: Tracy Letts does it all. Last seen on Broadway in THE REALISTIC JONESES, Letts plays "Lawrence Fields" in THE BIG SHORT. He is an active member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago and won the Tony Award for Best Actor (Best Performance By A Leading Actor in a Play) for his role in their revival of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?. While you may not physically see him, his presence will be on television again soon; CBS has recently ordered a pilot for a television series adaptation of Lett's play SUPERIOR DONUTS.
Hamish Linklater - Porter Collins
Have you been to Shakespeare in the Park in the past six years? If so, there's a good chance you've seen Hamish Linklater. Linklater has performed in five Shakespeare in the Park productions to date, playing roles such as Posthumus Leonatus in CYMBELINE, Benedick in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in TWELFTH NIGHT. In THE BIG SHORT, Linklater plays a financial analyst who assists Mark Baum (Steve Carell) with managing his hedgefund. He also has appeared on Broadway in the original cast of SEMINAR. Still unsure of where you've seen him before? Rewatch THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE and take a closer look at Matthew Kimble, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss's character's brother.
Marissa Tomei - Cynthia Baum
Another THE REALISTIC JONESES alum: Marissa Tomei received the Drama Desk Award in 2014 for her portrayal of "Pony Jones". She has also won accolades for her performances in films such as MY COUSIN VINNY. IN THE BEDROOM, and THE WRESTLER. Tomei plays Steve Carell's wife in THE BIG SHORT. She has performed both on and off-Broadway since 1986 in shows as varied as MARIE AND BRUCE, THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, and WHAT THE BUTLER SAW. You may have seen her recently on the television show EMPIRE where she played Chairman of the Board Mimi Whiteman.
Finn Wittrock - Jamie Shipley
If you were able to keep your eyes open, you would've seen Finn Wittrock in his breakout role of "Dandy Mott" in AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW. His chilling portrayal of the emotionally disturbed boy-turned-killer earned him an Emmy nomination and secured a place for him in the following season of American Horror Story. Before "Dandy", he played "Happy Loman" in the Broadway revival of DEATH OF A SALESMAN alongside Andrew Garfield and Philip Seymour Hoffman. A graduate of Julliard, he has also performed in the off-Broadway play THE ILLUSION, The KENNEDY Center's production of THE GUARDSMAN, and the Goodman's production of SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH opposite Diane Lane. In THE BIG SHORT, Wittrock plays a partner at Brownfield Capital. The next time you rewatch THE NORMAL HEART or UNBROKEN, look for him in the cast.
Rafe Spall - Danny Moses
A veteran of both New York and London stages, British actor Rafe Spall has spent time on both television and movie screens as well. Spall was most recently onstage in the states as "Jerry" in the revival of Harold Pinter's play BETRAYAL on Broadway in 2013. He has starred in a wide array of movies from LIFE OF PI to ANONYMOUS and PROMETHEUS. Spall's character in THE BIG SHORT is the top trader at FrontPoint Capital. His next film will be the remake of SWALLOWS and AMAZONS.
Billy Magnussen - Mortgage Broker #2
Billy Magnussen made his Broadway debut in the play THE RITZ in 2007. Since then, he has gone on to play the titular character in a Tony Award-winning play and a prince in a recent film adaptation in a musical. He was nominated for the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his portrayal of "Spike" in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. Magnussen had originated the role at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ and also acted in the off-Broadway production before the show moved to the John Golden Theatre. The move from stage to screen did not cause him any agony; he added "Rapunzel's Prince" to his resume when he was cast in the 2014 film adaptation of INTO THE WOODS. He's actually in two Best Picture nominees this year because he also had a role in the 2015 drama BRIDGE OF SPIES.
Adepero Oduye - Kathy Tao
Adepero Oduye made her Broadway debut as "Young Woman on Bus" in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. Oduye starred in the Lifetime adaptation of the film STEEL MAGNOLIAS and in critically acclaimed films PARIAH and 12 YEARS A SLAVE. Her character in THE BIG SHORT works with Linklater's character at FrontPoint Capital. With an impressive acting resume, you may be surprised to learn that she had originally attended Cornell University with the hopes of BECOMING a doctor.
Will you be rooting for THE BIG SHORT during next Sunday's Oscars telecast? What are your favorite stage-to-screen actors? Let us know in the comments!
The 88th Academy Awards telecast will air live coast-to-coast on Monday, February 28th (8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT) on ABC from the Dolby Theatre LIVE in Los Angeles. Be sure to visit BWW for live coverage of the 2016 Academy Awards!
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