Variety Unveils Lineup for 'Actors on Actors' Season 21
The latest edition of Variety’s Actors on Actors is here, and Season 21 is gearing up to be one of the most star-packed yet. From blockbuster movie stars to award-winning talents from across the globe, this year's lineup promises conversations that are both unexpected and exhilarating. With pairings that range from dynamic duos of powerhouse veterans to charming newcomers, Actors on Actors has once again brought together the biggest stars of the awards season to create must-watch conversations for film lovers everywhere.
Drew Starkey and Harris Dickinson
Actor on actor? More like twink on twink. Both boys play the love interests of older respected actors who will probably get Oscar nominations this year (Starkey in Queer and Dickinson in Babygirl), and they also look identical. The pairing makes sense visually, but it lacks the intrigue and dynamic tension that can make Actors on Actors compelling. However, both young actors bring their own intensity to their respective roles, which might lead to an interesting exploration of their craft, their challenges, and the experience of sharing the screen with Hollywood legends. There's potential for some surprising insights, even if the pairing feels a little too on the nose.
Kate Winslet and Zoë Saldaña
This one falls into a classic Actors on Actors category: former co-workers gabbing. Winslet and Saldaña have different movies out this year (Lee and Emilia Pérez, respectively), but they were both in Best Picture nominee Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, and that’s presumably why they’ve been paired. The former co-worker thing can work (think Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl), but it’s usually better if the project is old enough that we feel nostalgic about it or if there was behind-the-scenes drama. We don’t need to see them gabbing about James Cameron. Still, with the intensity of Winslet's acting process and Saldaña's perspective on franchise filmmaking, this conversation could take some surprising turns, especially when touching on their respective journeys in the industry.
Andrew Garfield and Ryan Reynolds
These two “internet boyfriend” types aren’t in movies that will actually be nominated for Oscars (We Live in Time and Deadpool & Wolverine, respectively). We are of the opinion that awards season should still be about awards. Otherwise, the conversations lack the desperate yearning that makes for great content. Still, both actors are known for their charisma and wit, and there's a lot of potential for a genuinely entertaining exchange here. Garfield has a history of delving deep into character motivations, while Reynolds brings a meta-humor that could lead to some unexpected moments of vulnerability and comedy.
Ariana Grande and Paul Mescal
This is a blatant attempt at a follow-up to one of last year’s major triumphs: Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy’s conversation. But just as Glicked did not have the success of Barbenheimer, this pairing also lacks its predecessor’s weight because it didn’t feel like Wicked and Gladiator II were ever really competing. Still, both Grande and Mescal have significant fan followings, and seeing them talk about the challenges of transitioning from stage to screen (Grande) and handling the pressure of a major blockbuster (Mescal) could be insightful. Grande’s experience with Wicked's musical elements and Mescal's intensity could make for an engaging contrast of creative processes.
Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor
Both are British lovers of going gay4pay onscreen, and both are in Luca Guadagnino movies this year (Queer and Challengers, respectively). Part of the issue is that Craig is a Bond, obviously, but O’Connor is more of a Q. What are they going to talk about? Linen suits? Sweat dripping down their back? The tender gaze of a male companion? Okay, this one’s fine. Craig's career journey from blockbuster spy thrillers to independent films, paired with O'Connor's rise as a celebrated actor in critically acclaimed projects, might offer viewers a compelling look at contrasting career arcs in British cinema.
Angelina Jolie and Cynthia Erivo
At first glance, this one is amazing: Jolie has been spouting off quotes about how she learned to sing opera for Maria, and Erivo is a professional singer who may make a face when she hears someone claim they learned opera in a matter of months. But instead of talking too much about that, expect these serious actors to hold space for the fact that Maleficent is basically just Wicked with Sleeping Beauty. The pairing of Jolie’s commanding screen presence with Erivo's immense talent in both acting and singing has the potential for a fascinating discussion about the intersection of acting, singing, and storytelling. This is a duo that could both dazzle and dig deep, particularly when discussing what it means to embody a character who requires transformative preparation.
Zendaya and Nicole Kidman
Here’s where we start to have fun. This pairing was clearly engineered for some kind of mutual thematic resonance that is at play in both actors’ films. Zendaya and Kidman, promoting Challengers and Babygirl, will probably chat about portraying sexual power onscreen. A mother-off with clearly laid-out syllabi? We’re so in. This pairing has the potential for some of the most emotionally raw discussions of the series. Kidman’s many years of experience navigating complex roles and Zendaya’s evolution from a Disney star to an awards-season favorite could lead to an enlightening exchange on growth, risk-taking, and the representation of women's power on screen.
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Mikey Madison and Pamela Anderson
This is an unexpectedly fitting pairing. Madison, promoting Anora, and Anderson, promoting The Last Showgirl, share themes of agency and freedom. Seeing two actresses who come from entirely different media worlds discuss control, public perception, and embracing personal narrative could be insightful and entertaining. Anderson's experience of being in the public eye for decades, combined with Madison's exploration of vulnerability in a complex character, might deliver a rich conversation full of moments of empathy, humor, and empowerment.
Amy Adams and Demi Moore
Adams and Moore are focusing on Nightbitch and The Substance, respectively, which means they can discuss the evolving portrayal of women as they age in Hollywood. Both have embraced complex roles that show the darker sides of womanhood, and their conversation could easily become one of the highlights of the season. With Moore’s legacy as a groundbreaking actress who has continually pushed boundaries, paired with Adams’ critically acclaimed portrayals of complicated characters, this pairing could lead to discussions about resilience, reinvention, and what it means to play fearless women in an industry that often fears aging.
Adrien Brody and Tilda Swinton
Technically, these two, who are chatting about The Brutalist and The Room Next Door, starred in The French Dispatch together, but we don’t think that’s why they’re paired. We think it’s because they both have weird little vibes that are hard to put your finger on. This conversation promises to be one of the more eccentric of the season, as both actors are known for their distinctive approaches to performance and their willingness to dive into challenging roles. Whether they're talking about method acting, creative inspirations, or their love for indie cinema, Brody and Swinton are sure to bring some captivatingly oddball moments to the table.
Colman Domingo and Kieran Culkin
These are two wildly charismatic people with exactly opposite ways of being. Domingo is all calm and cool, while Culkin is manic and constantly in motion. Despite both being Oscar front-runners this year, for Sing Sing and A Real Pain, it’s impossible to imagine what their conversation will be like. They may not even like each other! That would be fun. Their discussion might touch on the contrast between grounded, deliberate acting (Domingo) and the unpredictable, improvisational energy (Culkin). Whatever happens, their stark differences in both style and personality could make this one of the most entertaining and unfiltered conversations of the entire series.
Selena Gomez and Saoirse Ronan
On December 4, Gomez (Emilia Pérez) called Ronan (Blitz, The Outrun) in a THR interview “one of the most encouraging people I’ve met in this industry.” And while we definitely believe that, we also didn’t think of these two in the same context at all before that moment. Both of them started acting early, though one was on Disney in Wizards of Waverly Place and the other was getting an Oscar nomination for Atonement. They’ve both also co-starred with Li’l Timmy Tim (Gomez in the Woody Allen movie A Rainy Day in New York and Ronan in Lady Bird and Little Women). Still, they’re not in the same friend group, exactly. There’s fodder for conversation, plus they’re both trying to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress this year. This pairing has all the elements for a great conversation: shared experiences, starkly different career paths, and a mutual respect that promises openness and honesty. Seeing these two acclaimed actresses connect could be one of the most delightful surprises of the season.
That’s the full Actors on Actors lineup for this year. While some pairings feel a bit predictable, others are delightfully unexpected, promising conversations that could be as entertaining as they are insightful. Which pairing are you most looking forward to watching? This year’s Actors on Actors lineup brings together an incredible array of talent. Some pairings are perfect matches, while others provide intriguing juxtapositions that might surprise us all. From iconic veterans to rising stars, the conversations are sure to reveal how these actors approach their craft, take risks, and find themselves within their characters.
Make sure to catch these conversations as they are released, beginning on Monday, December 9, across Variety.com and its social media channels. With one conversation dropping each day, viewers will have plenty to chew on as the awards season gains momentum.
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