Steve Carell takes on dramatic role in Foxcatcher

Although Steve Carell is known more for his comedic roles in films like Anchorman and the Despicable Me series, he’s taken on the role of eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont in Foxcatcher, based on the true story of two brothers who are former Olympic wrestling champions, Mark (Channing Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), and their relationship with Du Pont.

Foxcatcher director Bennett Miller told The Toronto Star, “I’m a fan of comic actors and there’s a history of comic actors being amazing in dramatic roles. There’s always a very sharp aspect to their troubled psyches that the world never really or rarely gets to see.” Steve was pleased to be working with Bennett, telling Variety, “To work with Bennett was an enormous draw. The script was excellent and intriguing and sad and absurdly funny in places and very dark.”

One aspect of Steve his co-stars didn’t get to see was what Steve looked like without his prosthetics and makeup. He says, “I would be there generally three hours before everyone else, so by the time everyone else got to set I was already looking different and I think that was a help because it tended to separate me from everyone else because, frankly, I was off-putting.”

Rather than be daunted by his character in the film, Steve was excited to take on the challenges of the character. ““I was just intrigued by the story. It is exciting to take on things that aren’t necessarily in your wheelhouse.”

Foxcatcher premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last night. ~Andrea Hodgins

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channing tatum, Foxcatcher, Steve Carell

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