Elizabeth Olsen’s favourite actor: “I’m obsessed”
To be a great actor, you have to know your industry inside and out.
That means noting your favourite directors, or your least favourite. That also means surveying the other actors in your field, whether that be the greats that came before you in the effort of emulation, or the younger stars that come after you in the effort of resilience. Elizabeth Olsen has this game nailed down to a T.
Over the years, Olsen has not been afraid to shine the light on fellow actors in her field. She has publicly praised Kate Winslet previously, calling her “brilliant in everything she does”. She even deemed the Titanic star a key inspiration for Olsen’s desire to work across genres. She’s also praised Scarlett Johansson, whom she deemed “tough” amid her ongoing legal action against Disney.
Olsen, who will next play the lead alongside Miles Teller and Callum Turner in a rom-com fantasy named Eternity, has also praised several directors. Notably, she recognised Taylor Sheridan for his vision as a director and his unyielding passion when working on the project Wind River.
But her favourite person in the industry came slightly before her time, and has recently passed away at the age of 94. Gena Rowlands was an American actress with an impressive career spanning almost seven decades. A four-time Emmy Award winner and a two-time Golden Globe winner, she was known widely for the ten movies she made with husband John Cassavetes. Rowlands won the hearts of anyone who watched her enchanting, attractive leading roles.
When speaking to Flaunt, Olsen made her admiration for the late actor known. She gushed, “What a great long life of such great work. I’m obsessed with Gloria.”
In Gloria, Rowland’s character is forced to become the guardian of a young boy when his family is killed by a mob. With little between them but determination and resolve, the unlikely pair goes on the run. Olsen admired the mix of steely resolution and tender generosity evidenced by the star.
She went on to admire more of Rowland’s work. “Opening Night is legitimately my favorite too,” she added. “I know everyone loves A Woman Under the Influence, but Opening Night. Wow. There is an insanity there that is different from A Woman Under the Influence. God, she was so good in that.”
In Opening Night, Rowland plays a functioning alcoholic actor a few days from the opening night of her new play. Plagued by the distractions of ageing, Rowlands poured her own experience into the film; she was 47 at the time of filming, and was ageing out of many of the top roles in Hollywood. It is as scathing and nail-biting as it is psychologically revealing, all thanks to Rowland’s incredible performance.
Olsen had another favourite to add: “And Faces, I love that movie so much…” she trailed off, finally sure she had shed enough adoration on the late performer. And she’s not the only one. Other actors, such as Aubrey Plaza, Patricia Arquette, Vanessa Kirby and Winona Ryder have all heaped praise upon the actor. I know an icon when I see one, and Rowlands will forever go down in history as a favourite of many, and an inspiration to even more.
