The Hollywood Reporter’s latest drama actress roundtable includes Zendaya (Dune: Part 2, Challengers), Angelina Jolie (Maria), Demi Moore (Substance), Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Perez) and Mikey Madison (Anora)—we had a wide-ranging conversation about their careers and the challenges of navigating the modern film industry.
One recurring theme in our conversations was the difficulty of seeing ourselves on screen. Jolie admitted: “There’s a lot of movies I’ve never seen. I’ll never watch The Daily,” Swinton echoed similar sentiments, adding, “Every time I watch a movie that I’m in, the first few times I watch a police video… It makes your face look blurry, like this.”
Identity and industry demands also shaped the discussion. Zendaya reflected on her first major adult role in Challengers. Playing Rue[on Euphoria]was one of the greatest gifts of my life. But there comes a time when you have to play at your age and beyond. ”
Sharing her experience of reconnecting with dance for Emilia Perez, Saldaña said, “I was given the opportunity to reconnect with parts of myself that I unconsciously left behind.” Meanwhile, Moore explores The Substance’s self-critical themes, saying, “What fascinated me was the exploration of the violence that we can have against ourselves, and how we analyze and criticize it.” It was the only way I could do it,” he commented.
The stars also touched on the importance of community in an industry that can often feel isolating. Swinton said, “Women have been making films as directors since the dawn of cinema…but there’s a strange kind of fascination with it that we should all forget about.” Moore said, “Someone… When they stand up, we all stand up,” he added.
This conversation offers a thoughtful look at the experiences and insights of these acclaimed actors. You can watch the full hour-long discussion below.
