Only one human being, Frances McDormand, won an Academy Award for acting and producing for the same film (2020’s “Nomadland”).
This year, at least 10 actresses will try to follow in Fran’s fantastic footsteps: Awkwafina and Sandra Oh (“Quiz Lady”), Jessica Chastain (“Mothers’ Instinct”), Cynthia Erivo (“Drift”), Dakota Johnson (“Daddio” ), Anna Kendrick (“The Woman of the Hour”), Natalie Portman (“May December”), Margot Robbie (“Barbie”), Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) and Kate Winslet (“Lee”).
The Envelope spoke to the co-producers of some of the top women on this list competing for awards to see what input their creative partners provided.
In “May Dec,” Natalie Portman plays an actress studying Julianne Moore’s character for a role.
(François Duhamel / Cannes Film Festival)
Natalia Portman
Elizabeth Berry in “May December”
elevator plot: An investigating actress (Portman) turns the lives of the woman she will play (Julianne Moore) and her much younger husband (Charles Melton) upside down.
Director: Todd Haynes
Oscar pedigree: In three nominations, Portman won lead actress for 2010’s “Black Swan.”
“Natalie brings an incredible amount of preparation and consideration to her work, whether in front of or behind the camera,” says her MountainA producing partner, Sophie Mas. “I have always been impressed by the risks she takes as an actress and her total commitment to her role. In ‘May December’ she plays an actress looking for a role in a movie. Of course, the character is nothing like Natalie as an actress, and the subtleties and nuances she brings to the performance are revealing.
“In particular, he delivers a monologue towards the end of the film that I really think people will be teaching in acting classes for years to come. But unlike some actors, Natalie can move seamlessly between takes and play different roles. She is a chameleon. She can disappear into character one moment and be in charge of a task as a producer the next, or as a mother the next.
“Those same qualities also make her an excellent producer who deftly handles the many people and tasks involved. 2022 was a very busy year for our production company, filming two other projects (‘Lady in the Lake’ and ‘Angel City’). There were days when we were on the filming set of ‘Lady in the Lake’ and during lunch we received calls to resolve schedule changes due to COVID cases and then we discussed casting and preparation for ‘May December’. “It was really impressive to see her balance everything so easily when we all know how much effort it really takes.”
Ryan Gosling plays Ken alongside Margot Robbie’s Barbie.
(Associated Press)
Margot Robbie
Barbie in “Barbie”
elevator plot: The iconic doll suffers an identity crisis that forces her to travel from Barbie Land to the real world, with Ken (Ryan Gosling) in tow.
Director: Greta Gerwig
Oscar pedigree: Robbie earned nominations for lead actress for 2017’s “I, Tonya” and supporting actress for 2019’s “Bombshell.”
“Margot’s ability to wear two hats and switch between them instantly is remarkable,” says her LuckyChap partner and “Barbie” co-producer Tom Ackerley. “She can go from acting in any type of scene to leaving the set and directly taking a call about budgets or any production conversation we are having at any given moment.
“As a producer, she has the ability to get to the root of everything that needs to be done. She is incredibly present, collaborative and personable at all times, spending time with (and managing) all types of staff, from studio heads to facility drivers. It is a true superpower that few have.”
Emma Stone stars in and co-produced “Poor Things.”
(Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Images)
Emma Stone
Bella Baxter in “Poor People”
elevator plot: An almost dead woman (Stone) comes back to life and has awakenings of all kinds, especially sexual, after a scientist (Willem Dafoe) transplants a baby’s brain into her head.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Oscar pedigree: In three nominations, Stone won lead actress for 2016’s “La La Land.”
“Emma was one of the first people I talked to about ‘Poor Things’ when I finally felt it was possible to put it together,” says Lanthimos, who produced alongside Stone. “It was something I had wanted to do for a long time and, after ‘The Favorite’, it seemed like a great opportunity to try it. She immediately became excited about the premise of the novel and was completely captivated by the character of Bella Baxter, as was I.
“From that moment on she was hooked. She wanted to know everything, see everything and hear everything. Her joining us as producer of the film was inevitable. Emma believed in it from the beginning more than anyone. She is the perfect sounding board for everything. We talked about other actors, looked at sets and costumes, and researched ideas and designs.
“As a producer, she encouraged me and gave me a lot of confidence in all aspects of making the film. At the same time, I watched her create Bella Baxter in awe and was immensely inspired by her talent. She could never hope for a better creative partner.”
