Backstage contributing editor and vice president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Tim Grierson sat down with “Love & Mercy” co-stars Elizabeth Banks and Paul Dano Oct. 10 as part of SAG Foundation’s Conversations series. Over the course of their 40-minute interview, Banks and Dano—who star as Melinda Ledbetter and the young Beach Boys leading man, Brian Wilson, respectively—chatted about the film, their eclectic careers, and their advice to actors.
Grierson opened the dialogue by making note of director Bill Pohlad’s unconventional approach to the life of Beach Boys musical mastermind Wilson. The biopic begins with Wilson in the mid-’60s during the recording of the now-iconic album “Pet Sounds” (known for “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows,” among others). It moves into his struggle and gradual descent into mental illness. Then, Pohlad jumps the timeline to the ’80s, which finds Wilson (now portrayed by John Cusack) in the care of Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti), a fact Ledbetter fights against after meeting the singer and falling for him. Interestingly, Pohlad never had Cusack and Dano meet prior to—or even during—filming, despite their portraying the same man. Dano was initially wary of the venture.
“I thought at first [it] was a possibly insane choice to not have John and I meet or consult or be on the same page at all,” Dano admitted, laughing. “But I think Bill had some kind of trust in us that if we just walked toward our respective Brians that we’d be OK. The juxtaposition was something to lean into rather than to try to match, because he was quite different in the ’60s and the ’80s.”
It was in the latter decade that Ledbetter pulled Wilson out from his heavily medicated hole. Banks, who’s no stranger to portraying real women, told Grierson that her relationship with the real-life Ledbetter had an invaluable influence on her approach to the role.
“There’s fewer people to disappoint, that’s true,” Banks said, noting Ledbetter’s general anonymity compared to her music legend husband. “[But] it wouldn’t really matter to me what anyone else thought—it was all about if I did it right by her. I felt a great responsibility to her and to Brian.”
Grierson’s conversation then steered toward the array of roles both Banks and Dano have tackled over their years in the spotlight. Did such eclectic résumés come from consciously choosing a variety of scripts, or did these patterns crop by happenstance? After reflecting a moment, Banks got blunt: “This is a room of actors, right? I just took the jobs they gave me.”
Dano continued, insisting on the importance of work that challenges. “I guess I’m learning what makes me happy, essentially. If I can work with material that automatically puts a fire under my belly, then that’s what I would choose to do if I can. That feels great.”
Inspired by this post? Check out our film audition listings!