i love this woman.
Laura Linney was nominated for a Tony Award this year for her performance as an emotionally and physically wounded photojournalist in Donald Margulies’s play “Time Stands Still,” which closed in March. In his review, Ben Brantley called Ms. Linney “an actress of unusual economy and seemingly innate grace” whose “tough but gently shaded performance honors the character’s seeming contradictions.”
Ms. Linney will reprise her role when the play returns to Broadway this fall. (She has been nominated for Tonys twice before: in 2005 for “Sight Unseen” and in 2002 for “The Crucible.”)
As part of The New York Times’s annual Tony Awards coverage, Ms. Linney answered several readers’ questions in an e-mail.
Q.
Being a photographer in a war zone is an experience that is far removed from what most of us experience. How did you prepare for this role? Have you had experiences that helped you imagine how your character would behave, or did you get to know actual war photographers? - Richard
A.
I was lucky enough to spend time with both Lori Grinker and Lynsey Addario, who were both very generous. There is a terrific documentary on James Nachtwey that was very helpful, and Bob Woodruff came in and spoke to our cast about his experiences, and more specifically about surviving his head injury from a road side bomb. Amazing people, all of them. I will never look at a war photograph the same way again.
Q.
Since many of your roles seem to invite your audience to really think critically, I wonder whether you have to be invested in the issues and agree with the playwright or scriptwriter’s take on them to accept the role and put your heart into it? - Ellen Harmon
A.
What I find so interesting about people is the choices they make, and how that effects their behavior, their sense of self and their relationships. So no, I don’t need to agree with the issues being explored in a play or movie if I feel that the human behavior is compelling and the story is worth telling.
It is always good to explore the stuff you don’t agree with, to try and understand a different lifestyle or foreign worldview. I like to be challenged in that way, and always end up learning something I didn’t know.
Q.
How does being the daughter of a playwright impact how you approach a stage role, if at all? - gep
A.
Oh yes, it certainly has influenced the way I read a play, or any script for that matter. I am very aware that playwrights, particularly good ones, have a intention for everything they write. Language and punctuation is used specifically, and most of the time actors can find wonderful clues about character in the rhythm and cadence of the language used.
I tend to approach everything with story first. Every choice I make I hope will feed the story and flesh out the narrative.
Q.
What were the deciding factors to do “Time Stands Still” in the fall? Wouldn’t it be gratifying to sink your teeth into another role? - Jerry Gerber
A.
I still feel like I have so much more to do with “Time Stands Still.” One of the great things about the theater is that only time can deepen connection. Its not instant pudding. The more you get to do it, the richer and easier and freer your time on stage becomes.
I believe that it takes at least three months for a play to really gel. I am thrilled to be able to go back to “Time Stands Still” and my fantastic cast.
Q.
What characteristics most attract you to the women you play when you are first considering a script? - Kate Koza
A.
At least one of three things has to be a part of a project for me to join on: a great script, a great cast, or a great director. Two of the three makes the decision easier, and three out of three makes it a no-brainer.
I usually choose things based on story and not character, and I don’t really consider female issues as much as human ones.
Q.
Can you tell the difference between a movie fan and a theater fan? Do they react differently or the same toward you? - Janet L.
A.
Wow, I never thought about that! I am very lucky, because for the most part people are very nice to me, and I am still able to go about my life and ride the subway and all that.
I think the biggest difference is that most theater fans know me by name, while many film fans know they have seen me in something, but are not sure what, and I am kind of proud of that.
Q.
You can count my eight-year-old daughter as one of your biggest fans after hearing you bring to life the famous girl sleuth Nancy Drew on the audio series of the Carolyn Keene classics. Were those books important to you growing up? -- S. Perine
A.
I was big Bobbsey Twins fan, so I really got to experience Nancy Drew for the first time as an adult. They were so much fun to read, and a little addictive.
Q.
Are there any particular “classic” roles that you’d like to play? - Bruce
A.
I can’t really point to any characters per se, but I would love to have the opportunity to work on a Tennessee Williams play, or O’Neill, Pinter, Guare, Stoppard, more Margulies, John Logan. The list goes on and on.
Q.
Seeing your career now, could you comment on how it compares to your expectations at its outset? - X
A.
When I went to drama school after college, I was hoping that I would end up at a really good regional theater where I could act all the time and grow from ingenue to leading lady to character parts.
All I wanted was a life in theater. It is the big surprise of my life that I also work in film and television. It is all much bigger than I ever imagined it would be.
Q.
If there were a chance for you to appear on stage opposite Mark Ruffalo, what play would you choose? - par3182
A.
I would do anything with Mark Ruffalo, absolutely anything!
Ruffy, any ideas?
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