Annette Bening, Actress discusses her performance in Nyad, shares challenges of swimming competitively, talks about married couple's journey from documentaries to feature film, and reflects on impactful movies and personal life in Hollywood.
Annette Bening trained extensively and underwent a physical transformation to authentically portray marathon swimmer Diana Nyad in the film 'Nyad'.
Bening emphasized the importance of capturing the nuances and complexities of female characters, showcasing resilient, flawed, and empathetic women on screen.
Deep dives
Annette Benning's Impact on Hollywood and Thriving Career as an Actress
Annette Benning has made a significant impact on Hollywood throughout her career. After gaining recognition with her breakthrough film role in 'The Grifters' in 1990, she continued to deliver acclaimed performances in movies like 'Bugsy,' 'American Beauty,' and 'The Kids Are All Right.' In her latest role in 'Niaad,' she portrays Diana Niaad, the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida at the age of 64. Benning trained for a year to handle the physically demanding role and earned an Oscar nomination for her performance. Throughout her career, Benning has always embraced challenging roles and continues to thrive as an actress.
Building a Trusting Relationship with Real-Life Inspirations for 'Niaad'
Before starting the filming process for 'Niaad,' Annette Benning had the opportunity to meet Diana Niaad and her best friend and trainer, Bonnie. The intense meeting allowed Benning to get a deeper understanding of her character and the personal challenges Niaad faced during her record-breaking swim. Diana and Bonnie's openness and willingness to share their experiences added an extra layer of authenticity to the film. Benning assured them that she would do their story justice and preserve their trust throughout the portrayal. The bond between Benning and Niaad remains strong, as they both embraced the opportunity to tell an intimate and resilient story.
Collaboration with Jodi Foster and Portraying Complex Female Characters
Annette Benning had the pleasure of working with Jodi Foster in 'Niaad,' where they played lifelong friends Bonnie and Diana. Benning expressed how their personal connection and mutual respect for each other's craft made their on-screen relationship feel genuine. They spent time observing Bonnie and Diana's friendship and even hung out together to deepen their understanding of the dynamic. Benning highlighted the importance of portraying complex female characters in film and celebrating the contradictions and nuances that make women multi-dimensional. With 'Niaad,' Benning and Foster had the opportunity to showcase resilient, flawed, and empathetic women on screen.
The Challenge of Transforming into a Swimmer for 'Niaad'
Annette Benning embarked on a physical and mental transformation to embody the role of Diana Niaad, a marathon swimmer, in the film 'Niaad.' She trained rigorously for the challenging role and, with the guidance of an Olympic swimmer coach, embraced the joy of swimming. While some scenes required stunt doubles, Benning was proud to have done 99.9% of the swimming herself. She emphasized the importance of authenticity and how using other swimmers wouldn't have captured the character's journey as effectively. Benning's dedication and love for swimming became an integral part of her portrayal, adding depth and realism to the film.
Annette Bening joins the show to talk about her performance in Nyad. Based on real events, the film follows the story of sixty-four-year-old marathon swimmer Diana Nyad (Bening) as she attempts to become the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida.
Bening recounts her initial reaction to the script, describes her experience meeting and working with Jodie Foster (who plays Diana's best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll), shares what it was like to be directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and digs into the intense physical challenge that the film presented.
She also breaks down a few of the roles that had a major impact on her, reflects on the current state of the industry, and shares her favorite ways to spend her free time.