I have been calling Jacki Weaver’s chilling performance in “Animal Kingdom” an “Oscar Worthy” one since I first experienced the crime drama back in August. Now, with the first major American awards being handed out at Sunday’s Golden Globes, we’ll see if her Best Supporting Actress nomination will result in a win, which could in turn give her an extra push towards snagging one of the five coveted Best Supporting Actress Oscar slots.
In anticipation of Sunday’s ceremony, I sat down with Jacki while she was in NYC to accept her Best Supporting Actress Award from the National Board of Review Award to talk about life post-“Animal Kingdom,” what it’s like to be a cog in the award season wheel and what goes into the perfect acceptance speech.
PopWrap: The last time we talked, “Animal Kingdom” was just about to come out in America, where it’s critically exploded. You’ve been doing a play in Australia that whole time, but did the hubbub travel over?
Jacki Weaver: I’m like an old piece of furniture in Australia [laughs] – something you feel affection for, but might take for granted. But every time another nomination is announced in America, everyone is onto it in Australia. They’ve been making a fuss.
PW: Now you’re a part of the American award season — are you nervous?
Jacki: I’m very excited. I don’t know what to expect. I’ve won some awards [in Australia] before, but it’s nothing like the award season [in America]. It’s a juggernaut, isn’t it? It’s very impressive. I quite like it, but it’s huge.
PW: Are you a big award show watcher?
Jacki: I love award shows on TV, I watch them all – and I’ve had my share of Australian awards from when I was a kid. Maybe 10 from over the years. I love the ceremony, but something on the scale of The Globes – that’s huge. Apparently it’s a bit of a riot and everyone gets pissed. I’m looking forward to that!
PW: I ask because you delivered one of the best award show acceptance speeches in recent memory when Cate Blanchett presented you with the Best Actress AFI.
Jacki: [laughs] oh thank you. We recorded it in Cate Blanchett’s dressing room because we were to be on stage during the show and there’s no understudies for those big plays. So we recorded it and the best part was that as soon as Cate gave me the award, she threw herself on the floor in the fetal position to get out of my eye line. What a measure of a considerate fellow actor! By the way, she is the most adorable woman in the world. Not only a genius actor and breathtakingly beautiful. I’m in love with her.
PW: What’s the key to a perfect speech?
Jacki: I think sincerity, brevity, couple of jokes [laughs] and a bit of poignancy. To tell you the truth, the speech was longer but because it was for television, they edited out my mushy bits, which were about how much I love David Michôd. He deserves so much of the credit for the fuss that’s being made of me.
PW: So you’re someone who preps a speech beforehand, just in case?
Jacki: Yea, I think you should. There’s nothing worse than someone getting up there and going “ummmm.” I think it’s ungracious and amateur. It doesn’t give respect to the situation and the celebration. If people are good enough to give you an award, you should show up to the party.
PW: Have you prepped anything for Sunday’s Globes yes?
Jacki: No, not yet. That’s on television, so I imagine it has to be quite brief … otherwise they’ll give you the hook! [laughs]
PW: Professionally has life changed for you much now post-“Animal Kingdom?” Hollywood banging down your door, and whatnot?
Jacki: [laughs] I wouldn’t say that – but there’s more for sure. I have had a few scripts — one of which my husband was really keen for me to do because he loves blood and gore, which I can’t really take to. In that one, I would have played an evil woman whose head gets blown off. He thought that was wonderful.
PW: Does it worry you that your husband [Sean Taylor] was so vocal about you taking the exploding head role?
Jacki: [laughs] He’s an actor too, so he gets the fun of it. He’s in South Africa now, where he’s from. He’s a Shakespearean actor — lots of gravitas. Sounds like James Earl Jones … but when he’s drunk, it’s more like Darth Vadar [laughs].
PW: So with undoubtedly more options in front of you, what would you like to do next?
Jacki: A really interesting, multi-layered middle aged woman. I’m 63, but I reckon I can get away with 58.
PW: Oh, less, for sure.
Jacki: It’s funny, all through my 30’s I was playing children. It used to get me frustrated. I wanted to play a real woman but I was playing virgins until 40! Do you know, the year I turned 40, I was in NYC with my 17-year-old son, went to a bar, ordered a drink and they asked for my ID. I was quite pleased. I thought he was kidding, but my son pulled out my passport.
PW: So did you jump from playing virgins to playing the slightly incestual mothers of a large crime family?
Jacki: No, it was gradual. But I’m still playing women 10-15 years younger … on a good day [laughs]
PW: Better than being 30 and asked to play a grandmother, right?
Jacki: Well, yea. It limits you though. Cuts you out of some possibilities. Ideally an actor should be able to play 10 years older or younger at any given moment. But because I’ve been around for so long, I’ve never gotten to lie about my age — everyone would catch me.
“Animal Kingdom” is available on DVD January 18, click here to pre-order!