Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated American actor Peter Sarsgaard, 52, made his debut in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. His credits include The Batman, An Education, Jackie and The Lost Daughter, directed by his wife, actor-director Maggie Gyllenhaal, with whom he has two daughters. He plays Saul, a character with early-onset dementia, opposite Jessica Chastain in the forthcoming Michel Franco film Memory, for which he won the Volpi Cup for best actor at the 2023 Venice film festival.
Congratulations on winning best actor at Venice. Is awards season a fun part of your job?
No [laughs]. It’s a necessary part of my job in the way that there are parts of everyone’s job. It’s especially good for bringing attention to a small movie like this one. But I’ve learned that it’s a machine that is well beyond my control, and it’s never been about the best thing. These days, the movies that are getting the attention of awards already have probably made a billion dollars, and have people campaigning for them to win.
