Why do we remember the wrong actor?

Exploring the enigma that is a scene-stealing artist.

There are these performers. They are not in the center of the stage. Sometimes they’re on the side, sometimes they’re all the way back in the shadows. Except, they are never in the darkness. I call them the “stealer artists”.

If you’re a movie buff, you would have felt this at some point. You’re watching a big movie, there are big stars in it. Yet, you don’t know why you keep waiting for scenes with the stealer artist. Like Jeff Golblum in Jurassic Park or Matthew Macfayden in Succession. They are nowhere close to the main leads and they don’t have much screen time but their presence just lights up the whole scene. I never quite understand if it’s the character that’s well written or if it’s the actor that’s giving life to that character. They are never meant to be in the spotlight, but the spotlight somehow always lands on them. 

And don’t get me wrong, these aren’t the same as “legendary” actors. In fact, what makes them different is the fact that they always get smaller roles compared to the legends. There are so many stealer artists who I feel like have immense talent (sometimes more than the legendary actors) but sadly always end up working in mediocre movies and shows. Not to mention, they also don’t belong to the “over-actors” category. The ones who are clearly trying to steal the spotlight. No. The stealer artist is a different breed altogether. But it also makes me wonder; if at all these actors are given the leading roles, would they necessarily thrive? Because they seem to be standing out while trying to hide. And maybe they are meant to be injected in small doses.

Another tragedy of being the stealer artist is that to a layman, they never stand out because he is busy focusing on the one that’s supposed to lead the attention. But this is also where the beauty of the stealer artist comes in. You see, they never want to actually steal the spotlight. In fact they know their place is not in the front. They are committed to their role and the movie. They know they are only a small part of the movie. And yet, they stick out like a sore thumb. Which is also the reason why I don’t prefer to call them “supporting actors” because they clearly are doing more than just supporting. In some cases, they carry the whole movie on their shoulders and we are left wondering who was actually the main character. Bonus points if the movie already has a bunch of big leads and the stealer artist still steals everyone’s thunder. Even younger stealer artists in that case. Some phenomenal performances over the years like Joey King in “The Conjuring” or Fred Hechinger in “The Woman in the Window”, especially considering the age and experience factor. Sometimes I feel like it’s because the actor has put in an extra amount of work in shaping their character’s personality but that’s just part of any actor’s job. 

I remember one particular scene from the movie “The Lost Daughter” where the actress Dagmara Dominczyk who plays Callie, has this little encounter at the beach with the main character Leda played by Olivia Coleman. While Coleman does her own little magic, one can’t help but be smitten with Dominczyk’s performance trying to be the supposedly friendly woman with a hint of menace in her eyes. It’s difficult to play characters with such depth because nothing is outright visible, it’s all in the subtleties. The actress is supposed to pretend to play a character that pretends to be jovial but with entitlement as a side-kick. The silent judgement, the hostility, she hides all of that behind those eyes and smiles, while seemingly uttering sweet nothings. 

I’m pretty sure I’m missing so many of them but here are some of my favorite non-lead performances of all time in Hollywood, that I could recollect:

From left to right, top to bottom;

• Shalita Grant as Sherry in "You"

• Harry Melling as Edgar Allen Poe in "The Pale Blue Eye"

• Robert Sheehan as Klaus in "The Umbrella Academy"

• Micheal Shannon as John in "Revolutionary Road"

• Anthony Carrigan as NoHo Hank in "Barry"

• Kathryn Hahn as Michelle in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"

Fortunately, in today’s age, I feel like we, as the collective audience, are giving more importance to the performance instead of just the big name. But there are still so many underrated actors who are robbed of the praise and recognition they deserve. Which brings me to a rather melancholic confession. There are times when I feel like life is not being generous to the amount of effort I’m putting while working towards something. Am I then destined to be the stealer artist? Always the sore thumb in someone else’s scene, but never a big movie to my name?