Interviews With 2009 Oscar Nominees: Melissa Leo, Richard Jenkins, Taraji P. Henson

CHICAGO – In 2008, HollywoodChicago.com was lucky enough to speak to several of of this year’s lucky Oscar nominees, including Melissa Leo of “Frozen River,” Richard Jenkins of “The Visitor,” Taraji P. Henson of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and Darren Aronofsky of “The Wrestler,” who may have missed out Best Director but saw his two stars, Marisa Tomei and Mickey Rourke, land major nominations.

We thought we would recap and link to some of the best interviews from our team in 2008 by a few of the people that the Academy deemed worth of Oscar nominations for their work in 2008.

“If you’re an actor, you are enough. You have to believe that - that you are enough.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Richard Jenkins about “The Visitor” (Nominee for Best Actor)

“We are here to grow into our best selves. That is my religion. Whatever can get you there and whatever the trials, that is what betters us. That is how the story of this film is played out.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Melissa Leo about “Frozen River” (Nominee for Best Actress)

“Frozen River” star Melissa Leo in Chicago on July 16, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

“It was very bold for Eric Roth to choose to make Queenie an African-American woman who was the surrogate mother to Benjamin Button – a white character – which would have been very unusual at the time with what was happening in the country with race.” - Adam Fendelman speaks to Taraji P. Henson about “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Nominee for Best Supporting Actress)

(On Rourke) “Between action and cut, there was no one I’ve ever met who was as natural, and he was in complete control,” Aronofsky said. “He was aware of what was going on and was always fully there as the character.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Darren Aronofsky about “The Wrestler” (Nominee for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress)

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com