Red-Carpet Voices: Chris Messina for HBO’s ‘Sharp Objects’

CHICAGO – You’ve seen him in many familiar roles over the years, from “Argo” to “The Mindy Project.” Character actor Chris Messina is memorable in all those roles, and currently is taking on Detective Richard Willis in the hot new HBO miniseries “Sharp Objects,” opposite Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson.

“Sharp Objects” is based on the first novel by author Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl”). Camille Preaker (Adams) is a crime reporter in St. Louis, who is assigned to a murder story in her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri. She is a psychological mess, having just been released from a psychiatric hospital for various ills, and still cannot shake her acute alcoholism. The assignment comes with some baggage, as Camille’s small-town socialite mother Adora (Patricia Clarkson) is back in her life. Further complicating matters is Detective Willis (Chris Messina) as a Kansas City law officer brought in to help solve the murders. Camille is about to be tested in her hometown. The fourth episode will premiere on July 29th, 2018.

Chris Messina at the Chicago History Museum for HBO’s ‘Sharp Objects’
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Chris Messina was born in Northport, New York, and began his acting career after studying in New York City in lieu of college. He made his debut in the film “Rounders” (1998). From there, he appeared on TV and film in various roles during the first phase of his career, especially “Law & Order” and HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” as well as the films “Towelhead” (2007), “Vicky Christina Barcelona” (2008) and “Away We Go” (2009). Recently, he had key roles in HBO’s “The Newsroom,” the TV series “The Mindy Project” and the Joe Swanberg film “Digging for Fire” (2015).

Chris Messina appeared on behalf of “Sharp Objects” at a screening of Episode Two, presented by HBO, at the Chicago History Museum. Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com shot the Exclusive Photo for this article.

In the following Red Carpet Voices, with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Chris Messina talks about his man-of-mystery role in “Sharp Objects and working with Aaron Sorkin in “The Newsroom.”

[24]	By PATRICK McDONALD [25] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [24]