Donald Sutherland didn’t get employed for a yr after his finest film

Unusual Individuals might need been a few of Donald Sutherland‘s finest work, however that doesn’t imply he needed to cease grafting. Unusual Individuals, which critics broadly think about to be probably the greatest ’80s films of all time, charts the implosion of an prosperous household after the eldest son dies in a tragic boating accident.

As Calvin Jarrett, Sutherland performs the patriarch of the fractured, grieving household, whereas his on-screen spouse is performed by Mary Tyler Moore and their surviving son, Conrad Jarrett, is performed by Timothy Hutton.

The film primarily based on a guide was Robert Redford‘s directorial debut, and it’s one in every of Sutherland’s finest film roles — however in an interview with Backstage, the actor defined that it isn’t all the time as straightforward as that.

“After Unusual Individuals, I didn’t get provided a job for a yr. They couldn’t think about what I may do,” he mentioned. “It’s higher to go and audition and present folks what you are able to do. I auditioned for one thing just lately…I can’t bear in mind what. I need to not have gotten the half. Years in the past, I needed to be in Flashdance because the older man. I requested my agent to see if they’d think about me. They usually instructed him he had a greater likelihood at taking part in the half than I did. They wouldn’t even let me learn.”

Throughout the interview, Sutherland additionally opened up extra about how he approached his position in Unusual Individuals, which he described as a “painful image.”

To him, the important thing to taking part in the character was via a means of internalization, as he defined to the outlet, “I don’t suppose I’ve every other alternative. My job is to get to the reality, and you may’t get reality by demonstrating. You get it by being it. You simply attempt to be as sincere as you’ll be able to.”

A easy methodology, however one which undeniably labored in his favor. With 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 4 Academy Award wins, 5 Golden Globe wins, and two BAFTA nominations, Unusual Individuals has clearly gone down in historical past as probably the greatest drama films of all time.

For extra heartbreaking tales, take a look at our guides to the perfect drama sequence, finest battle films, finest romance films, and all the brand new films coming your manner this yr. Or, in case you’re after one thing a bit extra lighthearted, peruse our listicles breaking down the perfect comedy films, finest comedy sequence, finest feel-good films, and finest household films.