DaVine Joy Randolph is a riot.
It was up to her chin, her publicist tells me, as Randolph shoots me a grin.
But we were like, itsVogue… so lets lower it slightly.
Photo: Getty Images
For her, the work never stops.
Vogue: Youve said that, in the past, youve been offered parts that havent felt fully realized.
Tell me why Mary felt so different.
Photo: Seacia Pavao
There was no mansplaining and nothing, culturally, that didnt get asked.
I thought that theyd be telling me, like,thisis what she does.
Do you remember a moment when you spoke to them about something you thought should be different?
Photo: Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection
I remember a couple.
In the end, we realized that just by her being onscreen, you get it, you know?
Literally, shes like a walking billboard of itin the best and in the saddest way possible.
Photo: Seacia Pavao
So, we didnt have to state the obvious.
I was like, Shes not… thats like you showed up to work in pajamas.
And he got it, he understood.
Photo: Seacia Pavao
I heard that once you signed on, he sent you two cartons of cigarettes?
My theory about Mary is that shes always been a smoker.
Its also something thats very of the period.
Photo: Seacia Pavao
And the way she smokes is very loose.
It dangles from her hand or her mouth.
Its like another appendage.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph with her Golden Globe for best supporting actress forThe Holdovers.
I read that you also prepared for the part by making a lookbook of 70s hairstyles?
So I have different shared albums that I always make.
[Hands me her phone with the lookbook open.]
Randolph with her Critics’ Choice Award for best supporting actress forThe Holdovers.
This is the Mary Lamb hair inspoits 38 pictures.
These inspired Marys flip.
And what about Marys costumes?
What do they say about her?
Shes very well put together, she carries herself well, and she cares about how shes perceived.
I think as a woman of color that matters a lot.
Youre already walking out the door and potentially facing so much judgement and negativity.
So her clothes, her hair, her make-up are part of her armor.
I especially love her outfit for that Christmas party.
We spent a lot of time creating that look.
I have on this beautiful dark denim blouse with this green and navy plaid pencil skirt.
Its nice and stiff and of the times.
I also asked wardrobe to hey put me in period undergarments, because they feel very differentespecially bras.
They dont really have underwire, but they like that shape.
I guess that was attractive, I dont know [laughs].
And then my shoes, I made sure they were dated.
Those details help me.
I dont know if its because I love fashion or because I started in theater.
You put on heels and you walk differently, you sit up more.
You cant fake that.
Or like wearing tights.
I havent worn stockings since high school.
You have that and youre constantly yanking them up.
All that stuff is just great stuff to make the character come alive even more.
Another thing you did to get into character was that you cooked for real on this set.
What did you make?
I like to see my characters being good at what they do, unless its stated otherwise, obviously.
Why would you not?
Cooking is something Mary seems to be using to get through her grief.
How do you balance the melancholy and the humor in her?
I think you need it.
Thats life, and we didnt want her to be stereotypical in any way.
How has all this awards attention felt?
Im very grateful and Im just trying to take it one step at a time.
It can be very overwhelming.
Its just really, really wild.
DaVine Joy Randolph with her Golden Globe for best supporting actress forThe Holdovers.
Randolph with her Critics Choice Award for best supporting actress forThe Holdovers.
Whats been most surreal about it so far?
Youre just seeing very famous people every weekend, and youre like,Oh, theres so and so.
And then if they come up to you and give you a compliment?
Its just so weird.
Like I went to a party last week and Emily Blunt was there.
Shes been very kind and sweet and vocal about the film.
She texts meits crazy.
Im texting Emily Blunt.
And she and The Rock did that Disney movie together, so she introduced me to him.
He was like, I havent seenThe Holdoversyet, but Emily raves about you.
And Im like, What?
Not only is Emily aware of me but shes spoken about me to this man?
And hes here talking to me?
Whats the secret to getting through awards season with your health and sanity intact?
You need a good publicist.
My publicist knows me very well.
She knows when Im like… flagging.
Yo, fatigue is a crazy thing.
I get why people in war use sleep deprivation as a tactic.
And its also important to smell the roses at some point.
Like,Wow, were here.
Because I wasnt here before and now I am.
Im trying really hard to be in the moment.
Talk to me about red carpet dressing.
I heard that you make lookbooks for your red-carpet looks, too.
Whats been the inspiration behind them?
Honestly, I wanna give international movie star vibes.
I like things that are timeless.
Its half of the reason why I watch a lot of old movies.
Because, in my opinion, how they designed back then?
Thats when movies were like: And Audrey Hepburn is wearing Givenchy.
And youre like, Damn!
For the whole movie?
What films have you screenshotted from recently?
What a Way to Go!with Shirley MacLaine.
Theres a sequence in it thats unreal, when shes getting out of cars and going to different parties.
[Hands me her phone with the video.]
They just dont do stuff like this anymore.
Prepare to have your mind blown.
Finally, how are you feeling as we approach the Oscars?
Will you be watching on nominations morning?
I will not be watching.
Im gonna wake up and my publicist is gonna call me.
Thats what Im gonna dopeople think Im playing.
[DaVines publicist says, She wont even let me say when they are.
She has no idea.]
Actually, I do know [laughs].
[DaVines publicist: But, for sure you wouldve forgotten by now?]
No, thats why I said dont tell me [laughs].
I know that its the 23rd.
Every day I wake up, Im like 23rd, 23rd, 23rd.
How does it feel?
Do you have any idea what youll be wearing yet?
No, I need to figure out what Im wearing to the SAGs!
I want to do something slinky, because I do a lot of structured things.
Thats beautiful, but I want to do something with yards of fabric and I love a train.
If you’re able to just let fabric be on the floor?
