Recently, Michael Shannon—patron saint of intimidating character actors and Oscar nominees who frequent dive bars—gave an interview to Playboy magazine in which he discussed his history of playing complex villains that audiences can’t help but be drawn to. Once the discussion turned to villainy, it was only a matter of time before Donald Trump was mentioned. When the interviewer asked Shannon if he had any interest in portraying Trump on film or exploring what the inner-life of the president might be, Shannon responded with a resounding, “Fuck no.” Twitter user Vincent Scarpa took a screenshot of the amazing exchange, which stands as a reminder that Michael Shannon is, and always will be, the absolute best.
“The fucking guy doesn’t even know what’s in the Constitution. He doesn’t have any grasp of history or politics or law or anything. He’s just blindfolded, throwing darts at the side of a bus,” said Shannon, clearly frustrated that he has to enumerate the reasons Donald Trump isn’t a character worth exploring dramatically. Whereas other, less amazing actors may have given a more diplomatic response, Shannon doesn’t split hairs about how much of a shallow fuckwit he thinks the president is.
PLAYBOY: What do you think is going through his head at four A.M. as he’s lying in bed and staring at the ceiling?
SHANNON: He’s probably thinking, I want some fucking pussy. I don’t know. I’m not going to remotely contemplate the notion that Trump is capable of deep reflection.
PLAYBOY: In any form?
SHANNON: In any form! It doesn’t happen. Fuck that guy. When he’s alone with his thoughts, he’s not capable of anything more complex than “I want some pussy and a cheeseburger. Maybe my wife will blow me if I tell her she’s pretty.”
It’s comforting to know that, regardless of the critical acclaim and financial success he receives, Michael Shannon will still be the same, straight-talking Chicago actor who takes breaks between sipping his beer to point at the TV playing CNN and say, “Fuck that guy.”
[via The Mary Sue]
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