Under the direction of a sheriff, Roberts and McGregor, who were portraying her estranged husband Bill Fordham, strolled hand in hand toward a pier.
At the end of the stressful moment, Barbara had to face the difficult duty of identifying a dead body: her father, the Weston family’s alcoholic patriarch, who had gone missing.
One of the reasons she is still regarded as one of the most admired actors of her generation is her capacity to fully inhabit a role.
But even though the scenario was heavy, the atmosphere between takes was much lighter.
Roberts and co-star Julianne Nicholson were seen laughing a lot at one point, with Nicholson seemingly pointing out something funny.
The difference was striking: she was crying for the camera one second, and then she burst out laughing with her co-stars.
Roberts’ professionalism and ease on set seemed to be highlighted by his ability to move fluidly between emotional extremes.
The movie’s subtle, unglamorous costumes were also adopted by Nicholson, who is most recognized for her work on Boardwalk Empire. She wore a blue shirt and brown flared pants, and her hair was pulled back into a plain ponytail.
It appeared that the entire cast embraced the realism that the narrative required.
Hollywood’s best were among the star-studded cast of August: Osage County.
Roberts, McGregor, and Nicholson were joined by the renowned Meryl Streep as the family’s controlling matriarch, Violet Weston, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Little Charles Aiken.
Because of the strength of its ensemble, the movie, which was based on Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, was already garnering a lot of attention before it was released.
Behind the scenes, the project’s casting had undergone a number of adjustments.
Andrea Riseborough and Renée Zellweger were once considered for important roles.
Originally slated as Karen Weston, Riseborough eventually withdrew owing to schedule issues, and Juliette Lewis took her place.
At the same time, Abigail Breslin eventually won the part of Jean Fordham after Chloë Grace Moretz lost her audition.
The final group promised a rich dynamic on screen by combining youthful talent with seasoned pros.
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