MICHAEL B. JORDAN
Forging his legacy
BY RYAN COOGLER
Michael B. Jordan has been a working actor for over 24 years. Four years longer than LeBron James’ NBA career, and one year longer than Tom Brady’s stint on the NFL gridiron. He has a youthful appearance and spirit, so it’s easy to overlook his incredible feat of staying power in an industry that can be so transactional. He has toiled away on network television, cable, independent cinema, midbudget studio fare, and Hollywood blockbusters alike, always with a blue collar approach.
With this year’s Creed III, he took on a new role—feature-film director—and handled it with aplomb. I knew he would. Because directing is a working person’s game. The world sees the press tours, the interviews, and the edited behind-the-scenes footage, but I am deeply familiar with the reality. Marathon conversations with actors. Budget meetings when you realize cutting part of the story is the only way forward. Postproduction hours when your own mistakes laugh at you from the footage. It’s like climbing a mountain summit through enemy territory with your heart exposed. But I knew Mike had it in him. Because over that quarter-century of work, nothing was given to him. Everything was earned. And I strongly believe that his best work is still to come.
Coogler is a director and Oscar-nominated producer
DREW BARRYMORE
Effervescent personality
BY JIMMY FALLON
When I say this woman can do anything in the world, I mean, this woman can do anything in the world. You want a beauty line? She did it and crushed it. You want to do a kitchen-appliance line? She did it and crushed it. Do you want to do a home line of furniture? She did it and crushed it. Do you wanna host your own daytime talk show? She did it and is crushing it. Drew Barrymore never sees anything as impossible. And never takes no for an answer. Never afraid. Loves a challenge. Drew is a true role model. She brings joy to everyone she meets. I’m so lucky to call her a friend, and we’re all so lucky that we just get to watch this person at this moment in time.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
