Jeffrey Wright on Bond, bankability and his Oscar nomination: ‘I’m thinking about it more than is healthy’
For the first time in his career, Jeffrey Wright is up for a Best Actor Oscar. I meet the star of the slippery new satire American Fiction before any announcements have been made. Still, Wright, dressed all in black in a slick London hotel, is aware of the awards buzz. “Yes”, he concedes demurely, “it’s swirling around.”
Wright is known in the industry as “Mr Dependable” – a multi-layered character actor who excels in sharp indies and classy blockbusters, including three Bonds, three Hunger Games, and one Batman. He’s proud of that work. For so many reasons, though, it’s not what he wants to discuss today. In fact, when I raise the issue of the next Bond movie, and who he’d like to see stepping into Daniel Craig’s shoes, the 58-year-old all but shudders. “I’ve no idea,” he says, loftily. “I have no opinion.”
To be fair, Wright’s character – 007’s CIA pal Felix Leiter – did get offed in 2021’s . But surely he’s intrigued about where the brand will go? Wright, noticing the sugar on the table and eagerly pouring a sachet into his coffee, tries to summon some enthusiasm. “Culturally, it’s important,” he says. “I suppose it is,
