How André Holland Used His New Movie to Process Grief Over His Father's Death (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

André Holland and Andra Day in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’.Photo:Roadside Attractions

Roadside Attractions

In playing a character grappling with trauma,André Hollandachieved catharsis both on and off screen.

“There were a lot of ways in which my life and this part lined up,” says the actor, 44, ofExhibiting Forgiveness. Artist-turned-director Titus Kaphar’s new movie stars Holland as Tarrell, a painter and family man forced to reckon with his past.

“It was easy for me to relate to the discipline, I think, that comes with being a painter,” theMoonlightstar tells PEOPLE. Actors and visual artists alike, he says, know “the bravery, the courage it takes to make a mark, make a choice.”

(Left-right:) Titus Kaphar, Andra Day, André Holland, Daniel Michael Barriere, Ian Foreman and John Earl Jelks at the New York premiere of ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ on Oct. 09.Steven Ferdman/Getty

Steven Ferdman/Getty

YetExhibiting Forgiveness, with all its themes of processing loss and trauma, enabled Holland to think about his ownfather, Donald, in other ways. “My father passed away not long ago,” he shares with PEOPLE. The “grief around that,” he says, proved “useful” in playing Tarrell.

“There were a lot of overlaps,” says Holland, adding that the movie could often be “draining” to film. “Emotionally, it asked for a lot.”

Asked how he decompresses from inhabiting such big emotions on screen, he responds with candor: “I don’t know, to be honest. That’s one thing I’m working on, how to take better care of myself. I tend to be a person who likes to go all the way in and stay there, and that’s what happened with this film.”

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(Left-right:) André Holland and John Earl Jelks in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’.roadside attractions

roadside attractions

Exhibiting Forgivenessalso required Holland to learn how to paint — capably enough, he says, “to get to a place where I felt confident with the brush in my hand.”

Although Holland says “you can’t learn in three months” to match MacArthur Fellow Kaphar’s work, he’s “really proud” of his painting on screen.

“When I watch the movie, I don’t cringe,” he says. “I cringe most of the time. I’m watching through my fingers. I normally don’t watch [my movies], but this one I really wanted to see.”

Exhibiting Forgiveness, which costarsAndra Day,Aunjanue Ellis-Taylorand Ian Foreman, is in theaters now.

source: people.com