Ryan Reynolds Defends Being Included in Awards Conversation forDeadpoolActing: 'Comedy Is Also Very Difficult'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ryan Reynolds on July 22, 2024.Photo:Gotham/FilmMagic

Ryan Reynolds attends the “Deadpool & Wolverine” New York Premiere at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 22, 2024 in New York City.

Gotham/FilmMagic

Ryan Reynoldsis sticking up for the art of comedy acting.

TheDeadpool & Wolverinestar was revealed to be one of the participants chosen forVariety’s “Actors on Actors” series, which pairs performers to talk about their buzzy performances during awards season.

Reynolds, 48, was partnered withAndrew Garfield, who starred in the romantic dramaWe Live in Timeopposite Florence Pugh.

After one person on X ridiculed the idea of Reynolds talking about playing the foul-mouthed Marvel character with Garfield discussing the emotional cancer-related themes of his project, Reynolds replied, defending comedy acting as equally challenging.

“Andrew’s a genius. He and Florence are magic together in WE LIVE IN TIME. They’re heartbreaking and charming and spend the entire film in a high-wire act of humanity and constraint,” he began in hisposton X. “And yes I am Deadpool BUT I will take a second and speak up in defense of comedy.”

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in “Deadpool & Wolverine”.Jay Maidmen

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Jay Maidmen

“Dramatic work is difficult. And we’re also meant to SEE it’s difficult which is one of the reasons it feels visceral and effective,” continued Reynolds. “Comedy is also very difficult. But has an added dimension in that it’s meant to look and feel effortless. You intentionally hide the stitching and unstitching.”

Reynolds, who starred opposite palHugh Jackmanin this year’s blockbuster superhero sequel, said “both disciplines are beautiful” and “both work beautifully together.”

Disney submittedDeadpool & Wolverineforconsideration in various categories this award season, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Reynolds, Best Supporting Actor for Jackman and Best Adapted Screenplay (Reynolds co-wrote).

Ryan Reynolds on May 13, 2024.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Canadian-US actor/producer Ryan Reynolds arrives for the premiere of “If” at the SVA Theater on May 13, 2024, in New York City.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

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The rest of the “Actors on Actors” lineup is: Ariana Grande and Paul Mescal; Selena Gomez and Saoirse Ronan; Angelina Jolie and Cynthia Erivo; Zendaya and Nicole Kidman; Drew Starkey and Harris Dickinson; Kate Winslet and Zoë Saldaña; Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor; Pamela Anderson and Mikey Madison; Colman Domingo and Kieran Culkin; Demi Moore and Amy Adams; and Adrien Brody and Tilda Swinton.

Sebastian Stan, who has received acclaim for two dramatic roles this year inA Different ManandThe Apprentice, previously revealed that he wasasked to do “Actors on Actors” but couldn’t since no colleagueswanted to talk about his controversial Donald Trump film.

Varietyco-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh said in a statement: “We invited him to participate in ‘Actors on Actors,’ the biggest franchise of awards season, but other actors didn’t want to pair with him because they didn’t want to talk about Donald Trump.”

source: people.com