The director who George MacKay is eager to work with someday is Paul Thomas Anderson, the modern auteur behind films like "Boogie Nights," "There Will Be Blood," "The Master," and his latest, "Licorice Pizza." Meanwhile, two actors he'd like to collaborate with are Joaquin Phoenix and Daniel Day-Lewis, both of whom have starred in two films apiece for Anderson: "The Master" and "Inherent Vice" for Phoenix, and "There Will Be Blood" and "Phantom Thread" for Day-Lewis.
"I remember I was auditioning for a role once and the director referenced Paul Thomas Anderson performances," explains MacKay about his choices. "And he said, there's always one character particularly who's giving a massive performance. It's always massive, but it's bang on. I think that sort of theatricality is something that I find really inspiring in terms of performances, whether it's Joaquin Phoenix in 'The Master' or Daniel Day Lewis in 'There Will Be Blood.'"
Not only does MacKay cite Anderson's ability as a director to get tremendous (and usually Oscar-nominated) performances out of his actors, but he adds that he loves the way the director's movies look as well: "I always just think his films ... I haven't seen all of his films, but from the films I have seen, they just look so beautiful. It's proper cinema," enthuses MacKay.
