Actor Julia Garner discussed her career and her approach to character development in an interview ahead of the release of the Netflix series "The Altruists." In the series, Garner portrays Caroline Ellison, the business partner of Sam Bankman-Fried who was involved in the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Garner described her acting process as focusing on observation, particularly the study of a subject's eyes through photography to inform her performances.
Garner, who grew up in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, began acting at age 14 to manage feelings of shyness and learning problems. She secured her first film role at 16 in the 2011 production "Martha Marcy May Marlene." Her career expanded with the 2017 series "Ozark," where she played Ruth Langmore, a role that earned her three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. She later portrayed Anna Sorokin in the 2022 series "Inventing Anna," which earned her another Golden Globe nomination.
Garner enrolled in a clown school in France during the 2023 actors' strike after feeling unnerved by public attention. Garner stated that the experience helped her address feelings of shame regarding her success and a fear of failure. Additionally, she discussed a biopic about the singer Madonna in which she was cast to play the title role. While Garner underwent training for the part, the project has been shelved, and she stated its future status remains uncertain.
For the entertainment industry and aspiring actors, Garner’s career trajectory illustrates the transition from independent film to high-budget streaming productions. The suspension of the Madonna biopic highlights the volatility of film development. Garner’s participation in the 2023 actors' strike also reflects a period of labor disruption that impacted the industry.
The next milestone for this project is the Nov. 19 premiere date on Netflix. Regarding the Madonna biopic, Garner indicated that while she would like the film to be made, its status changes frequently. The actor continues to focus on roles that she describes as complex or "unhinged," aiming to reach audiences who feel isolated.