After months of teasing, today is the day that the highly anticipated new film “The Wolf of Wall Street” hits theaters. The film, which is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name, will undoubtedly make its mark on the movie industry. However, the film’s story is only part of the appeal – the real draw is the superb ensemble cast, which is arguably one of the best ever assembled for a Hollywood motion picture. TheWolf of Wall Street’ boasts an incredible cast of A-list actors, including Matthew McConaughey, Benicio del Poco, and Salma Hayek, and it also includes some recognizable faces from TV, like John C. Reynolds, Dermot McGlynn, and Karen Gill, as well as several sports figures. Even the animals in the film look like they could play sports. It’s a who’s who of Hollywood and it’s definitely not your usual film cast.
Before the film’s release, Vogue magazine got the chance to speak with Hayek about her role in TheWolf of Wall Street and her other upcoming projects. The actress and Vogue joked back and forth about the memoir that brought together such a talented group of actors, and she also discussed her upcoming projects, including the fact that she’ll soon be seen in a major co-starring role in the Hollywood blockbuster “The Great Gatsby”. The Vogue interview is hilarious and worth reading in full, but we’ve pulled out some of the best bits below.
On TheWolf of Wall Street
The first thing you’ll notice about TheWolf of Wall Street is that it is extremely entertaining. The film breaks all movies rules and stylistics and it is an unexpected delight from the very first scene. The writing is brilliant and it keeps you coming back for more. It’s an incredibly unique and dynamic viewing experience.
The film’s storyline features the legendary stock broker Jordan Berman (McConaughey), who in 1960s New York City, devises and implements a multimillion-dollar scheme that lasts for a decade, during which time he lands some of the most celebrated names in showbiz. Unfortunately, all the glory is purely devoid of consequences, as Berman receives no punishment for the millions he made, and after his dishonesty is discovered, he is forced to flee the country. The film’s script is by Salman Rushdie (“The Satanic Verses”), and it is based on his memoir, “The Gold Bug Catch 22”, which is set in the same period and deals with some of the same topics. Although Rushdie’s book is about a different character and takes a different view of the 1960s, the movie version is indeed an unfaithful adaptation.
Hayek plays Jordan’s wife, Ana (named after Anaïs Anson McCarthy, the first woman to die in space), whose relationship with her husband is complicated. The film’s writer/director Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) has previously stated that the primary motivation for casting her was to create a modern-day “Anna von Arx” and he was right. The actress brilliantly simmers in her role, evoking the character of Ana from the play version of the novel and, in doing so, immediately places her in the company of such legendary Hollywood actors as McConaughey, del Poco, and Hayek. Her natural beauty, effervescent appetite, and unbridled ambition make her the perfect match for the ambitious Berman, and despite their differing personalities, they are a perfect couple.
The film’s other star is Reynolds, who plays Jordan’s business partner, Wolfe (named after Guy Wolfe, one of the founders of PricewaterhouseCoopers). Although Reynolds, like McConaughey, del Poco, and Hayek, is an Hollywood A-lister, he is less well-known to the general public. But the more you know about Reynolds, the more you’ll appreciate his contributions to Hollywood.
On Her Other Upcoming Projects
Hayek is not the only A-list actor involved in TheWolf of Wall Street. The director of the film, Ridley Scott, confirmed in an interview with Vogue that the film is a union production, which means that some of the biggest names in Hollywood brought their A-game to the set. Other recent film unions include the Mullets and the Ocean’s eleven. Some of the people in these movies were paid more than $5,000 per week, so it’s not a surprise that they would show up for work every day with a sense of humor. Unfortunately, not all union movies are created equal. Some of them are just plain awful, and it’s a shame to the actors and film industry that they take such a chance. But for those of you who love to watch Hollywood actors work, there’s no doubt that it’s worth the risk.
Hayek is currently working on a biopic of Ella Bella Anaheim, the first woman to win an Oscar for best scoring and songwriting. She is the wife of Walton Anaheim, one of the richest men in the world. Due to her husband’s net worth, Ana is officially the third wealthiest woman in the world (after Marjorie Merriweather Pollard and Margareth Murdoch). The biopic, which is still in the works, will tell the story of Ella Bella Anaheim’s life and work in the 1920s and ’30s.