Oscar nominee Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”) about starring in the film “Sheepdog,” which was written and directed by Steven Grayhm.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said: ““Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” This quote applies to actress Virginia Madsen.
Madsen stars alongside such actors as Steven Grayhm (who was also the writer and director), Emmy nominee Vondie Curtis Hall, Matt Dallas (“Kyle XY”), Dominic Fumusa, and Tony nominee Lilli Cooper.
The synopsis is: Decorated U.S. Army combat veteran Calvin Cole (Steven Grayhm) is court ordered into treatment and into the care of Dr. Elecia Knox (Virginia Madsen), a VA trauma therapist in-training.
Things become even more complicated when Calvin’s father-in-law and a retired Vietnam Veteran Whitney St. Germain (played by Vondie Curtis Hall), shows up on his doorstep having just been released from prison.
As Calvin’s plan to run from his past becomes even more challenging, he learns through the support of his community: tough love and compassion, that he must put himself back together again for his family – and for himself.
‘Sheepdog’ experience
On being a part of this movie, which raises awareness on our military and veterans, Madsen said, “It’s really great. This is a tiny little movie… it’s the little engine that could.”
“For this movie to open in 600 theaters nationwide, this is something that has never been done before. I’m so happy that it’s going to get out there. It’s just a wonderful story,” she elaborated.
Playing Dr. Elecia Knox
On playing Dr. Elecia Knox, Madsen said, “Well, I will say that it’s very unusual when there’s a supporting female role who actually has a life. I am playing his therapist. Then, we learn that she is brand new to this job, at this stage in her life.”
“She is working nights at a diner so that she can be of service and has her own reasons for needing to help. I really loved that. I was so surprised that they gave her a whole life,” she observed.
“It’s a really important story to tell,” she underscored. “I was just amazed at the people who do that… the people who are driven to be caregivers to help others… those stories are not told very often. So, I was honored to be able to portray that.”
Madsen on her intense scenes with Steven Grayhm in the therapist’s office
Madsen opened up about her emotional scenes with Steven’s character, Calvin in her office, which were quite intense. “Those were really beautiful,” she admitted. “It is also rare to have writing of this caliber!”
“Most of what I do are small independent films, because that’s where the writing is. When I have beautiful writing — when I have strong writing — I can be brave, and I can be free as an actor. As emotional as the material was, I could really fly with it,” she elaborated.
“I was so grateful to have this kind of material, and to have this kind of character to play,” she added.
Lessons learned from the screenplay
On the lessons learned from this screenplay, Madsen reflected, “It taught me that being of service, and being a volunteer, that helped me go through what was going on in my life.”
“It taught me that it’s all right to talk about it. It’s all right to seek help. That was really overflowed into my own life,” she noted.
“So, it meant a lot to me to play this role. It had a really beautiful effect on my real life,” she acknowledged.
The digital age
On being a part of the digital age, Madsen said, “Well, social media can be used for good. It certainly is for our film.”
“There are certain things that I like to share because I want to spread a positive message. I do a lot of gardening and that really helps because I get to go outside and get away from the computer, and I get to put my hands in the earth. It works for me,” she elaborated.
“So, that’s what I choose to share,” she admitted. “It’s kind of daunting because sometimes, frankly, I don’t get to be anonymous, so it’s me out there and other people that do get to hide behind their keyboard sometimes. So, I just don’t read it. I just tune that out. I just don’t respond because it’s not a useful way to spend my time.”
“For independent films, when I did one of those movies, and it went to the video store such as Blockbuster, it was gone right away,” she said.
“When I was raising my son, there were a lot of really old movies that I could find there that I would show him. Ever since he was a kid, I could show him those movies on our awesome TV, and now these things are all really easily readily available,” she explained.
“So, I love that aspect of the digital age,” she admitted. “That’s the upside to it. There are plenty of bad sides to it, but there is a way that there are good things available for you and for your kids.”
Oscar nomination for ‘Sideways’
Regarding her “Best Supporting Actress” Oscar nomination for “Sheepdog,” she said, “Oh God, that was wonderful!”
“I love that Amy Madigan is getting so much support for ‘Weapons.’ She said something that was exactly my feeling… ‘Well, I’m really glad to have this statue, but it means they love the film, and it means more people will go see the movie’,” she aid.
“Amy knows she’s representing all the people who made that movie,” Madsen said. “If you sit at the end of your film in the theater or at home, take a few minutes and look at the credits as they roll and look at all those people who had a job and all those people got put to work.”
“We know that as actors, when we get to win a prize, we are representing all of them,” she said. “We are winning for them. Especially for a film like ‘Sideways,’ I was not up there alone whenever I got a prize or a nomination. I was also up there for every struggling actor, everyone who is trying their best to stay in the game.”
“I took all of them on the red carpet with me. I think that a lot of actors know that,” she observed.
Madsen on the acting work in ‘Sheepdog’
On the acting work in “Sheepdog,” she remarked, “I am very proud of my work in ‘Sheepdog.’ Even though I can’t watch it too often,” she admitted. “Whenever I watch a movie, I’m watching everybody else’s work in it. I see the film as a whole and some parts of the film, it’s like watching a home movie. “
“I always watch a movie in its entirety to see other people’s work in it as well. My mother saw it last night at a screening, and I got her approval, which is a big thing,” Madsen acknowledged.
“My mom is a writer, and she really liked the script,” she said. “When she saw that it became a powerful movie, she was tearful and was really proud of me, so that meant a lot.”
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Madsen revealed, “Growth.”
“I’m in the garden all the time,” she said. “I have my own self-care, my own healing process. It’s an incredible time in my life because I’m in my 60s, and it’s a time of reflection.”
“It’s a time of taking inventory and clearing out a lot of old things that you don’t need anymore,” she noted. “These include a lot of old habits and just looking at myself and going, ‘yeah, I don’t need that anymore.’ It’s a feeling of a new beginning.”
“I have this feeling of renewal and excitement about what is going to come next,” she hinted. “In my young life, I spent so much time worrying about other people and worrying about this and that and getting a job. I face things differently now.”
“I face things with more introspection rather than worrying. I’m just having a lot of fun, despite what is going on in the world. I’m trying to be of service,” she said.
“I’m trying to keep myself as grounded as I can for others. Also, I am a new grandmother,” she revealed.
Madsen on actress Rusty Schwimmer
Madsen had great words about fellow actress and dear friend Rusty Schwimmer. “Rusty is great. She is in ‘The Pitt’ this season, where she has a recurring role. So, I hope people check her out in that,” Madsen said.
Schwimmer is already promoting Madsen’s new movie “Sheepdog” on social media. “People. People. I’m so excited for my bestie Virginia Madsen in the movie “Sheepdog” and so excited to see it opening January 16th at a theater near you, and on the big screen, too,” Schwimmer exclaimed.
Success
On her definition of the word success, Madsen said, “Well, it depends if it’s professionally or personally; sometimes those two are combined.”
“Sometimes, making money can feel like a success. You get a good paycheck. Success can be just that I finished the day, and I’m all right and I’m happy,” she said.
“Success, to me, is my personal life. If that is in order, then I feel successful. Also, the business that comes my way. That’s the way the universe works,” she explained.
Madsen continued, “It’s the laws of attraction. When momentum is built from your body, mind, and spirit, those things combine and good things will come. I learned that from my mother and lots of much older people. I am finding that now to be absolutely true. That’s how it works.”
Closing thoughts on ‘Sheepdog’
For her fans, she remarked about “Sheepdog,” It’s a wonderful story that they haven’t seen before. This is something that they are going to want to share. They are going to feel that it was worth the price of their ticket. It’s a wonderful group experience.”
“This movie, in particular, is a wonderful group experience in the theater,” she reiterated. “This movie creates a dialogue. People will talk about it, and people will share it.”
“It will give you ideas about how you can help… and how you can get involved. Call someone that you miss, or call someone that you haven’t spoken to in a while, and things of that nature. This movie can bring people together,” she concluded.
To learn more about Oscar nominee Virginia Madsen, follow her on Instagram.
Read More: “Sheepdog” review.
