As it stands, Tilda Swinton has received a lot of attention for her unforgettable performance as an alcoholic in the film Julia. However, it goes without saying that Tilda Swinton is an amazing actress.Julia started as a project that was to be a remake of John Cassavetes’ 1980 hit film, Gloria. For those unfamiliar with the name Cassavetes, John is a famous director and father to Nick Cassavetes, who is also a director and best known for the Notebook. In 2007, French writer/director Erick Zonca decided to take on the project and casted Tilda Swinton for the lead role as Julia.
In Julia, Tilda Swinton plays a raging alcoholic who has taken a boy ransom. Remarkably believable, Tilda Swinton personifies Julia, and her addiction as an alcoholic—passing out in random places and waking up beside strange people throughout Julia. However, even though Swinton gives such a remarkably believable performance as an alcoholic, it’s amazing to think that she really doesn’t drink at all.
Swinton recently admitted in an interview, “I can’t drink. I just go to sleep, or I throw up.” She did say, however, about getting into the role: “I thought about how…it is to be that self-destructive…It felt real to me.”
In addition to rave reviews, Julia has also won or been nominated for the following prizes:
Evening Standard British Film Awards 2009
Won: Best Actress – Tilda Swinton
Berlin International Film Festival 2008
Nomination: Erick Zonca (Director)
London Critics Circle Film Awards 2009
Nomination: Actress of the Year – Tilda Swinton
César Awards, France 2009
Nomination: Best Actress – Tilda Swinton