Interview: Billy Magnussen takes on the role of a lifetime in ‘The Survivor’ [VIDEO]

Billy Magnussen has proven himself one of our most versatile comedians in films like Into the Woods and Game Night. But he’s also a convincing asshole on-screen as the tech billionaire Byron Gogol in HBO Max’s Made for Love, where he flexes his villainous side.  

In his most difficult role to date, the Queens native can now be seen in Barry Levinson’s true story The Survivor as Nazi officer Dietrich Schneider who torments prisoner Harry Haft (Ben Foster, interview here) in a concentration camp during WWII. Foster and Magnussen are drawing rave reviews for their individual performances. In this interview, we touched on how this role was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Magnussen. He also gets into his process of preparing to play such a vile individual.

The Survivor is currently streaming on HBO Max. Billy Magnussen is Emmy eligible for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Photo: Leo Pinter/HBO

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Dewey Singleton

I'm a member of Critics Choice, Hollywood Critics Association, and The Society of Professional Journalists. I am also on Rotten Tomatoes. My bylines include @awardswatch, @deweysmovies, @awardsradar, @weliveentertainment, @bleedingcool, and @insessionfilm. I am married to @sgitw and have two sons.

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