Staff Writer
How does a comic actor get a role in a serious historical drama? 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen has opened up about how he hired Saturday Night Live’s Taran Killam for the film.
Killam normally does the comedic roles. The How I Met Your Mother and Grown Ups 2 actor deviated from comedy to to take on a far more serious character in 12 Years a Slave. In the movie based on the true story of a free man, Solomon Northup, who was illegally sold into slavery, Killam plays one of his kidnappers.
McQueen said in an interview with The Huffington Post that he didn’t know who Killam was prior to casting, but says that Killam is “an amazing actor”.
“He’s amazing. It was through auditions. Sarah Paulson was through auditioning. Benedict Cumberbatch, he came through auditioning. We don’t get “Saturday Night Live” outside of America, so I didn’t know who Taran was. So, I just cast him through his audition — I had no idea who this guy was.”
Although Killam only had a minor role in the film, he seemingly made an impression on McQueen, who says he would work with him again.
“He’s an amazing actor because I think a lot of comedians have that talent where they can go to those kinds of places. I would love to work with him tomorrow. I can’t hold him in higher esteem. I know his part wasn’t that big, but I would work with him tomorrow.”
The high profile film underwent a limited release on Oct 18, and boasts a strong cast, with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt.
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