Even these imagined characters have a grounding in reality.
The people he chose to model characters after aren’t all from this Golden Age era of filmmaking either.
Criss tells EW that, surprisingly, he found the most inspiration from a youngSteven Spielberg.
Netflix; Murray Close/Lucasfilm
“There’s plenty of filmmakers from the time, [John] Huston and [Cecil B.]
DeMille,” Criss says of his influences.
That’s just who Harrier turned to when it came to digging into her research.
Netflix; Bettmann/Getty Images
They didn’t have Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, and people that I connected with growing up.
That’s not my world.
I meet people in Hollywood and generally, those are white men,'" Harrier says of Dandridge.
Netflix; Edward Steichen/Condé Nast via Getty Images
BothPatti LuPoneandJoe Mantelloplay characters who are loosely based on behind-the-scenes figures.
Murphy says Mantello’s Dick Samuels has parts of legendary MGM producer Irving Thalberg in him.
LuPone’s Avis is a mix of two women, one modern, one from the past.
SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX; Horst P. Horst/Getty Images; Lester Cohen/WireImage
“I’m friends with Sherry.
She was the first female studio head and so brilliant, and I was paying tribute to her.”
She certainly provided superb fodder for LuPone though.
SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images; John Engstead/John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
“My research was the best thing ever.
In particular, he turned toJimmy Stewartmovies to infuse his character with an aw-shucks optimism.
But there was also one key moment inOn the Waterfrontthat helped unlock the role for him.
But the writing and acting really hit home,” he reflects.
That was a good touchstone.
“ButIngrid Bergmanwould be great.
She had such a story as well.
There are so many amazing women from that time who were more than just a pretty face.”
“I want to see you in the bananas,” adds LuPone, referencingBaker’s iconic banana skirt.
We can just hear him saying “the calla lilies are in bloom again” now.
Watch the video above for more.Hollywoodhits Netflix May 1.
