Catherine O’Hara’s Shocking Dramatic Turn

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Due to the immense love and success that Schitt’s Creek garnered during its six-season run, Catherine O’Hara has experienced a well-deserved resurgence in her career. Though she’s been active on both large and small screens in the US and Canada for over 40 years, she’s currently busier than ever, taking on significant roles in two ongoing TV series: Apple TV+’s The Studio and HBO’s The Last of Us.

In the final installment of the show, O’Hara had a chance to demonstrate an aspect of her abilities that is usually overshadowed by her comedy roles – her dramatic acting skills. This was an exceptional display, and it joins a series of performances from comedic actors who have proven they can handle serious, dramatic roles. The decision to cast her was strategic; the co-creator of the series, Craig Mazin, chose her because of similar groundbreaking performances like Bryan Cranston’s in Breaking Bad.

O’Hara’s Dramatic Turn

Previously, O’Hara has explored more dramatic roles, such as playing Virgil Earp’s wife Allie Earp in the 1994 film “Wyatt Earp,” starring Kevin Costner, and the Canadian mass shooting drama “The Life Before This” from 1999. However, it’s undeniable that she has made her most significant impact in comedy. She began her career as a member of the Toronto branch of Second City in the ’70s and then transitioned to Canadian TV with SCTV in the ’80s, where she worked alongside stars like John Candy, Rick Moranis, Andrea Martin, and future Schitt’s Creek co-star Eugene Levy.

As a film critic, I found myself confidently stepping into the role of Gail in “The Last of Us,” knowing full well that my comedic legacy could lend itself to a striking dramatic performance. This conviction stems from what I like to call the “Vince Gilligan theory.” Simply put, actors who shine in comedy often deliver their finest dramatic work. Gilligan himself demonstrated this when he cast Cranston as Walter White – an unexpected choice given that Cranston was then best known for his role as the bumbling dad on “Malcolm in the Middle.

In a world following “Breaking Bad,” it might be challenging to envision, yet there was indeed skepticism regarding Bryan Cranston’s casting back then. However, Cranston swiftly silenced any doubters with an outstanding portrayal that remains one of the greatest in TV history. Similar to this, Gilligan and co-creator Peter Gould achieved something similar with Bob Odenkirk in “Better Call Saul,” revealing layers within an actor primarily known for shows like “Mr. Show.

As the therapist for the settlers of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, O’Hara manages to showcase her humor by cracking witty jokes that contrast with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Tommy (Gabriel Luna)’s serious demeanor. However, beneath her comedic facade, there’s a deep emotional hurt that permeates every action she takes, and O’Hara skillfully conveys this vulnerability.

In the initial episode, she expresses a deep-seated resentment and animosity towards Joel, as he was the one who ended her husband Eugene’s life. Despite the necessity of the act being implied, the reasons behind it remain unclear. The intricacy of her feelings is evident in O’Hara’s bitter tone during their therapy session, suggesting that Joel’s explanation of having no other option provides little solace for her grief.

The Shifting Lines of Performance

In earlier eras of Hollywood, it might have seemed peculiar or unconventional to cast a comedian in a more serious role. However, the distinction between comedy and drama has become increasingly blurred over the years. Actors such as Robin Williams and Jim Carrey were applauded for their dramatic performances in the ’90s and ’00s, and now it’s not uncommon for an actor to transition from a broad comedy to a deep drama from one project to another. Moreover, the lines within projects have also become more indistinct: many of the most talked-about comedies of the past decade tackle serious subjects, sometimes so intensely that they barely resemble comedies at all.

Mazin is convinced that the “Vince Gilligan theory” holds true, as it suggests comedic actors often harbor profound human emotions waiting to be revealed. O’Hara has consistently demonstrated this depth in her roles, even in characters like Moira Rose and Delia Deetz. Through Gail, she gets a chance to flip the script, using humor as a disguise for the character’s hidden emotional turmoil.

From the perspective of a movie enthusiast:

Time will unveil whether Gail, played by O’Hara, will undergo a transformation akin to Bryan Cranston, or continue to interweave dramatic performances within her signature comedic roles in the series. At present, Gail isn’t the main character, but she certainly adds an intriguing twist to the ensemble cast.

As a character not derived from the show’s video game roots, even devoted fans are unsure about where Gail’s story is headed. Whatever direction O’Hara decides to take next, her performance in The Last of Us further demonstrates her exceptional acting skills – a fact that hardly requires validation.

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2025-05-02 00:02