FILM

John C. Reilly is one of Hollywood's best-kept secrets. Or, at least, he used to be. Tending to thrive in atmospheric ensemble pieces like Ulu Grosbard's Georgia and Lasse Hallstrom's What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, the actor's star has risen considerably by way of his self-effacing and understated performances in director Paul Thomas Anderson's first two features, Hard Eight and Boogie Nights. His acceptance into Hollywood pictures is a recent development, having begun with last year's baseball romance For Love of the Game continuing with Wolfgang Peterson's upcoming tragedy at sea, The Perfect Storm, also starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. In Magnolia, Reilly's third collaboration with Anderson, his Officer Jim Kurring is the film's moral center and allows the actor to deliver the most honest and deeply felt performance of his film career.

THC: As a character, you tend to give yourself over to your roles. Is it frustrating, as a character actor, that people try to pin you down to the types of roles you play?

JR: Yeah... People tend to say "nave" or "tough guy with a heart of gold."

THC: How do you see them?

JR: I see them as something different from what I've already done. They always tend to have a good core to them, but I think that most people have a good core to them, so it's not that surprising to me.... My favorite characters are all connected in that they all totally believe in the dream of their lives. And I think that makes for.... really genuine people. It makes for very funny people because sometimes they're not even aware how ridiculous they're being in pursuit of that dream.