Michael Cera on his inspirations: “I’m the biggest Mike Leigh fan”
Michael Cera is the cult darling of the film world. Achieving international treasure status through his quirky depictions of characters like Scott Pilgrim or Paulie Bleeker in Juno. Known for his dry humour delivery and on-screen peculiarity, Cera’s own tastes are surprisingly sincere.
While still only in his mid-30s, Cera has built a vast and eclectic resume. Breaking out thanks to his role as George Michael Blut in Arrested Development, Cera has made a career out of playing the meek and awkward comedic relief. For a long time, he was the face of the cinema’s awkward teen obsession, playing the role to perfection in Superbad or the unlikely romantic lead in or Juno.
However, Cera will forever be linked to his role as Scott Pilgrim in the film adaptation of the graphic novel series. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World shot the actor from relative success to Hollywood stardom. His recent role as part of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie only solidified that position.
Recently reprising his most well-known role, the entire original cast of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World reunited for an animated adaptation for Netflix. All voicing their original roles, Cera joins Audrey Plaza, Chris Evans, Brie Larson, Kieran Culkin and more for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
Having had the chance to work with some of the biggest directors around now, including Gerwig, David Lynch, Wes Anderson, and Edgar Wright, one director still stands out to Cera: Mike Leigh.
The director behind Secrets & Lies, Naked, Vera Drake and more, Leigh feels like a surprising choice for Cera to love. Making heartfelt drama movies that often borrow from historical or real-life figures, Leigh feels far away from the Scott Pilgrim actor.
“I’m the biggest Mike Leigh fan,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. Talking about his experience on the set of the Barbie film, it was the connection to Leigh that he remembers most, “[Costume designer] Jacqueline Durran is a genius, and I spent almost every moment I had with her picking her brain about Mike Leigh.”
He added, “She’s been working with him since Topsy-Turvy”, excited over the connection to his favourite director.
Maybe this is the start of a more sincere career pivot from Cera. Possibly heralding a change from the awkward characters he’s always tackled previously, his love for Leigh might suggest a shift towards more straight-playing, genuine drama roles.