Amy Ryan chalks it up to coincidence, but the actress is everywhere these days. As the drug-abusing mother in Ben Affleck’s “Gone Baby Gone” or Ethan Hawke’s vindictive ex in “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” to what she admits is a very minor role in “Dan in Real Life,” her presence is being felt and her name is being tossed about as an awards contender. Ryan recently talked about her rising profile.
Are you the type of person who detects some master plan directing your fate?
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I do believe everything happens for a reason, not just in career but in life. … I believe we control our destinies to a point, but what’s happening now is a summary of hard work over the years. Part of it is luck; I did happen to meet Ben Affleck, I think he was the tipping point for me and that was luck. And great timing. Everything else feels like, ya know, it’s what I’ve been working toward. I’m surprised and grateful.
It’s not like you won the lottery.
More like finding a lottery ticket on the ground — I’ve been playing the scratch-off numbers for years.
Have your recent successes upped the demand for Amy Ryan?
I don’t have a stockpile of offers, but the scripts I’ve been reading make me realize it’s a different chess move to make. More than ever it’s about choices, and trying not to repeat myself and just play drug-addicted single-mom characters. It’s natural that people will think of me for roles like that, but the trick is to stay one step ahead, and not make choices to be safe.
Not to be snarky, but there are a lot of ugly people in “Gone Baby Gone.”
That’s America, my friend. These are people who really struggle, so hard. I think most of the country is struggling. My neighborhood in the West Village, you’re hard-pressed to find a laundromat anymore, because the artists have been forced out and the bankers are moving in.
Regarding “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” — you’ve worked with its director, Sidney Lumet, before?
Yes, he did a show called “100 Centre Street” and I played three different characters in the two years it was on the air.
You prefer the big screen to TV?
I was always lucky to find great writing on TV. But some shows are just about story. There’s simply no time for character, and you’re forced to play two-dimensional characters. But it hurts your body to do that. The body doesn’t lie: If it doesn’t feel truthful, something’s wrong in the math.
What are you looking forward to, besides the new Clint Eastwood movie, “The Changeling”?
I don’t know what job’s next; I’m sort of waiting to see what comes my way. Other than that, I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving.